Beyond Beyond AnarchismAnarchism

Marinetti, Futurism, Futurist Marinetti, Futurism, Futurist AnarchismAnarchism

University College of London (UK), dept. of University College of London (UK), dept. of Italian, 3.12.2008Italian, 3.12.2008

Marja Härmänmaa, University of Helsinki, Finland / University of Cambridge, Clare Hall College

””A visit”A visit”

In 1865 Mikhail Bakunin went to In 1865 Mikhail Bakunin went to NaplesNaples

Creation of Bakunin’s Anarchist Creation of Bakunin’s Anarchist ideologyideology

Foundation of Anarchist movement in Foundation of Anarchist movement in ItalyItaly– In 1900 the murder of King Umberto IIn 1900 the murder of King Umberto I

Conceptualization of Futurist Conceptualization of Futurist AnarchismAnarchism

Social utopia of Futurism?Social utopia of Futurism? The social meaning of Art?The social meaning of Art? The role of the artist in society? The role of the artist in society?

Italy cradle of AnarchismItaly cradle of Anarchism

Mikhail Bakunin (1814 – 1876)Mikhail Bakunin (1814 – 1876) Errico Malatesta (1853-1932)Errico Malatesta (1853-1932) Economically a poor countryEconomically a poor country Disappointment of unificationDisappointment of unification Corruption of the political classCorruption of the political class Cultural and political anarchismCultural and political anarchism

– D’AnnunzioD’Annunzio– Gian Pietro LuciniGian Pietro Lucini

Political radicalism & artistic Political radicalism & artistic anarchismanarchism

Associated around the mid 19th Associated around the mid 19th centurycentury

Changed artistic institutionChanged artistic institution New autonomy of arts and artistsNew autonomy of arts and artists Critique of middle class society and Critique of middle class society and

its materialistic valuesits materialistic values France: Symbolism and France: Symbolism and

ImpressionismImpressionism

Marinetti’s early social Marinetti’s early social interestsinterests

Le Roi BombanceLe Roi Bombance (1905) (1905)– Social revolution (led by the socialists Social revolution (led by the socialists

Filippo Turati and Antonio Labriola)Filippo Turati and Antonio Labriola) Before the IWWBefore the IWW

– Against the politics of GiolittiAgainst the politics of Giolitti– Connections with extra pariamentary Connections with extra pariamentary

groupsgroups– George Sorel and the theory of the use George Sorel and the theory of the use

of violenceof violence

Marinetti and AnarchismMarinetti and Anarchism

Theme of ’destruction’ in the first Theme of ’destruction’ in the first worksworks– La conquête des étoilesLa conquête des étoiles (1902) (1902)– DestructionDestruction (1904) (1904)

In Paris in contact with the AnarchistsIn Paris in contact with the Anarchists Abbaye de Créteil, utopistic Abbaye de Créteil, utopistic

community of anarchist artistscommunity of anarchist artists

Futurist anarchyFuturist anarchy

Foundation of Futurism (1909):Foundation of Futurism (1909):– ” ”the most aggressive revolt of the the most aggressive revolt of the

modern man towards the past and the modern man towards the past and the present time”present time”

Artistic anarchismArtistic anarchism Against the artistic traditionAgainst the artistic tradition Rupture of the artistic tradition in Rupture of the artistic tradition in

Modernism (partly) caused by the Modernism (partly) caused by the diffusion of anarchist ideas in artsdiffusion of anarchist ideas in arts

””Conferenza su l’amore del Conferenza su l’amore del pericolo e l’eroismo pericolo e l’eroismo quotidiano” (1910)quotidiano” (1910)

““E voi, forse, non avete ancora un concetto esatto E voi, forse, non avete ancora un concetto esatto di ciò che siamo e di quel che vogliamo. di ciò che siamo e di quel che vogliamo. Immaginate nella malinconica e stagnante Immaginate nella malinconica e stagnante repubblica delle lettere e delle arti un gruppo di repubblica delle lettere e delle arti un gruppo di giovani assolutamente ribelle e demolitore che giovani assolutamente ribelle e demolitore che stanco di adorare il passato, nauseato dal stanco di adorare il passato, nauseato dal pedantismo accademico, avido di originalità pedantismo accademico, avido di originalità temeraria e anelante verso una vita avventurosa, temeraria e anelante verso una vita avventurosa, energica e quotidianamente eroica, sgombrare energica e quotidianamente eroica, sgombrare l’anima italiana da quel amasso [sic] di pregiudizi l’anima italiana da quel amasso [sic] di pregiudizi di luoghi comuni, di rispetti e di venerazioni che di luoghi comuni, di rispetti e di venerazioni che noi chiamiamo il passatismo. Insomma: degli noi chiamiamo il passatismo. Insomma: degli anarchici in arte, ecco che cosa sono i futuristi.”anarchici in arte, ecco che cosa sono i futuristi.”

Reasons to deny the pastReasons to deny the past

Judeo-christian conception of linear Judeo-christian conception of linear timetime

Advent of the “macchina” had Advent of the “macchina” had broken the chain of linear timebroken the chain of linear time

Beginning of a new eraBeginning of a new era Past did not existPast did not exist

””Prefazione futurista a Prefazione futurista a ’Revolverate’ di Gian Pietro ’Revolverate’ di Gian Pietro

Lucini” (1910)Lucini” (1910)

””Il presente non mai come in questi Il presente non mai come in questi tempi apparve staccato dalla catena tempi apparve staccato dalla catena genetica del passato, figlio di sé genetica del passato, figlio di sé stesso e generatore formidabile delle stesso e generatore formidabile delle potenze future”potenze future”

Versions of AnarchismVersions of Anarchism

EnlightenmentEnlightenment– William Godwin (1756 – 1836)William Godwin (1756 – 1836)– Peter Kropotkin (1842 – 1921)Peter Kropotkin (1842 – 1921)– A perfect society A perfect society communism communism

RomanticismRomanticism– Mikhail Bakunin (1814 – 1876)Mikhail Bakunin (1814 – 1876)– Max Stirner (1806 – 1856)Max Stirner (1806 – 1856)– Individual anarchismIndividual anarchism

Individual AnarchismIndividual Anarchism

Max Stirner: Max Stirner: – Der Einzige und sein EigenthumDer Einzige und sein Eigenthum (1844) (1844)

No interest towards society nor No interest towards society nor towards the artstowards the arts

Importance of the individual as ’ego’ Importance of the individual as ’ego’ against everythingagainst everything

All social institutions (government, All social institutions (government, church..) are artificial concepts and church..) are artificial concepts and thus false authorities thus false authorities

Individual aestheticismIndividual aestheticism

Artist produces his uniqueness in artArtist produces his uniqueness in art Individualist makes art out of his own Individualist makes art out of his own

personalitypersonality Egoist makes art to promote himselfEgoist makes art to promote himself Partly explains the heterogeneity of Partly explains the heterogeneity of

modernist culturemodernist culture

’’Futurism’ as a work of artFuturism’ as a work of art

In order to promote MarinettiIn order to promote Marinetti Absolute leader of the movementAbsolute leader of the movement Mafarka il futurista Mafarka il futurista (1910)(1910)

– Mafarka = MarinettiMafarka = Marinetti– Gazourmah = FuturismGazourmah = Futurism

Nihilism of Cultural Nihilism of Cultural modernismmodernism

Matei Calinescu:Matei Calinescu: Otherness and change importantOtherness and change important Tradition of ”antitradition”Tradition of ”antitradition” Future way out of rotten present, son Future way out of rotten present, son

of the pastof the past When future moment is reached, it When future moment is reached, it

becomes present momentbecomes present moment Continuous destruction / rejectionContinuous destruction / rejection

Futurist nichilism in artsFuturist nichilism in arts

Faith in progressFaith in progress Guerra sola igiene del mondo Guerra sola igiene del mondo (1915)(1915)

– ””Abbiate fiducia nel progresso, che ha Abbiate fiducia nel progresso, che ha sempre ragione, anche quando ha torto, sempre ragione, anche quando ha torto, perché è il movimento, la vita, la lotta, la perché è il movimento, la vita, la lotta, la speranza.”speranza.”

Principle of eternal developmentPrinciple of eternal development Nothing is supposed to lastNothing is supposed to last Works of art are to be destroyed when Works of art are to be destroyed when

they are readythey are ready

L’Aeroplano del PapaL’Aeroplano del Papa (1912) (1912)

””Sono incessantemente commisto alle Sono incessantemente commisto alle mie scorie. mie scorie. La mia vita è la fusione perpetua dei La mia vita è la fusione perpetua dei miei frantumi. miei frantumi. Distruggo per creare ed ancora Distruggo per creare ed ancora distruggodistruggoper modellare statue tonantiper modellare statue tonantiche subito spezzo con lo schifo e il che subito spezzo con lo schifo e il terrore di vederle durare!”terrore di vederle durare!”

Futurist nichilism in politicsFuturist nichilism in politics

Before WW1 no social utopiaBefore WW1 no social utopia Principle of the eternal developmentPrinciple of the eternal development Ideal: the everlasting state of warIdeal: the everlasting state of war ””War, world’s sole hygiene”War, world’s sole hygiene”

Futurist political activityFuturist political activity

Marinetti’s growing interest towards Marinetti’s growing interest towards politics after WW1politics after WW1

First political manifesto (1913)First political manifesto (1913) Futurist political party (1918)Futurist political party (1918) Democrazia futuristaDemocrazia futurista (1919) (1919) Al di là del comunismoAl di là del comunismo (1920) (1920)

Modernizing ItalyModernizing Italy

Abolition of Pope, monarchy, Abolition of Pope, monarchy, parliament and marriageparliament and marriage

A government of technicians in A government of technicians in power with a council of Young peoplepower with a council of Young people

8-hours working day8-hours working day

””Futurist Anarchist State”Futurist Anarchist State”

Final result of the political programFinal result of the political program An apolitical anarchistic utopiaAn apolitical anarchistic utopia No class struggleNo class struggle ””Al di là del comunismo”Al di là del comunismo” Instead of the proletariat, a spiritual Instead of the proletariat, a spiritual

aristocracy that has the right to aristocracy that has the right to realize the Italian revolutionrealize the Italian revolution

””Artecrazia”Artecrazia”

Jean Grave (1854 – 1939)Jean Grave (1854 – 1939) La societé mourante et l’anarchieLa societé mourante et l’anarchie

(1892)(1892) Anarchy is artAnarchy is art Art = supreme form of individualismArt = supreme form of individualism The main duty of an anarchist society The main duty of an anarchist society

is to produce cultureis to produce culture Oscar WildeOscar Wilde

D’Annunzio and FiumeD’Annunzio and Fiume

The Republic of Fiume (1919 - 1920)The Republic of Fiume (1919 - 1920) La Carta del CarnaroLa Carta del Carnaro Free universityFree university Academy of fine artsAcademy of fine arts Schools of musicSchools of music In every municipality an orchestra In every municipality an orchestra

and a choir subsidized by the State and a choir subsidized by the State and giving free concertsand giving free concerts

Marinetti’s versionMarinetti’s version

Al di là del comunismoAl di là del comunismo (1920) (1920) ””Art is an alcohol that gives optimism to Art is an alcohol that gives optimism to

citizens”citizens” Number of artists must increase -> race of Number of artists must increase -> race of

artistsartists In every city a centre of geniusIn every city a centre of genius Every month new exhibitions of art and poetry Every month new exhibitions of art and poetry

readings. readings. Music: in every piazza a choir and an orchestraMusic: in every piazza a choir and an orchestra Life must become a work of artLife must become a work of art

Goodbye, anarchy! Goodbye, anarchy!

””Il Futurismo è un movimento Il Futurismo è un movimento schiettamente artistico ed ideologico. schiettamente artistico ed ideologico. Interviene nelle lotte politiche Interviene nelle lotte politiche soltanto nelle ore di grave pericolo soltanto nelle ore di grave pericolo per la Nazione.” (per la Nazione.” (Futurismo e Futurismo e FascismoFascismo, 1924), 1924)

Avant-garde and Avant-garde and totalitarianismtotalitarianism

Mussolini in power in 1922Mussolini in power in 1922 Changed position of Futurism from Changed position of Futurism from

antagonism to collaboration with the Stateantagonism to collaboration with the State Important position in the artistic life of the Important position in the artistic life of the

Fascist Italy (Venice Biennale…)Fascist Italy (Venice Biennale…) Marinetti member of l’Accademia d’ItaliaMarinetti member of l’Accademia d’Italia Marinetti wrote 2-3 articles in the Italian Marinetti wrote 2-3 articles in the Italian

Encyclopedia about FuturismEncyclopedia about Futurism Marinetti a special propagandist of the Marinetti a special propagandist of the

State in case of war State in case of war

Anarchist artAnarchist art

Difficult to defineDifficult to define Artistic anarchy towards society?Artistic anarchy towards society? Artistic anarchy within the tradition of Artistic anarchy within the tradition of

art?art? Kropotkin and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon: Kropotkin and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon:

– Art must serve the revolutionArt must serve the revolution– Documentary meaning: Social realismDocumentary meaning: Social realism

Fascist art policyFascist art policy

Discussion started immediately when Discussion started immediately when Mussolini became prime ministerMussolini became prime minister

Futurists wanted a strict artistic policyFuturists wanted a strict artistic policy Political dictatorship – artistic dictatorshipPolitical dictatorship – artistic dictatorship Futurism as the official art of FascismFuturism as the official art of Fascism Futurism had collaborated in the Futurism had collaborated in the

foundation of Fascism (1919)foundation of Fascism (1919) Fascist Italy a modern State – a need of a Fascist Italy a modern State – a need of a

modern artmodern art

Art and anarchist societyArt and anarchist society

Kropotkin: Kropotkin: – Artist represented the conscience of Artist represented the conscience of

humanityhumanity– Artist was able to change social realityArtist was able to change social reality

Futurist art and societyFuturist art and society

Marinetti: Marinetti: – ””art and literature have an enormous art and literature have an enormous

influence upon society”influence upon society”– Art as a tool of social activityArt as a tool of social activity– Rejection of the conception ”art for art’s Rejection of the conception ”art for art’s

sake”sake”– Social role of artistSocial role of artist– Social role of artsSocial role of arts

””Arte – vita”Arte – vita” Introduction of life in artsIntroduction of life in arts

– Easy to understandEasy to understand– Art in direct contact with life (antiacademic)Art in direct contact with life (antiacademic)

Profanation of the Enlightened middle-Profanation of the Enlightened middle-class concept of ”sublime art”class concept of ”sublime art”– Create corageously ”ugly”Create corageously ”ugly”– Spite on the althare of the artsSpite on the althare of the arts

Abolition of the boundaries between art – Abolition of the boundaries between art – non artnon art– New art forms: cuisineNew art forms: cuisine– New elements to arts: sportNew elements to arts: sport

Futurists and the Fascist artFuturists and the Fascist art

Impossibility to detach from the Impossibility to detach from the socio-political reality:socio-political reality:– ””The political spirit that Mussolini has The political spirit that Mussolini has

created is so impressive that the artists created is so impressive that the artists could not escape its influence.”could not escape its influence.”

The propagandistic aim of art: The propagandistic aim of art: – ””Art must serve a universal, political or Art must serve a universal, political or

nationalistic aim.”nationalistic aim.”

AerofuturismAerofuturism

Glorification of the airplanes and Glorification of the airplanes and aviationaviation

Propaganda of the technological Propaganda of the technological progress of Italyprogress of Italy

Nationalistic reasonsNationalistic reasons The spiritual element of flight: non-The spiritual element of flight: non-

materialistic dimension of technologymaterialistic dimension of technology

Gerardo Dottori: Gerardo Dottori: Aeropittura, 1930’sAeropittura, 1930’s

Aeropittura di Tato, Aeropittura di Tato, Dinamismo aereo, 1930’sDinamismo aereo, 1930’s

””Some strategies to disturb the Some strategies to disturb the order”order”

Anarchism = antagonistic ideologyAnarchism = antagonistic ideology Avant-garde = aesthetic dimensionAvant-garde = aesthetic dimension Terrorism = strategy of realizationTerrorism = strategy of realization

Anarchism, now?Anarchism, now?

Italy: reorganization of the anarchist Italy: reorganization of the anarchist movement in 1945 (Federazione movement in 1945 (Federazione anarchica italiana, FAI)anarchica italiana, FAI)

Wikipedia: anarcho-capitalism, green Wikipedia: anarcho-capitalism, green anarchism, anarca-feminism, anarco-anarchism, anarca-feminism, anarco-primitivism…primitivism…

Bourgeois anarchyBourgeois anarchy

Internet: cradle of anarchism, no Internet: cradle of anarchism, no authorityauthority

Collapse of Soviet UnionCollapse of Soviet Union Growing power of multi-national Growing power of multi-national

enterprisesenterprises Nation States’ diminishing powerNation States’ diminishing power ””Umanità cammina verso Umanità cammina verso

l’individualismo anarchico, mèta e sogno l’individualismo anarchico, mèta e sogno d’ogni spirito forte” (Marinetti, 1920)d’ogni spirito forte” (Marinetti, 1920)

Futurist Anarchism now Futurist Anarchism now (1909-2009)?(1909-2009)?

Marinetti’s anarchist strategyMarinetti’s anarchist strategy– Colourful languageColourful language– Artistic and extra-artistic manifestationsArtistic and extra-artistic manifestations

Aiming at getting attention and at Aiming at getting attention and at hiding a mediocre writerhiding a mediocre writer

Model of the modern intellectualModel of the modern intellectual Television series (The Idols)Television series (The Idols) Politics (Berlusconi, Lega Nord)Politics (Berlusconi, Lega Nord)

Thanks!Thanks!

””In everyone of us there is a little Anarchist… at least In everyone of us there is a little Anarchist… at least occasionally!”occasionally!” (M.H.) (M.H.)