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Futurism and Constructivism

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Italian Futurists

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Inspired by the glories of the new technological world and upset by the arts desire to continue to focus on "classical" works, the Italian Futurists sought to bring movement and chaos to the theatre world.  Marinetti, the major proponent of the movement, sought to create a theatre a mechanization and movement - a theatre which captured the true spirit of the future.

"The Futurists rejected the past and wished to transform reality ... [they] deplored the veneration of the past as a barrier to progress ... [and] glorified the energy and speed of the machine age." (History, Brockett, 477)
 
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1900 - Max Planck formulates quantum theory
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1905 - First neon signs appear
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1905 - Albert Einstein formulates Special Theory of Relativity
 

 

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1912 -Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
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1912 - Carl Jung's Psychology of the Unconscious

 

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1914 - World War I begins when Archduke Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated in Sarajevo

 

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1917 - The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
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1917 - Freud's Introduction to Psychoanalysis published
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1918 - World War I ends

 

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1925 - Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf
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1927 - Charles Lindberg flies the Atlantic alone
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1929 - Stock Market Crashes in the United States
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1932 - Amelia Earhart first woman to fly across the Atlantic alone
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1933 - Philo Farnsworth develops electronic television
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1945 - World War II ends with 55 million dead

 

bullet1896
bulletLugne-Poe presents Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi at the Theate de l'Ouevre
bullet1909
bulletFilippo Tommaso Marinetti's first Futurist manifesto published in Le Figaro
bulletMarinetti presents Roi Bombance, inspired by Jarry's Ubu Roi, at the Theatre de l'Oeuvre
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bullet1910
bulletThe first Futurist evening held in Trieste, Italy
bulletUmberto Boccioni, Carla Carra, Luigi Russolo, Fino Severini and Giacomo Balla publish the Technical Manual for Futurist Painting
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bullet1911
bulletMarinetti publishes "The Pleasure of Being Booed" in his journal War, The Only Hygiene (1911 - 1915) in which he discusses that applause is a sign of mediocrity
bullet1912
bulletMarinetti writes Zang Tumb Tumb in a letter from the Bulgarian trenches to the painter Russolo
bullet1913
bulletVariety Theatre Manifesto published
bulletRussolo writes his manifesto The Art of Noises
bullet1914
bulletBalla gives a private performance of Macchina Tipografica ("Printing Press") for Diaghlev
bullet1915
bulletEnrico Prampolini calls for the removal of the actor in his manfiestos Futurist Scenography and Futurist Scenic Atmosphere
bulletFuturist Synthetic Theatre manifesto published by Marinetti and Emilio Settimelli
bulletMarinetti's play Simultaneity published
bullet1916
bulletVita Futurista, a Futurist film, produced
bullet1917
bulletBalla experiments with choreography of setting based on Stravinsky's Fireworks as part of Diaghlev's Ballet Russes
bullet1919
bulletIvo Pannaggi designs mechanical costumes for Balli Meccanichi
bulletDepero's Il Teatro Plastico published
bullet1921
bulletMarinetti and Francesco Canguillo publish their manifesto The Theatre of Surprise
bullet1933
bulletMarinetti and Pino Masnata publish the manifesto The Futurist Radiophonic Theatre

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Russian Futurism & Constructivism

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Inspired by the writings of Marinetti, Russian Futurists sought to create a movement which would cause the Western artists to look to Russia for guidance.  Also, these artists sought to create a format which was uniquely Russian in style.  As the movement progressed the movement became increasingly used as a device of propaganda and a voice for social reform.  The non-realistic experiments were brought to an end by the government's official endorsement of Socialist Realism.

 
bullet
1900 - Max Planck formulates quantum theory
bullet
1905 - First neon signs appear
bullet
1905 - Albert Einstein formulates Special Theory of Relativity

 

bullet
1912 -Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
bullet
1912 - Carl Jung's Psychology of the Unconscious
 

 

 

 

 

 

bullet
1914 - World War I begins when Archduke Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated in Sarajevo

 

 

 

bullet
1917 - The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
bullet
1917 - Freud's Introduction to Psychoanalysis published
bullet
1918 - World War I ends
 

 

 

 

 

bullet
1925 - Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf
bullet
1927 - Charles Lindberg flies the Atlantic alone
bullet
1929 - Stock Market Crashes in the United States
bullet
1932 - Amelia Earhart first woman to fly across the Atlantic alone

 

bullet
1933 - Philo Farnsworth develops electronic television
 

 

 

 

bullet
1945 - World War II ends with 55 million dead
 

 

 

 

bullet1909
bulletMarinetti's Futurist manifesto published in Russia
bullet1912
bulletDavid Burlyuk, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Benedikt Livshits and Victor Khlebnikov publish their manifesto A Slap in the Facet of Public Taste
bullet "Donkey's Tail" exhibition held
bullet1913
bullet"Why We Paint Ourselves: A Futurist Manifesto" published in St. Argus
bulletA Futurist film, Drama in Cabaret No. 13, created by Vladimir Burlyuk, David Burlyuk and Mayakovsky
bulletA second film, I Want To Be a Futurist, created (1913-14) starring Mayakovsky and Larzenko
bulletAuditions held by Mayakovsky and Alexi Kruchenykh for their two productions: Vladimir Mayakovsky, a tragedy, and Victory Over the Sun with costumes and settings designed by Malevich
bulletMayakovsky writes "Theatre, Cinematography, Futurism"
bullet1914
bulletMarinetti visits Russia
bulletVadim Shershenevich writes "A Declaration about the Futurist Theatre"
bullet1915
bullet"First Futurist Exhibition: Tramway V" held in Petrograd
bullet"Last Futurist Exhibition of Pictures 0.10" organized by Puni
bulletAlexandra Exter (Ekster) begins work with Tairov at Kamerny Theatre, a major step in the development of Constructivist production art
bullet1916
bulletNikolai Foregger arrives in Moscow to apprentice with Tairov at the Kamerny Theatre
bulletYevgeny Vakhtangov becomes the artistic leader of the Moscow Art Theatre's First Studio
bullet1917
bulletTairov writes Proclomations of an Artist
bullet1918
bulletNathan Altman and others celebrate the first anniversary of the October Revolution
bullet1919
bulletForegger lectures at the Union of International Artists of the Circus about the "renaissance of the circus"
bullet1920
bullet"The Storming of the Winter Palace" held at the third anniversary of the October Revolution
bulletMeyerhold named head of theatre in the Commisariat of Education
bullet1922
bulletYutkevich design's Vladimir Mass' Be Kind to Horses
bulletForegger experiments with "cinefication" in his production of The Kidnapping of Children
bulletMeyerhold produces The Magnificent Cuckold
bullet 1923
bulletThe Blue Blouse Group officially forms
bullet1930
bulletApril 20, Mayakovsky produces Moscow is Burning in commemoration of the Twenty-fifth anniversary of Bloody Sunday
bulletApril 14, one week before opening Moscow is Burning Mayakovsky commits suicide
bullet1934
bulletZhadnov presents the first official party statement on Socialist Realism
bullet1936
bulletAll theatres placed under the Central Direction of Theatres
bullet1938
bullet"Stabilization" of companies prevents a worker's changing jobs without official approval

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