I will dance passionately into the Future, But I will look over my shoulder occasionally

There are several interesting fundamental qualities of Futurism that echo some of the inspiration behind New Media artists. The rejection of previous approaches of expression becoming inadequate in this era is extremely relevant in the discussion of New Media. The Futurist have an intense burning passion to aggressively challenge and pursue the future, chasing the ever-speedy horizon line. The Futurists were very poetic in the description of chasing what I assume to be impossible- the determination to make something beautiful through struggle, yet without looking back in time to witness the reception, or even at the present. The part of Futurism that I do not agree with is the destroying and the forgetting of the past. While poetically it is intriguing to exist in a world that only regards the future, I find it to be emotionally devastating to not have any historical figures or ideas for inspiration. I think that it is important to be aware of the past, and to treasure the past- yet to not dwell there because the the future soon turns to present and then instantly it is the past. It is right to look at your creations solely as your your future, and in that sense looking at other peoples work could be detrimental to the "pureness" of your work, but it is also often times very helpful. Specifically with New Media- we rely on other peoples work (various programs, processors, algorithms, ect.) which without these advancements from the past (...and present) we wouldn't have as much of a starting place to pursue our unique endeavors. But perhaps that is what the Futurists intended, although they would never mention it. Maybe they knew that we could never detach ourselves from the past and our surroundings. Maybe merely they are only creating a new perspective in an attempt to imagine a new reality to be an artist in- a fast passed dance into the dangerous unknown with only the future as guidance.