On Two Important Episodes of Antifuturism and Pseudo-futurism in Rijeka (Fiume)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to amend and correct previously published work that tackled Futurist and Futurism-related events in Rijeka (Fiume). Based on the recent archival and bibliographic discoveries, the paper proposes new textual and contextual analysis of an important pseudo-Futurist manifesto created and published in Rijeka in 1914, and of Clementina Scala-Bonetta’s anti-Futurist and pseudo-futurist poetry. The paper provides basic descriptions of these two episodes, discusses their timeline, names the protagonists, and offers basic analyses of the texts involved. Previously unknown authorship of the Minerva Manifesto is partially resolved and presented
here. These two local episodes, framing the events of the Great War and of the early post-war years, add an important dimension to the usual discussions about Futurists whose activities pertain to the sixteen months of D’Annunzio’s rule over the city (1919-1921). The analysis of local pseudo-Futurism and anti-Futurism shows the overall level of reception of the Futurist movement, allows for the speculation on the possible paths of the early and later engagements with the movement, and explains political and social contexts. Special focus is placed
on the unexpected role of the political fraction of “Autonomists” (Moderates) in the historical unfolding and in the contemporary evaluations of Futurism-related and other avant-garde events in Rijeka (Fiume).