Friday 20 February 2009

F. T. Marinetti’s ‘The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism’ February 20, 2009


‘We affirm that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath – a roaring car that seems to ride on grapeshot is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace.’

Fourth Article of the Manifesto of Futurism, published February 20, 1909.

The image of the Japanese ‘Itasha’ above comes courtesy of Danny Choo, currently guest blogger at Boing Boing. ‘The word Itasha, he explains, ‘describes a car that has been plastered with stickers of anime (Japanese cartoons) or eroge (Japanese dating sims) characters. “Itasha” literally means “painful car” and comes from the feeling that one would usually be painfully embarrassed to drive around in one. “Itasha” also means Italian Car.’ Choo's post went up on February 18. History is what we do best even as we give ourselves up to the future.

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