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The Bearers of Fire. Futurist (?) Ethos of Modernity in Finland in the 1920s. NeMLA 2010 Convention, Montreal, Canada ; April 8-11, 2010 Marja Härmänmaa, University of Helsinki. This presentation is about …. The concept of modern and modernity
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The Bearers of Fire Futurist (?) Ethos of Modernity in Finland in the 1920s NeMLA 2010 Convention, Montreal, Canada; April 8-11, 2010 Marja Härmänmaa, University of Helsinki
Thispresentation is about… • The concept of modern and modernity • The relationshipbetweenarts and national identity • The importance of the country’shistory and geographical position to the arts
Finland - Approximately 3,3 millioninhabitants in the 1920s - Independent in 1917
Italian Futurism in Finland • Practically unknown • For instance, very few mentions in literary history • In 1929: an essay of OlaviPaavolainen: ”The FrightenedMuses” • Aboutmodernphenomena of arts and culture • One chapterdedicated to Futurism • The mostimportantoverview of Italian Futurism in Finland
Olavi Paavolainen (1903-1964) • Writer and essayist • The Finnish ”prophet of modernism” • A leadingfigure of The Bearers of Fire
Futurismaccording to Paavolainen • A phenomenon of the modern world • Marinetti had invented ”modernolatry” in order to rescue Italy from the pressure of the past • Activism: ”seratefuturiste” • Political activity, affiliation to fascism • The concept of movement in painting • Literature: use of mathematical signs and the renovation of syntax • Synthetic theatre
The achievements of Futurismaccording to Paavolainen • No importantartisticachievements • Crucial as an ideology • Expression of the new rhythm of life • Aestheticappreciation of technology and machines • Futuristiconoclasm and disdain of tradition characteristic of allmodernarts • The importance of publicity for arts
Italian Futuristsmentionedby Paavolainen • F.T. Marinetti • Umberto Boccioni • Gino Severini • Giacomo Balla • Carlo Carrà • LuigiRussolo • Luciano Folgore • Enrico Prampolini • Maria Ricotti (theatre) • Ivo Pannaggi • Franco Casavola • Francesco Balilla Pratella
”Machinolatry” in Finland • In 1861: Poem ”Locomotivdriver” of J.J. Wecksell • the firstrailwaywasbuilt • In 1902-1935: writings of the architect Sigurd Frosterus • aboutbattleships, trains, airplanes… • 1920s: The Bearers of Fire • According to Olavi Paavolainen, hestarted ”machinolatry” in Finland
The ”other” machine • In the so-called working class literature • Social problems caused by the modernity • Industrial workers’ condition • Problems related to urbanisation
Tulenkantajat (The Bearers of Fire) • Modernist literary movement • In 1924 a collection of young poets’ poems • 1928-1930 the homonymous magazine • In 1930s developed into expressionism
Aaro Hellaakoski (1893-1952) Self-portrait, 1923
The Bearers of Fire A statue in Heinola of Anja Juurikkala (b. 1923), 1987
The ”programme” of the Bearers of Fire • No written programme • Renewal of the arts and literature with the new, European currents • SOME poets adapted the free verse in poetry (Vala) • SOME used visual poetry (Hellaakoski) • Arts in direct contact with the modern world • Representation of the modern world • But also of the countryside and nature • The creation of a new, modern Finnish identity • Against the dominant culture • Roots of the Finnish identity in nature and the countryside (realism) • Cult of Kalevala
Väinö Kunnas (1896-1929) ”City” (1926)
Case study 1: A DistantGardenby Katri Vala (1924) • Vala was considered the most important modernist poet of her generation • Collection of free verse poems • No traces of modernity • Exoticism • ”TajMahal”, ”Tahitian Serenade” • Inner feelings • ”Praying”, ”Nostalgia”, ”Heart” • Nature • “The Last Evening of April”, “The Flowering Land”, “The First Snow” • Modern in form; motifs from decadentism / expressionism
Case study 2: ”A TrainTrip in Spring” of Hellaakoski (1928) • ”A Finnish version of futuristmachinolatry” (H.K.Riikonen) • About a traintripin the countryside during the spring • Traditionalverses • Threestrophes • Motifs: • Spring • Flowers • Blossomingtrees
Modernity and the Bearers of Fire • New urban environment • The birth of a new, modern man • And subsequent crisis of identity • Machine as a natural part of modern life • airplanes, cars, trains • No social critic of industrialization
The Bearers of Fire and politics • Against communism • although some of them were leftists • Against fascism • in the 1920s Italian Futurism was identified with fascism • The extreme political ISMS were old-fashioned • The only modern ISM: PAN-EUROPEANISM
Futurism in the USSR • Created in 1912 • Communist revolution in 1917 • (Cubo-) Futurism practically dominated the artistic life during the first years after the revolution • Subsequently replaced by social realism
A (very) briefhistory of Finland • From the beginning of the 19th century Finland was part of Russia • From the mid -19th century onward artists and intellectuals were invited to ”invent” the Finnish national identity, based especially on Kalevala (Finnish mythology) • Independence from Russia in 1917 • Civil war between the Reds and the Whites in 1918, leading to the victory of the Whites • Approximately 37,000 casualties • In 1920s any kind of cultural exchange with the USSR was impossible
Finnish culture in the 1920s • Firstdecade of independence • Contribution of the arts to buildingFinnishidentity • Neo-classicism in architecture and in sculpture • Realism in literature -> discovering the ”roots of Finnishness”
Being ”modern” in intewar Finland • Attention to modern phenomena: • technology, urbanization • No political extremism (<- civil war) • Rejection of national identity based on ethnographic traditions (Kalevala) • ”Open the windows to Europe!” (The Bearers of Fire) • To be international instead of being national
Estonia - Independent from 1991 - Ca 1,3 million inhabitants in 2010
Futurism, now: Ethnofuturism • Artistic and cultural movement born in Estonia in early 1990s • Target: search for Finno-Ugric identity • Ideology based on Finno-Ugric and Uralic myths • Opposed to Western rationality, neo-colonialism, imperialism, and Christian religion • Avant-garde experiments + tradition • Use of tradition to construct an alternative identity of the future
AleksanderIvanov (1964-2001) ”The Rape of Europe”
AleksanderIvanov (1964-2001) ”The Tree of Life”
PeeterSepp’sexhibition in Estonia An Estonian Ethnofuturistliving in Canada
Thankyou! • I wish to thankprofessorH.K.Riikonen for the valuable help he gave me for thispresentation