FREE French Anarchism and Italian Futurism: 1890-1920 Essay (original) (raw)

Politics, art, and utopia in French anarchism and Italian futurism 1890-1920.
In Paroles d'un revolte, Peter Kropotkin outlined a new vision for the arts as part of his anarchist philosophy, asserting that "the arts have a mission to accomplish for the achievement of the future society. Depict for us in your vivid style or in your fervent paintings the titanic struggle of the people against their oppressors; inflame young hearts with the beautiful breath of revolution which inspired our anarchism"1. This sentiment marks the beginning of a struggle commenced by the anarchists and brought to full fruition by the futurists, that of reappropriating the artistic sphere from the bourgeoisie; whether the French Salon for the anarchists or the passéist traditionalism in Italy, both movements aimed at the reintegration of art into a dynamic, creative relationship with both politics and society. Peter Burger argues that this process of dismantling the institutionalised 'art for art's sake' is the defining characteristic of the avant-garde in the early twentieth century,2 and seeing it through this lens it would appear that French anarchism laid the notably avant-garde aesthetic foundations, which later had a strong influence on the founder of Futurism- Fillipo Thomas Marinetti. As Taylor explains; "Already a familiar figure in the cafe society of Paris, Marinetti had met and become friendly with a number of important literary and artistic figures. he had written his first play Le Roi Bombance in admiring imitation of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi"3. Indeed, Marinetti's close links to French avant-garde artists is illustrated in his choice of a French, rather than Italian, newspaper for the launch of his Futurist movement, on February 20 1909 he published the first Futurist Manifesto in Paris paper 'Le Figaro' , a move indicative of a partial ideological and artistic overlap between the two movements.

1. Boccioni's Unique Forms of Continuity in Space

Boccioni's Unique Forms of Continuity in Space (figure 1) was created in Italy at the height of Futurism. ... The French art movements corresponding with futurism were Fauvism and Cubism. Many links have been made between the visual components of Futurism and the French. Apollinaire suggested, "Futurism, in my opinion is an Italian imitation of the two schools of French painting fauvism and cubism" (Perloff, 1986, p. 52). Futurism was a product of industrialisation and urbanisation in the north of Italy but Marinetti's French experiences brought in an international dimension. ...

2. Futurism

Examine the technical changes that occurred in Italian Futurist painting from 1909-1915. ... Futurisms aim was the "Cultural Rejuvenation" (Martin xxvii) of Itay. The poltical situation in Italy is essential in understanding Futurist motivations and ideas, the increasing sence of national identity, which triggered the question of to how much an extent was futurism a political manifestation due to its associations with Mussolini and fascistism. ... Thus a disgussion on technical change in Italian futurist painting would require individual examination of each artist. ... Early fututi...

3. Pablo picasso

In his later years, after he had moved to the South of France and had fewer diversions, he filled hours between painting, sculpting, and pottery-making with drawing. ... Futurism was an art movement, which was influenced by cubist art. ... He had a strict Jesuit education (in French) in Alexandria, although he was later expelled and finished his schooling in Paris. ... By 1900 he had decided to devote himself entirely to Italian and French literature and poetry. ... In most areas of Futurism the word invariably preceded the deed! ...

4. Futurism in theatre

Futurism was an Italian movement which began in the early part of the twentieth century and included literature, painting, architecture, sculpture and performance amongst other forms of art, which focused on the energetic and violent aspects of changing twentieth century life. ... Indeed, before any of the philosophies of futurism reached there way to the stage, the page or the canvas, they could be found in these manifestos. ... Futurism wanted to leave behind the old static art of the past and move forward into the future, reinvented as a technologically driven machine intent on the gl...

5. Anarchists - Demanding the Impossible

Collectivist anarchists have a hyper positive view of human nature and strongly believe that Anarchism would be practical in society. ... It is argued that anarchism is possible sue to the social institutions that could be put in place of the state. ... Syndicalism was popular in France, Italy and Spain. ... However, this argument is countered as it is argued that it is impossible due to the political reality of anarchism. ... While anarchism has come about after the Spanish civil war and in Paris for 2 weeks, it may not have the same result if a larger population were to exposed to it. ...

6. Italy

It borders on Austria (430 km), France (488 km), Vatican City (3.2 km), San Marino (39 km), Slovenia (232 km), and Switzerland (740 km). ... The great majority of the population speaks Italian, including several dialects; there are small German-, French-, and Slavic-speaking minorities. ... These are the two sectors with the most jobs in Italy. ... The chief partners of export from Italy are Germany (14.5%), France (12.2%), the United States (9.7%), the United Kingdom (6.7%), and Spain (6.1%), while their chief import partners are Germany (17.7%), France (11.1%), the Netherlands (6.2%), th...

7. Anarchism, Socialism and Fascism

And so when assessing anarchism, fascism, and socialism, one must take into account the role the individual plays. Anarchism thrives on the individual's capability to be free consciously and physically: Free of religion, free of property, and free of the State. ... Meanwhile, anarchism seeks to enlighten the individual so that they may truly achieve freedom without government restriction. ... Benito Mussolini, the Italian Fascist leader, argued that outside the State there can be no individuals or groups (political parties, associations). ... This is the distinction between fascism and A...

8. Triple Alliance and Italy prior to WWI

Origin of Italian colonialism can be found in the desire to take part in the great partition of African lands by European powers, and also in the real need to find a way to channel the surplus of population, that was actually emigrating into Tunisia, France and the Americas. ... Under the provisions of this treaty, Germany and Austria-Hungary promised to assist Italy if she were attacked by France, and vice versa: Italy was bound to lend aid to Germany or Austria-Hungary if France declared war against either. ... A Secret Franco-Italian Alliance In the event the Triple Alliance was essential...

9. Socialism

Anarchism is a broad term covering many different theories and movements. Among these are anarchic-syndicalism, Christian anarchism, and individualist anarchism. ... Individualist anarchism is remarkably similar to the social anarchism adopted by most anarchists, as well as Bakunin. ... Anarchists were responsible for the assassinations of President McKinley of the United States (1901), Empress Elizabeth of Austria (1898), King Umberto I of Italy (1900), and President Sadi Carnot of France (1894). ... From Italy to America to Japan, anarchist groups and movements crushed; individuals impri...

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