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*THE ASSIGNMENT REQUIRES THAT NO SOURCES OTHER THAN THE ONES PROVIDED BE USED* Also, the prompt conflates fascism and futurism, but please use the term fascism when answering the prompt, and only use futurism when referring to evidence. This essay examines some of the documents that influenced the rise of fascism and communism as ideological movements. These documents matter because of the obvious role they played in the Second World War. We also examine these ideas because they outlived the war, spread globally, and continued in various forms. Some of these ideas persist today.  Included in this essay are the following sources The “Manifesto of Futurism” by the Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti published in 1909 The “Manifesto of Communism” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels first published in 1848, excerpt Selections of Futurist Art ABOUT THE SOURCES: From the MOMA, New York: The “Manifesto of Futurism,” written by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and published on the front page of the French newspaper Le Figaro on February 20, 1909, proclaimed the burning desire of the author and his fellow Futurists to abandon the past and embrace the future. Tired of Italy’s reliance on its classical heritage and disdainful of the present, these artists called for a new aesthetic language based on industry, war, and the machine. In addition to their prolific output of drawings, photographs, films, performances, and paintings and sculptures (examples of which are on view in the fifth-floor Painting and Sculpture galleries), the Futurists (1909–1944) published countless manifestos, leaflets, and art and poetry periodicals. The Italian Futurists were not themselves necessarily fascists, but their ideas certainly influenced proto-fascists and fascists who came after them. The Manifesto of Communism was published in London in 1848 as the revolutions of 1848 began. It is by no means the first written work on socialism, but it has been influential, and is still widely read and discussed. Its enduring appeal may be attributed to its treatment of inequalities. Marx criticizes capitalism using terms that become the vocabulary of socialism: bourgeoisie, proletariat, surplus-value, and class struggle. For simplicity’s

sake, we may use the terms communism and socialism interchangeably in this essay. For this essay, we will be thinking through the origins of the ideologies of fascism and communism. Remember, we are examining the assigned documents, not present-day perceptions of these ideas. First, come up with separate working definitions of fascism and of communism. Do not conflate these ideologies; they are different. It can be tough to separate the ideas stated in these documents from how movements and regimes supporting these philosophies implemented them, but give it a try. If it helps, make a chart separately listing each ideology and how it was implemented. Consider how fascism and communism are different from each other in terms of ideology. Do they agree on any points? What are the priorities or values that matter in a fascist society? In a communist society? After laying this groundwork, you should be ready to address the following question: How would each of these philosophies, fascism, and communism, ideally like to remake society? Think in terms of class, gender, race, or other categories of difference. Think of education, property, and what everyday life would be like according to the ideas presented in these documents. It’s fine to mention how political figures like Hitler, Mussolini, or Stalin attempted to implement their respective regimes, but be sure to address the two manifestos and the visual art offered in this module. To earn a higher score on this assignment, formulate a thesis statement/argument/claim. Rely on the assigned texts and use them as evidence to support your observations and conclusions on this topic. Only refer to the assigned materials from this course. DO NOT refer to outside content from the Internet or other sources. Feel free to contact me well before the deadline if you have questions. Part of the purpose of this assignment is to see what ideas you come up with on your own, using only the assigned materials. The essay should be about 550-750 words.
The post *THE ASSIGNMENT REQUIRES THAT NO SOURCES OTHER THAN THE ONES PROVIDED BE USED* Also, the prompt conflates fascism and futurism, but please use the term fascism when answering the prompt, appeared first on Essaybrook.