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Futurism Facts & Worksheets

Futurism was an Italian art movement in the early 20th century, which aimed to capture the dynamism and energy of the modern world in art.

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Futurism was an Italian art movement in the early 20th century, which aimed to capture the dynamism and energy of the modern world in art.

See the fact file below for more information on the Futurism or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Futurism worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DEFINITION AND HISTORY OF FUTURISM

  • Futurism was an Italian art movement from 1908 – 1944 that aimed to capture the dynamism and energy of the modern world in art through movement, dynamism, modernity, industry, technology.
  • The futurists had vast knowledge and vision about the latest developments in science, philosophy, aviation, and cinematography.
  • They proposed an art form that highlighted modernity and its industry and technology.
  • Futurism represented a dynamic vision of the future and often portrayed urban landscapes and new technologies, including trains, cars, and airplanes.
  • They promoted speed, violence, and the working class, believing they would advance change using blurring and repetition techniques.
  • In 1909, Italian poet and editor Filippo Tommaso Marinetti published the Futurist Manifesto, reflecting his goal to discard the art of the past and celebrate change, originality, and innovation in culture and society.
  • After the First World War, many artists were disillusioned by technology and the modern age. They believed it contributed to the conflict.
  • For this reason, many of them rejected futurism and started using more traditional approaches. This phenomenon is described as the “return to order”.
  • Soon, Marinetti collaborated with dictator Benito Mussolini, so the art transformed into political art. It did not last because it inspired public anger and aroused controversy.

STYLE AND DEVELOPMENT

  • The manifesto was committed to ‘universal dynamism’, and the artists’ obsession with the technology of the modern age was evident.
  • They also glorified the idea of combining humanity with machines.
  • To portray movement, speed, and change, their works included rhythmic spatial repetitions of an object’s outlines during transit, such as speeding automobiles and trains, racing cyclists, dancers, animals, and urban crowds.
  • Besides painting, futurism was also expressed in sculpture. Umberto Boccioni produced Development of a Bottle in Space (1912) and Unique Forms of Continuity in Space (1913).
  • Writers also embraced Italian literary futurism. They sought to develop a language that expounded upon the speed and ruthlessness of the early 20th century.
  • Free-word poetry was introduced, and it deviated from the traditional style of linear typography and conventional syntax and spelling.
  • Other futurist arts expanded to mixed-media events, the use of manifesto leaflets, poster poems, and broadsheet journals with articles about literature, painting, and theoretical pronouncements.
  • Architecture also experienced futurism. Antonio Sant’ Elia expressed his ideas of modernity in his drawings for La Città Nuova (The New City). His ideas influenced the next generations of architects and artists.
  • In 1910, futurism reached out and influenced music.
  • Together with Marinetti, Luigi Russolo gave the first concert of futurist music, permitting the performer to create and control the dynamics and pitch of different types of noises.
  • Influenced by Marinetti, dances in the Futurism Movement were interpreted as an alternative way of expressing man’s ultimate fusion with machine.
  • Films such as Ménilmontant by Dimitri Kirsanoff and Thaïs by Anton Giulio Bragaglia (1917) were two of the rare films that portray futurism.

FUTURISM IN RUSSIA

  • Futurism in Russia was led by poets Vladimir Mayakovsky Velimir Khlebnikov and Aleksei Kruchyonykh, as well as visual artists David Burliuk, Mikhail Larionov, Natalia Goncharova, Lyubov Popova, and Kazimir Malevich.
  • The main style of painting was Cubo-Futurism (cubism and futurism), which portrays dynamism, speed, and the restlessness of modern urban life.
  • Despite its initial popularity, futurism declined in Russia after the revolution of 1917.

LEGACY OF FUTURISM

  • After Marinetti died in 1944, futurism as a coherent and organized artistic movement was now regarded as extinct.
  • However, its emphasis on youth, speed, power, and technology finding expression in much of modern commercial cinema and culture expanded in the West.
  • In Asia, Japan was most influenced by the concept of futurism. In 1912, poet and sculptor Takamura Kōtarō (1883-1956) published an article titled “Miraiha no zekkyō” (The Cry of Futurism), in which he presented various aspects of Italian futurism.
  • Manga/anime and films also show the concept of futurism, such as Akira (1988) and Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989).

Futurism Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Futurism across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Futurism worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Futurism which was an Italian art movement in the early 20th century, which aimed to capture the dynamism and energy of the modern world in art.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Futurism Facts
  • Color the Future
  • Futurism x Cubism
  • Futurism Movement
  • Futurism: Speed
  • Futurism: Literature
  • Futurism: Technology
  • Futurism: Fashion
  • Futurism: Space
  • Futuristic Neighborhood
  • Futurism in Photos

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Link will appear as Futurism Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 5, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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