The Slovenian Historical Avant-garde in the Context of the Experience of the First World War, Nationalisms, and Fascism: The Case of Anton Podbevšek

Abstract

Slovenian historical avant-garde (ca. 1915–1927) was formed in the context of the experience of the First World War, the rise of nationalisms, and Italian fascism. The article focuses on Anton Podbevšek, a pioneer of the Slovenian avant-garde and an artist whose literary performances and poems hit the raw nerve of the Slovenian cultural space. Podbevšek introduced himself to his audience with his name and title of his poetry collection: Anton Podbevšek – The Man with the Bombs (Človek z bombami). The title, Podbevšek said, was a reflection of the then war times. The article challenges the assumption that in the early stages of his poetic career, Podbevšek was fascinated by futurism and that, under its influence, he was “magically attracted” to war. It illustrates that rather than futuristic language experiments, the poem cycle “Yellow Letters” (“Žolta pisma”) recalls the horrors of war and the language of trauma. The analysis shows that the wording and the sensuous-concrete presentation of the experienced ordeals beyond aestheticisation are essential characteristics of Podbevšek’s art. Many contemporaries “intuitively” recognised themselves therein, sympathetically reliving it. However, despite the fascination it aroused, it had to bow to the nationalist and/or militant-inspired “Future Builders”. The article also addresses the construct of the Balkan “barbarian genius” and the ambivalent attitude of (especially coastal) Slovenian avant-garde artists towards the Italian futurism due to its ties with irredentism and fascism.