Future Tense The roots of techno-authoritarianism
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Apr 3, 2025 Annalee Newitz, a journalist and author known for her incisive takes on futurism, joins Jonathan White, a politics professor at the London School of Economics specializing in far-right ideologies. They discuss the echoes of the early 20th-century Futurism movement in today's tech landscape. The conversation reveals how disruption narratives appeal during societal decline and draw parallels between tech moguls and historical fascism. They also dissect the contrasting political visions competing for the public's attention amidst rising authoritarianism.
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Marinetti's Car Crash
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, an Italian poet, coined the term "futurism" after a car crash.
- This experience shaped his view of the future as violent and disruptive.
Futurism's Influence on Art
- Marinetti's futurism wasn't solely political; it embraced technology and artistic expression.
- Artists like Salvador Dali were influenced by futurism's incorporation of modernity.
Futurism and Fascism
- Marinetti's futurism directly influenced fascism.
- He published the Futurist Manifesto in 1909 and the Fascist Manifesto ten years later.
