Umberto Boccionis Futuristic essays

Umberto Boccionis Futuristic essays The creative engine of Italy was running low on fuel at the end of the 19th century. The Italians seemed to be still holding on to the pompous arrogance of the times and indulging in self-involvement. There was no other country at this time that was so subjected to the past, paralysed by lack of distinctive ideas, and deprived of a unique cultural identity1. The Italian public was fine with protecting tradition, and following naturalistic formulae and absolutely refused to notice the changes in art, literature, and drama. By the early 1900s technological inventions were becoming a crucial part of everyday life. Electric lighting, domestic appliances, and communications media were publicly known items that reinforced the sense of the impending future. Little did people know, that this integration between man and machine was the inspiration for futurism, which rumbled into the early 20th century. In 1909, when futurism was introduced to Italy, it was greeted with hesitation. Fu turism rejected all the splendor and decadence of Italys cultural past, in favor of new advances in science and technology. It enthusiastically embraced the concept of change as a fundamental aspect of its activities and ideology2. It was affected by the possibilities that new technology could bring, and the perception of modern city life. The futurists vision unfortunately upset many of the Italian public. Even though the public was eventually introduced to technology, many of them at that time could not understand the vision of these lovers of machines. Many of the manifestos, which discarded conventional morality and traditional values that were regarded as timid, nostalgic and sentimental, were not accepted with loving arms3. The readings of Futuristic poetry often ended in riots with several members of the audience in the hospital, and several Futurists ending up in jail. Umberto Boccioni was one of the Futurists that ended...