Italian Futurism and the Machine

321 Pages·2019·8.321 MB·English

by  Katia Pizzi

I ITALIAN
T
A
This book offers the first interdisciplinary exploration of
L
the machine in Italian futurism after the First World War.
I
Examining literature, the visual and performing arts,
A
photography, music and film, it uses the lens of machine FUTURISM
N
culture to elucidate the work of a broad set of artists
and practitioners, including Giannina Censi, Fortunato

Depero, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Bruno Munari and F
Enrico Prampolini. In doing so, it addresses a range of U
fascinating questions: what is arte meccanica? What are
T
the underpinnings of the conceptual shift from human TA
U
to mechanical in performance and the visual arts? How H
N
R
do machines intersect the dynamics of industrial and
commercial diasporas across Europe and globally? And I ED
S
how does traditional mechanics gain traction in an age of
M
M
relativity and indeterminacy?
The machine emerges here as an archaeology of TA
HN
technology in modernity: the time machine of futurismo.
ED
A
Building on this insight, the book makes a highly original M
contribution both to the study of Italian futurism and
A
modernism more generally. It is essential reading for
students and scholars in art history and theory. C C
H
Katia Pizzi is Senior Lecturer in Italian Studies at the Institute H
I
of Modern Languages Research, School of Advanced Study, N
University of London
E
I
P
N
i
z
z
i
E
Cover image: Tullio Crali, Città, 1926
ISBN 978-0-7190-9709-6
Katia Pizzi
9 780719 097096
www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
9780719097096_CVR.indd 1 04/04/2019 14:55
Italian futurism and the machine

Italian futurism and
the machine
Katia Pizzi
Manchester University Press
Copyright © Katia Pizzi 2019
The right of Katia Pizzi to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted
by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Published by Manchester University Press
Altrincham Street, Manchester M1 7JA
www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 0 7190 9709 6 hardback
First published 2019
The publisher has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for
any external or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does
not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or
appropriate.
Typeset by
Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire
This book is dedicated to Ivan and Lauro, to their mastery of machines

Contents
List of figures and plates ix
Acknowledgments xi
Abbreviations xii
Note on style and translations xiii
Introduction: the rape of Europa 1
1 Futurismo and the machine 20
1.1 The machine: science and technics 20
1.2 A philosophy of praxis 25
1.3 Questions concerning technology 30
1.4 Pathways to modernity 34
1.5 Migratory modernism 39
1.6 Futurismo and the machine 42
2 Mechanical mach(in)ismo: Filippo Tommaso Marinetti 48
2.1 Constructing the futurist machine 48
2.2 Imaginary capital 53
2.3 The First World War and technology 55
2.4 The cyborg 64
2.5 ‘The phosphorescent idiot’ 71
2.6 Machines and materials 82
3 Style of steel: Fortunato Depero in ‘dynamoland’ 89
3.1 The lathe and the loom 93
3.2 The natural artificial 97
3.3 Acciaio: prince of metals 107
3.4 A futurist in New York 113
3.4a Skyscrapers 121
4 At the frontier of futurismo 125
4.1 Frontier futurism: Avgust Cernigoj 129
4.2 Vinicio Paladini 132
4.2a Replacing the cross with technology 132
4.2b The drift towards immaginismo 138
viii Contents
4.3 Mechanical ballets and the demise of the machine 141
4.3a Balletto meccanico futurista 144
4.3b The swan song of the machine 152
4.4 Music machines 161
5 Between technodialogism and cosmic idealism 170
5.1 Arte meccanica 172
5.1a Arte meccanica and polimaterici 172
5.1b Mechanical theatre and film 181
5.2 Cultural operations and logistics 197
5.3 Fillia: the spiritual as posthuman 203
5.4 Inroads into aerofuturism 210
6 From aerodancing technobodies to dysfunctional machines 219
6.1 Aerofuturismo 219
6.2 Aeromania, the aviation industry and fascismo 222
6.3 Aeropoetry and aeropainting 225
6.3a Aeropoesia 225
6.3b Aeropittura 226
6.3c Aeropainting: a woman’s practice? 230
6.4 Aerodance 232
6.4a Futurist dance 232
6.4b Giannina Censi 234
6.4c Simultanina 237
6.4d Aerodancing the technological body 238
6.5 Quantum levities 245
6.5a Dematerialising bodies in motion: fotodinamica and futurist
photography 245
6.5b Bruno Munari: futurist beginnings 251
6.5c A machine counterculture: ‘my useless machines’ 254
Conclusion: Ex machina 258
Select bibliography 267
Index of names 297
List of figures and plates
0.1 Ivo Pannaggi, Il ratto d’Europa (The rape of Europa), 1963–68. Oil on
canvas and mixed media. Macerata, Musei Civici di Palazzo Buonaccorsi,
Pannaggi Heirs (Fototeca Musei Civici Palazzo Buonaccorsi Macerata). 1
2.1 Filippo Tommaso Marinetti on a tractor. Undated photograph. Filippo
Tommaso Marinetti Papers. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library, Yale University. 52
3.1 Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Benedetta Cappa Marinetti, Fortunato
Depero (on ottoman), Rome, 1926. Photograph. Filippo Tommaso
Marinetti Papers. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library, Yale University. 90
3.2 Fortunato Depero, Tornio e telaio (Lathe and loom), 1949. Oil on panel,
84.5x105 cm, with frame 95.5x115x6 cm. Inv. n. 1100. Forlì, Palazzo
Romagnoli, Collection Verzocchi. 93
3.3 Fortunato Depero, Grattacieli e tunnel (Skyscrapers and tunnel), 1930.
Guache on cardboard, 68x102 cm. MD 0086-b. Mart, Museo di arte
moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto, fondo Depero © DACS
2018. 123
5.1 Enrico Prampolini, Autoritratto simultaneo (Simultaneous self-portrait),
c. 1923. Oil on canvas, 100.6x100.6 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim
Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection
46.1020. Courtesy of Massimo Prampolini. 174
5.2 Enrico Prampolini, Cocktail, 1927. B/W photograph. Courtesy of
Massimo Prampolini and Hekman Digital Archive, Hekman Library,
Calvin College. 192
6.1 Fot. Santacroce, Milano. Aerodanze 6 (Aerodance 6), 1931. B/W
photograph, 175x125 mm. Mart, Archivio del ‘900, fondo Giannina
Censi, Cen. 1.73. Courtesy of the Museo di arte moderna e
contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto. 243
6.2 Tato (Guglielmo Sansoni), Pastore con somarello (camuffamento
d’oggetti) (Shepherd with donkey (camouflage of objects)), 1930. B/W