I always choose to present these two pieces together. The second piece, which I have adapted from the first, seems to define itself only when posed against the other.

The Manifesto of Futurism

F. T. Marinetti, 1909

1. We want to sing the love of danger, the habit of energy and rashness.

2. The essential elements of our poetry will be courage, audacity and revolt.

3. Literature has up to now magnified pensive immobility, ecstasy and slumber. We want to exalt movements of aggression, feverish sleeplessness, the double march, the perilous leap, the slap and the blow with the fist.

4. We declare that the splendor of the world has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing automobile with its bonnet adorned with great tubes like serpents with explosive breath … a roaring motor car which seems to run on machine-gun fire, is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace.

5. We want to sing the man at the wheel, the ideal axis of which crosses the earth, itself hurled along its orbit.

6. The poet must spend himself with warmth, glamour and prodigality to increase the enthusiastic fervor of the primordial elements.

7. Beauty exists only in struggle. There is no masterpiece that has not an aggressive character. Poetry must be a violent assault on the forces of the unknown, to force them to bow before man.

8. We are on the extreme promontory of the centuries! What is the use of looking behind at the moment when we must open the mysterious shutters of the impossible? Time and Space died yesterday. We are already living in the absolute, since we have already created eternal, omnipresent speed.

9. We want to glorify war — the only cure for the world — militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of the anarchists, the beautiful ideas which kill, and contempt for woman.

10. We want to demolish museums and libraries, fight morality, feminism and all opportunist and utilitarian cowardice.

11. We will sing of the great crowds agitated by work, pleasure and revolt; the multi-colored and polyphonic surf of revolutions in modern capitals: the nocturnal vibration of the arsenals and the workshops beneath their violent electric moons: the gluttonous railway stations devouring smoking serpents; factories suspended from the clouds by the thread of their smoke; bridges with the leap of gymnasts flung across the diabolic cutlery of sunny rivers: adventurous steamers sniffing the horizon; great-breasted locomotives, puffing on the rails like enormous steel horses with long tubes for bridle, and the gliding flight of aeroplanes whose propeller sounds like the flapping of a flag and the applause of enthusiastic crowds.

The Female Manifesto

Haley Kooyman, 2010

1. We want to sing the love of danger, the habit of wiles and laughter.

2. The essential elements of our poetry will be courage, generosity and silence.

3. Literature has up to now magnified desperate romantics, ecstasy and weakness. We want to exalt movements of poise, feverish looks, the bubbling smiles, the perilous dance, the gaze and the brush of the hand.

4. We declare that the splendor of the world has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of femininity. A steadfast woman with her eyes adorned with great jewels like stars with explosive brightness … a purring siren who seems to run on ardor and intelligence, is more beautiful than the damsel saved.

5. We want to sing the man at attention, the ideal stance which crosses the earth, all adoring her womanhood.

6. The woman must adorn herself with warmth, glamour and prodigality to increase the enthusiastic fervor of the animalistic brawn that clings to her.

7. Beauty exists only in grace. There is no masterpiece that has not a kind character. Poetry must be a brilliant assault on the forces of the unknown, to invite them to bow before woman.

8. We are on the extreme promontory of the centuries! What is the use of looking at the glass when we must open the mysterious shutters of the impossible? Time and Space shall be manipulated in accordance with her want. We are already living with the harsher sex, and have better since we’ve learned to control them

9. We want to glorify the hourglass — the only cure for the hungry eyes — the well manicured nails, the wave of hair, the familiarity of fine speech, and the contempt for uncleanliness.

10. We want to demolish weakness and fear, fight stupidity, a lack of awareness, and oppose the multitudes of cowardly women.

11. We will sing of the great crowds excited by play, pleasure and caressing; the multi-colored and well cut dresses found according to modern designs: the nocturnal vibration of the bed frame and the couples entwined in their violent electric fantasy: the intriguing silence devouring its male prey; moments suspended from the clouds by the thread of their essence; legs that can leap like gymnasts to be admired as sunny rivers: adventurous creativity sniffing the horizon; great-breasted goddesses, posing during dusk like enormous pillows with a knack for inviting your longing, and the gliding step of that sculpted foot whose heel sounds like the ticking of a clock and the applause of enthusiastic crowds.