futurism
Meaning
an artistic movement that began in Italy around 1909, which emphasized the dynamism, speed, and energy of the machine age
a belief in or focus on the future and modern developments, especially new technology
Structure
Usage
the paintings of giacomo balla are iconic examples of early futurism.
his writing is characterized by a technological futurism that envisions cities on mars.
the company's design philosophy leans toward a sleek, minimalist futurism.
Etymology
the term futurism is a modern construction, directly combining the latin root 'futur-' with the greek-derived suffix '-ism'. the latin 'futurus' is the future participle of 'esse' (to be), originating from the pie root bʰuH- meaning 'to become, grow, appear'. the suffix '-ism' entered english via latin from greek '-ismos', which formed nouns of action from verbs. the word was coined in the early 20th century to name an avant-garde artistic and social movement that explicitly rejected the past and worshipped the dynamism and technological promise of the future. thus, the literal 'doctrine of the future' perfectly captures the movement's ideological core, linking the ancient concept of 'what is to come' with a modern systematic ideology.
Analysis
futur (from latin 'futurus', meaning 'about to be', serving as the root conveying the core concept of 'future'); ism (from greek '-ismos', via latin and french, a suffix forming nouns denoting a distinctive system, theory, or artistic movement).