Futurism: Anticipating Postmodernism

The first Manifesto of Futurism was published on Le Figaro on February 20th, 1909. It was to become the first avant garde movement in art, with the multiple aim of changing the function of art within society, fostering Italian culture beyond its provincial domains, and last, but not least extending language as free expression of a new and forthcoming society of technology. Art in life, was the deep aim of Marinetti's poetry, which was then to expand well beyond Italian borders and well beyond artistic expression, becoming an attitude for entering the new society. The more society was developing social constraints, the more artistic expression would become free of canons to let imagination fluently overwhelm reality. The main topics proclaimed as crucial by Futurists are the contemporary most influential topics for social stability: politics, communication and technology as well as the major movers of social change. What can we still grasp from the radical claims of avant-garde art?