Chapter 6: Introduction

In this last session, we will focus on the Futurist Movement – an art-movement that was especially grand in Italy and Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Started by a poet, Filippo Marinetti, after the saw a car-crash, it evolved into an all-encompassing movement that included art, design, poetry, architecture, cutlery and even food. An emphasis on modernism, technology, and war gave the Futurists a dynamicity whose echoes are heard even today.

After the experiences of the First World War, the Futurists came under considerable scrutiny: had not the machines been responsible for the massive carnage of the trenches? Was not modernism responsible for the nationalism that drove people over the top? Marinetti and his futurists (all of whom served during the war) soon became inspired by Mussolini and his fascist movement.

First, we would like you to look at two small video's that will introduce the futuristic movement. After that, there's a small article about tactilism and proto-interactivity that you should read. After that, you will be ready for this week's exercises.