When the Italian poet and writer F.T. Marinetti published his Manifesto of Futurism on the front page of Le Figaro in February 1909, he launched the first real revolution in the arts, says Jean-Pierre de Villers.

UWindsor professor emeritus of languages, literatures and civilizations, Dr. de Villers will address this revolution in a free public presentation on Wednesday, October 19, at 3:30 p.m. in Assumption University’s Freed-Orman Centre.

He says his lecture, titled after Jean Cocteau’s call to arms: “On ne respire plus, il faut jeter une bombe!” will try to convey the importance of Futurism in the rebuilding of our world.

The founder and editor of the journal Studies on Futurism and the Avant-Garde, de Villers has published extensively on the topic, including Futurism and the Arts (1975), Le Premier Manifeste du Futurisme de F.T. Marinetti (1986), Standing on Top of the World/Futurist manifestoes 1909-1927 (2008), and the forthcoming Futurist Manifestoes 1909-1944.

Wednesday’s event is presented by the Humanities Research Group as part of its Martin Wesley Lecture Series, and will include a reception following the formal program.