Futurism e-visited

Abstract

The paper argues the centrality of Futurist aesthetics and philosophies to current performance work utilising computer technologies, and suggests that Futurism’s legacy to ‘digital performance’ has been greatly underestimated. A close analysis of Futurist theatre manifestos reveals clear relationships between theatrical plans and practices separated by almost a century. These include fundamental principles of Futurist performance art such as alogicality, parallel action, photodynamism, luminous scenography, virtual actors, ‘synthetic theatre’ and the cult of the machine.