1.1 Futurism and Dada

Futurism and Dada were revolutionary art movements that shook up the early 20th century art world. Futurists celebrated speed, technology, and modernity, while Dadaists rejected logic and embraced absurdism in response to World War I.

These movements pioneered new performance techniques that broke artistic boundaries. They encouraged audience participation, incorporated multimedia elements, and explored unconventional spaces. Their influence laid the groundwork for modern performance art and experimental theater practices.

Origins of Futurism

• Futurism emerged as an avant-garde artistic movement in early 20th century Italy, rejecting traditional artistic values and embracing modernity, technology, and speed
• This revolutionary approach to art and performance greatly influenced the development of Performance Art, challenging conventional notions of artistic expression
• Futurism's emphasis on dynamism and the machine age laid the groundwork for experimental forms of performance that would shape the future of the discipline

Italian Futurist movement

Top images from around the web for Italian Futurist movement

• 

  Filippo Tommaso Marinetti « Algún día en alguna parte View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Manifesto of Futurism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Futurisme — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Filippo Tommaso Marinetti « Algún día en alguna parte View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Manifesto of Futurism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Italian Futurist movement

• 

  Filippo Tommaso Marinetti « Algún día en alguna parte View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Manifesto of Futurism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Futurisme — Wikipédia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Filippo Tommaso Marinetti « Algún día en alguna parte View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Manifesto of Futurism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Originated in Milan, Italy in 1909 through the publication of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto
• Embraced the rapid technological advancements and urban industrialization of the early 20th century
• Sought to capture the energy and motion of modern life through various artistic mediums (painting, sculpture, architecture, music, film)
• Rejected traditional artistic values and cultural institutions, advocating for a complete break from the past

Key Futurist figures

• Filippo Tommaso Marinetti: Founder of Futurism and author of the Futurist Manifesto
• Umberto Boccioni: Pioneered Futurist sculpture and painting, focusing on depicting movement and speed
• Giacomo Balla: Developed Futurist techniques for representing motion in painting and sculpture
• Luigi Russolo: Invented noise-making machines called "intonarumori" for Futurist musical performances
• Fortunato Depero: Created innovative Futurist theater designs and costumes

Futurist manifesto

• Published on the front page of French newspaper Le Figaro on February 20, 1909
• Outlined eleven key principles of Futurism, including the glorification of war, patriotism, and technological progress
• Called for the destruction of museums, libraries, and academies, symbolizing a rejection of traditional culture
• Emphasized the beauty of speed, aggression, and the machine age
• Declared that art must be an expression of modern life and should celebrate industrial and technological advancements

Futurist performance techniques

• Futurist performances aimed to shock audiences and challenge traditional artistic conventions
• These techniques revolutionized the concept of live art, paving the way for future experimental performance practices
• Futurist performances often blurred the lines between different art forms, incorporating elements of theater, music, and visual art

Speed and dynamism

• Utilized rapid, fragmented movements to convey the energy and pace of modern life
• Incorporated simultaneous actions and overlapping scenes to create a sense of chaos and excitement
• Employed "words-in-freedom" technique in poetry recitations, breaking grammatical rules and conventional syntax
• Developed "synthetic theater" concept, featuring extremely short plays lasting only a few minutes or seconds
• Experimented with unconventional staging and set designs to enhance the feeling of speed and movement

Noise and sound poetry

• Created "noise concerts" using Luigi Russolo's intonarumori machines to produce industrial and urban sounds
• Developed "parole in libertà" (words in freedom) poetry, emphasizing the sonic qualities of language over meaning
• Incorporated onomatopoeic words and non-linguistic vocalizations in performances
• Explored the concept of "wireless imagination" to create abstract soundscapes and audio collages
• Challenged traditional notions of music and poetry by embracing dissonance and unconventional sound production

Synthetic theater

• Introduced extremely short plays, some lasting only a few seconds, to capture the essence of modern life
• Emphasized brevity, surprise, and simultaneity in theatrical performances
• Eliminated traditional plot structures and character development in favor of abstract concepts and sensory experiences
• Incorporated elements of variety shows, circus acts, and vaudeville into theatrical presentations
• Experimented with audience interaction and participation to break down the fourth wall

Dada movement emergence

• Dada emerged as an anti-art movement in response to the horrors of World War I and the perceived failures of rationality
• This radical approach to art and performance significantly influenced the development of Performance Art by challenging the very notion of what constitutes art
• Dada's emphasis on chance, absurdism, and found objects opened new avenues for artistic expression in performance

Zurich Dada

• Originated at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, Switzerland in 1916
• Founded by Hugo Ball, Emmy Hennings, and other artists seeking refuge from World War I
• Characterized by its rejection of logic, reason, and traditional artistic values
• Incorporated elements of poetry, visual art, and performance in their avant-garde presentations
• Developed techniques such as simultaneous poetry and noise music to challenge conventional artistic expression

New York Dada

• Emerged independently from European Dada around 1915
• Key figures included Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, and Francis Picabia
• Focused on the concept of "readymades" and the questioning of artistic authorship
• Incorporated elements of American popular culture and machine aesthetics into their work
• Explored the boundaries between art and everyday objects, influencing later conceptual art movements

Berlin Dada

• Developed in the aftermath of World War I, around 1918
• Characterized by a more politically engaged and satirical approach compared to other Dada centers
• Key figures included George Grosz, John Heartfield, and Hannah Höch
• Utilized photomontage and collage techniques to create provocative political statements
• Organized public demonstrations and interventions to challenge social norms and political authority

Dada performance practices

• Dada performances aimed to shock, confuse, and provoke audiences through unconventional and often absurd presentations
• These practices greatly influenced the development of Performance Art by expanding the boundaries of what could be considered a performance
• Dada performances often incorporated elements of chance, improvisation, and audience participation

Cabaret Voltaire

• Served as the birthplace of Dada, hosting nightly performances from February to July 1916
• Featured a diverse range of artistic presentations, including poetry readings, music, dance, and puppet shows
• Introduced simultaneous poetry performances, with multiple poets reciting different texts simultaneously
• Incorporated noise music and abstract sound experiments into their performances
• Encouraged audience participation and spontaneous interventions during events

Chance and absurdism

• Embraced randomness and chance as creative tools in performance and composition
• Developed techniques such as cutting up newspapers and randomly arranging words to create poetry
• Incorporated nonsensical dialogue and actions into theatrical presentations
• Explored the concept of "automatic writing" to tap into the subconscious mind
• Used improvisation and spontaneity to create unpredictable and absurd performance situations

Ready-mades and found objects

• Introduced the concept of "readymades" by Marcel Duchamp, challenging traditional notions of art and authorship
• Incorporated everyday objects into performances and installations, blurring the line between art and life
• Utilized found materials and discarded items to create costumes, props, and set designs
• Explored the idea of "assisted readymades" by modifying or combining existing objects
• Challenged the concept of artistic skill and craftsmanship by elevating mundane objects to the status of art

Futurism vs Dada

• Both Futurism and Dada were influential avant-garde movements that challenged traditional artistic conventions
• Their contrasting approaches to art and performance greatly impacted the development of Performance Art
• Understanding the similarities and differences between these movements provides insight into the evolution of experimental performance practices

Artistic goals

• Futurism sought to celebrate modernity, technology, and progress through art and performance
• Dada aimed to reject logic, reason, and traditional artistic values as a response to societal failures
• Futurists embraced the machine age and sought to represent speed and dynamism in their work
• Dadaists focused on absurdism, chance, and the deconstruction of artistic conventions
• Both movements challenged the status quo but with different motivations and aesthetic approaches

Political ideologies

• Futurism aligned itself with Italian nationalism and later fascism, glorifying war and violence
• Dada emerged as an anti-war movement, rejecting the rationality that led to World War I
• Futurists advocated for social and political change through artistic revolution
• Dadaists often took an anarchic stance, challenging all forms of authority and established institutions
• Both movements used art as a means of social commentary, but with opposing political viewpoints

Aesthetic approaches

• Futurism emphasized dynamism, simultaneity, and the representation of motion in art and performance
• Dada embraced randomness, absurdism, and the use of found objects in artistic creation
• Futurists developed techniques like "words-in-freedom" and noise music to capture modern life
• Dadaists explored chance operations, readymades, and the deconstruction of language in their work
• Both movements experimented with multimedia presentations, but with different aesthetic goals and outcomes

Influence on performance art

• Futurism and Dada laid the groundwork for the development of Performance Art as a distinct artistic discipline
• Their innovative approaches to live presentations and audience engagement continue to influence contemporary performance practices
• The legacy of these movements can be seen in various forms of experimental and avant-garde performance today

Breaking traditional boundaries

• Challenged the separation between different art forms, combining elements of theater, music, and visual art
• Expanded the concept of what could be considered a performance, including everyday actions and gestures
• Introduced new performance spaces beyond traditional theaters, such as cafes, streets, and public spaces
• Rejected conventional narrative structures and character development in favor of abstract concepts
• Explored the use of technology and multimedia elements in live performances

Audience participation

• Encouraged active engagement from spectators, breaking down the fourth wall between performers and audience
• Developed techniques to provoke emotional and physical responses from viewers
• Incorporated improvisation and chance elements to create unique, unrepeatable experiences
• Explored the concept of the audience as co-creators of the performance
• Challenged traditional notions of spectatorship and passive consumption of art

Multimedia experimentation

• Integrated various artistic mediums into performances, including visual art, poetry, music, and film
• Explored the use of new technologies in live presentations, such as noise-making machines and projections
• Developed innovative staging techniques to create immersive and dynamic performance environments
• Experimented with the relationship between live performers and recorded or mechanized elements
• Pushed the boundaries of sensory experiences in performance through unconventional use of light, sound, and space

Legacy and impact

• The innovative approaches of Futurism and Dada continue to influence contemporary Performance Art practices
• These movements laid the foundation for numerous experimental art forms and performance styles
• Understanding their legacy provides insight into the evolution of Performance Art as a discipline

Neo-Dada movement

• Emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as a revival and reinterpretation of Dada principles
• Key figures included Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, and Yoko Ono
• Incorporated elements of popular culture and mass media into artworks and performances
• Explored the use of everyday objects and materials in artistic creation, expanding on the concept of readymades
• Influenced the development of Pop Art, Fluxus, and Conceptual Art movements

Fluxus and happenings

• Fluxus, founded by George Maciunas in the 1960s, drew inspiration from both Dada and Futurism
• Emphasized the blurring of boundaries between art and life, often incorporating everyday actions into performances
• Happenings, pioneered by Allan Kaprow, expanded on the idea of audience participation and environmental art
• Both movements explored the concept of chance and indeterminacy in performance, influenced by John Cage
• Challenged traditional notions of authorship and the commodification of art through ephemeral and participatory events

Contemporary performance art

• Continues to draw inspiration from Futurist and Dada techniques, such as audience interaction and multimedia experimentation
• Explores themes of identity, politics, and social issues through live performance and body art
• Incorporates new technologies and digital media into performances, expanding on Futurist ideas of embracing modernity
• Challenges conventional notions of time and space in performance, influenced by Dada's rejection of traditional artistic values
• Emphasizes the importance of process and experience over finished products, echoing the experimental nature of both movements