Il processo e l'assoluzione di "Mafarka il Futurista"

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25211

Title

Il processo e l'assoluzione di "Mafarka il Futurista"

Language

it

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A dramatic account of the 1910 Milan trial against F.T. Marinetti for obscenity regarding his novel 'Mafarka il Futurista'. Featuring impassioned defenses by the Futurist movement and literary experts, this text explores the clash between avant-garde art and conservative morality, culminating in a historic acquittal that celebrates artistic freedom.

Summary up to 500 words

On October 8, 1910, the Milan Tribunal convened to judge F.T. Marinetti on charges of outraging public decency regarding his novel, *Mafarka il Futurista*. The courtroom was packed with Futurist artists, critics, and supporters, including painters Boccioni, Russolo, and Carrà, who had traveled from across Italy to support their leader. Marinetti, a self-made intellectual and founder of the Futurist movement, defended his work with fiery eloquence. He argued that the novel was not pornography but a profound philosophical vision aimed at human regeneration. Marinetti rejected traditional morality and the 'tyranny of love,' advocating instead for a new, superhuman ideal. He explained that the novel's African setting and raw imagery were essential to its symbolic truth, designed to shock the reader out of complacency. He insisted that the grotesque elements were artistic necessities rather than erotic provocations, noting that he himself often felt repulsion toward the scenes he described. Luigi Capuana, a renowned novelist and defense expert, provided a detailed forensic analysis. He contended that the book's shocking elements were artistic necessities, highlighting the absurdity of prosecuting a work that explicitly condemned the very behaviors it depicted. Capuana argued that the author's intent was to provoke a moral awakening, not to arouse lust. Salvatore Barzilai and Innocenzo Cappa further supported the defense, emphasizing Marinetti's dedication to youth and the necessity of destroying the 'taboo of the past' to allow Italy to evolve. They argued that the prosecution failed to prove the text caused actual harm or was faithful to the original French version. The trial concluded with the President reading the verdict: acquittal for the non-existence of a crime. The courtroom erupted in applause as Marinetti was carried in triumph by his friends. The text serves as a powerful historical document of the Futurist revolution, illustrating their rejection of academic traditions and their belief in art as a force for social and spiritual renewal. It captures the intensity of the early 20th-century cultural battles between innovation and tradition.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Futurism