Art Cooking: Futurist Meat Sculpture | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios

Exploring the intersection of art and food, we prepare two dishes from the 1930s devised by the pasta-hating Italian Futurists. BEHOLD: 1) MEAT SCULPTURE and 2) LIKE A CLOUD. To support our channel, or at least consider it: / artassignment
Thanks to our Grandmaster of the Arts Indianapolis Homes Realty, and all of our patrons, especially Patrick Hanna, Constance Urist, and Chad Crews.
Assistance provided by: Futurist Friend Nichole Hicks.
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[@iriejones8292]

'this is imagery that transcends time and place' 😂

[@blindaurora]

This made me laugh too.

[@ptolemystoned]

This video was strangely fascinating, despite (or because of?) that horrifying meat phallus.

[@XarfaiEngel]

+

[@neighbourhoodgal]

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[@AnnoyingAsianWitch]

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[@mogulsm]

Kathryn Trojanowski 😂😂😂 exactly what I was thinking

[@zgosck3016]

"Supporting meats" is a beautiful combination of words that I'll likely never have an excuse to use in context.

[@muir9257]

if you have balls, yeah you will have an excuse to use in context! lmao

[@Xenolilly]

My six year old daughter said, "It looks yummy!" The art assignment never ceases to amaze and educate.

[@theartassignment]

Lol. My six year old son didn't get the joke either. But he wouldn't eat it. I must say, though, it wasn't bad! The chicken meatballs were very tasty, and the cylinder itself was completely edible. It's the look and size and implications that make it disturbing.

[@Xenolilly]

It really did look edible though once the cylinder was cut the meal looked less disturbing. If I were to make it I'd make just the cylinder.

[@rachelistired]

When I was studying abroad in Italy, I took a class on Italian Food and Wine. I did my final paper on Futurist food, and this reminded me of that experience. And for those in the comments who noticed the phallic nature of the food this is a reoccurring theme in the recipes as well as some of the other documents inside the cookbook. Especially because Marinetti believed that meat should mostly be fed to the military (and thus the men). Here is one of my favorite quotes from the cookbook "Vulgar and foolish the Italian woman who think it more elegant to say ‘I’ve drunk four cocktails’ than ‘I’ve eaten a bowl of minestrone’." (60)

[@theartassignment]

Hah! Thanks for contributing your knowledge here. I would also add that there are more than one formulas for breast-shaped foods. Such as "Strawberry Breasts," "a pink plat with two erect feminine breasts made of ricotta dyed pink with Campari with nipples of candied strawberry..."

[@rachelistired]

Right I meant my comment more in terms of expressions of hyperhetero male sexuality. If I'm remembering right (and it's been a while) these formulas seem to more about the ownership of the female rather than their liberation. Especially during this second wave of Futurism where it became part of the prop of the fascist state's views on women and their role in society rather than the revolutionary origins. Thank you for all that you do!

[@neighbourhoodgal]

!

[@yrcanlitprof1144]

lol

[@rosafiammante5027]

What about "cassata", a dessert that resembles the tit of a saint who was martyrized by breast amputation?

[@lorenabpv]

today i learned that futurists were basically hipster low carb people?

[@rosianna]

cosigned

[@neighbourhoodgal]

+

[@isaphillips6869]

Jackson Olin she already said low carb people

[@graphite2786]

When ever I feel nihilistic , I will always return to this video. The more times I watch it, the more ridiculous and surreal I find it. Your droll presentation, ( tinged with disapproval) the philosophy of futurism, the adventures in symbolism all tied in with your incredible dry wit; ( the upbeat music at the end) I find it absolutely hilarious. It makes me laugh at the absurdity of it all and lets me review the world in a new light.

[@LadyPoing]

"Imagery and symbolism that transcends time and place..." ...it looks like a phallus...

[@loscopihues2343]

well, it does transcends time and place.

[@jurgenspieterse9613]

Art show? Cooking show? Art Assignment always blurring boundaries

[@isabellabornberg2153]

Happy Eccentrics +

[@MrWunterslausch]

it looks like a penis.. but nevertheless interesting to hear ideologies being translated to food. I wonder what other foods exist as a product of a movement like this

[@MrWunterslausch]

It can't be unintentional.....

[@andromedaj2894]

MrWunterslausch They did say these meals were meant to be "provocative and evocative"

[@Gemela12]

MrWunterslausch I cant believe it wasn't on purpose. Specially the honey part. If they recreate another "formula" we can see if the pattern repeats

[@PoseidonXIII]

I mean they were all about strength and war, which to me always seemed to be rooted in the obsession guys seem to have about their penises and their insecurities about sex.

[@theartassignment]

As @rachelistired remarks in another comment, there were many phallic formulas in the cookbook, including "The Excited Pig: a whole salami, skinned, is served upright on a dish containing some very hot black coffee mixed with a good deal of eau de Cologne." But there are a wide variety of formulas within the cookbook, all intended to shock their diners. Here are a selection of other formula titles: Immortal Trout, Steel Chicken, Rice Oranges, Ultravirile, Manandwomanatmidnight, Cubist Vegetable Patch, Carrot + Trousers = Professor, Intuitive Antipasto, Piquant Airport, Veal Fuselage, and Italian Breasts in the Sunshine.

[@mustardsfire22]

I love this style of episode so much. Please do more cooking art.

[@gibbozi]

How do you say phallic in Italian?

[@KannikCat]

I was going to joke and say "fallico!" -- but I checked Google Translate and it _IS_ indeed fallico! :D

[@narcissisticjuxta3598]

Fallico or Cazzo

[@purvdragon-sensei]

gibbozi benis

[@eccoeco3454]

Fallico

[@jin5325]

But most importantly, how did everything taste?

[@eccoeco3454]

Horribly

[@robertolie6798]

I think the meat sculpture product provided ample symbolism(tee hee) in terms of what the futurists inevitably might embody in their thought and philosophy.

[@robertolie6798]

Also I think rather than commit to that humongous piece, I'd rather promote futurism cuisine in small bite sizes

[@jurgenspieterse9613]

Roberto Lie Hehehe... Bite sizes... Nice

[@MichiruEll]

This makes me uncomfortable on many levels: the meat used as art (vegetarian), the phallic end product, the fact that we are following recipes (take that!) of people with questionable politics. But Art Assignment has taught me to embrace discomfort, so... thank you! (?)

[@gabrielas1986]

best comment on youtube. EVER.

[@modestysnooze6154]

This was so brilliant and hilarious, I saw/heard a whole different side to Sarah. I would love to see more of the Art Assignment team recreating or participating, now that art assignments are a thing of the past.

[@KannikCat]

What a fun episode! I have about fourteen different things I want to say all at once! The fancy hands introducing the book; the great "which I'll tell you about in due course" pun; the tidiest hand-eating of a pile of whipped cream I'd ever seen or imagined; structural engineering; and thinking "uhhh... that doesn't look cooked to me" and then watching you check it with your fingers. Apparently you had the same concern -- maybe that's why you didn't say what it tasted like? ;) Really enjoyed this! Thank you for continually expanding my boundaries on art. :)

[@acg4879]

Wow. Weird. Facists are weird. I know that's not really a contribution...but after that...it's all I've got.

[@666ndr]

Seems fair.

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

Futurism does not equal Fascism.

[@tommbino8846]

Are you frying the sausages?!? An italian is probably dying right now.

[@TheAunrue]

I am loving these cooking what artists cook videos! Watching all of them on repeat.

[@AliGrotkowski]

Having read some of the Futurist Cookbook in school years ago, this is one of the most excellent videos! Thank you SO MUCH!!

[@sofiecarlson8017]

This was great! I'm currently working on an essay about the futurist movement, so this felt like a fun extra tid bit. 😄

[@theartassignment]

+Sofie Carlson Hah! Perfect timing. Our reporting cuts quite a bit of the movement's dark side.

[@queenfrostine97]

The futurists were so fucking extra I love it

[@mattdellovade168]

I love the way the video ties in the way that meals developed int eh time with a movement that was revenant as well during the time. I tried making the meatballs with sausage marinated in the meatball leftovers and i must say, it came out quite good. Thumbs up to this video.

[@madame.manage]

This series is perfection 🙌✨

[@rayday2521]

This was so much fun! I really enjoyed this. Please consider doing another art/cooking lesson! :D

[@crking685]

A GOOD meat sculpture is HARD to find, er, is it a HARD meat sculpture is GOOD to find?!😉

[@firewordsparkler]

Mussolini did a lot ore than advocate for self-sufficiency, but I loved this video! Very *ahem* evocative.

[@amandamakesminis]

This was fantastic. I hope you all make more content like this!!!

[@PoseidonXIII]

Thanks for sharing this very interesting corner of art history. Art as a means to change the world is a message I think everyone can get behind.

[@jessicachen5134]

this series is amazing!

[@clotildevivier8650]

"Pasta induces lethargy, pessimism, nostalgia" oh that's it then

[@calebgrassi7494]

I like this style of content with the art assignment.

[@agustinvenegas5238]

The piece in question is curious in its grotesqueness(??) if I saw this on an art gallery I'd probably think that the author meant it to be kinda hard to look at and catch attention due to that Besides its artistic, Ehm, qualities, I can't separate it from it's authors political views and that, ironically, despite fascist frowning at homosexuality they're the ones making huge meat penises for lunch

[@hectortorres9316]

Never heard of homofascism

[@elvenraven]

I like how pasta would induce lethargy, but not the breaded meatball, sausage, and veal tower. This is the best.

[@Tavares0709]

Fascism is one hell of a drug

[@lukebryant]

The futurist cookbook is fascinating!!

[@notlikewater]

This is incredible.

[@balthazar_sl]

Solange c'est grâce à toi que je suis là

[@finchhawthorne1302]

Miss this series it’s very fun.

[@zentouro]

this was truly wonderful to watch.

[@zentouro]

'just like real clouds'

[@popcornpretzel6720]

I love this video!

[@BrianHutzellMusic]

"I'd like a single plum, floating in perfume, served in a man's hat."

[@maggiehall8501]

this is amazing

[@rexappleby4981]

this video was amazing and what made me subscribe thanks!

[@duckpondwithoutducks]

I watched this video yesterday. Then this morning I was reading My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith. In chapter 8, two characters briefly discuss Futurism. Thanks to the video, I understood what they were talking about! Otherwise, I would have just been like, huh?

[@AscensionNCS]

Solid video! Have a great day

[@jessamyn19]

amazing!

[@totster8377]

Like the new type of video!

[@martinwessel9269]

i love the sarcastic overtone

[@aaronmccracken7351]

8:15 Okay, that went from "9 1/2 Weeks" to "The John Bobbitt Story" reeeal fast.

[@ariadnac62]

This could perfectly be part of an Austin Power's film. And that dessert? hahaha going with the theme as well.

[@Nata-rb4vc]

What??? I’m geeking this is hilarious

[@blindaurora]

Imagery that trancends time and place!!!!!! I LOLed!!!!!

[@loudaprile471]

loved this video, if this is the new direction of art assignment, i'm on board. (phallic meat and all)

[@aMissAdventure]

That's it! I'm subscribing NAOW!

[@lvo3617]

Wow 2:40 looks like Frodo wrapped in the spiders' web

[@WonderWomanoftheWeb]

pasta definitely induces nostalgia.

[@denverrandy7143]

Nice Creppinette👍

[@xingmei818]

waaah I truly love your content!! love this I hope this can be translated into other things. I really didn't know food was also used as a medium for art. gaah

[@elwynbrooks]

Perfume around the table? Theatrical music? Sounds of engines? Is Heston Blumenthal a futurist?

[@keegster96]

This was one of my favorites, lol

[@tyetye]

More!!!!

[@indubitablyzara]

I love cooking and food, and despite (or because of?) the fact that I'm rather horrified by the prospect of eating the meat sculpture, this was a ton of fun to watch. And I would totally eat the cloud. ;)

[@CreatrixTiara]

Now I want a cooking show that's just art food.

[@matthias8122]

How did you manage to cook the chicken meatballs all the way through without turning the outsides black? I can barely cook regular-sized ones.

[@ThatWouldBeCareless]

Everything about this was hilarious and wonderful. Except the deeply unsettling policies of the futurists, obviously.

[@bidaubadeadieu]

Holy toledo that looks DISGUSTING. I mean, I love the history lesson, and in general it's always interesting to see how the past imagines its pastaless future. But please tell me they had some vegetarian formulas.

[@theartassignment]

They did. One was "Cubist Vegetable Patch," which has you to lay out precise arrangements of cubes of veggies (like "cubes of celery from Verona fried and sprinkled in paprika") into a very artful composition. But on the other hand, they also had "Surprise Bananas: Scoop out a cavity in a peeled banana and fill it with chopped chicken meat. Put it on the fire in a buttered pan and gradually add some meat juices. Serve it with vegetables." Ewww....

[@charlestaylor5741]

This is terrifying and I love it

[@milesmamigonian4831]

Yay!

[@DonovanPresents]

Where can I get this futurist cookbook?

[@coughdrop01]

I want to know how all of this stuff tasted!

[@vapidrabbit198]

was that cooked all the way through?

[@JesReally]

The playlist plays backwards so I kept seeing references to the meat sculpture before I made it to this one lol- the anticipation made it better I think

[@AnnoyingAsianWitch]

The meat cylinder looks like Salad Fingers' baby.

[@joshjgraham]

How did it taste?

[@bridgettisokaybutnotreally3097]

the phallic meat sculpture is the food of the future...

[@gussnarp]

This is horrifying on so many levels.

[@sandhiyaann2533]

So this is the infamous meat art .it's horribly fascinating.

[@wallijacanero1532]

the honey on the top of it is such a classy thing... like, we are talking about something else, right?

[@janesmith3267]

soooo phallic... :)

[@PocketDeerBoy]

For a glorious italian dish this feels disgustingly american

[@kelseyf2619]

Do you think the futurists would be pleased to know you attemtped their formulas in what, to them, is now the future?

[@fanta4897]

No. Because it is looking into formulas created in the past.

[@CantoniaCustoms]

@@fanta4897 on the same token, they would think that soylent would be the greatest invention ever made.

[@utahraptor4729874]

Fast food❌ FASTER FASTER FASTER food✅

[@mrtyler603]

I miss when people thought futurist food was soylent green and nutrient pills

[@lemonminus1589]

not gonna lie that meat withthe vegetbles looks really good (if it was plated well)

[@fanta4897]

Ok, that's *F A S T*

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

Faster

[@kristinaaudradella2505]

can we all just agree that we all know what that meat sculpture looks like

[@radicalbacon]

I can imagine John leaving this meal, for lack of utensils.

[@XarfaiEngel]

What an amazing video. But oh! so horrific as a vegetarian. I enjoyed it nonetheless!

[@clairesavage1500]

Also a little horrifying for someone who eats meat

[@agustinvenegas5238]

Claire Savage I found it disturbing even though I eat meat in not necessarily small quantities

[@theDENIMMAN]

I watched a whole bunch of other vids in this series where this is refferenced I had to see the "horrifying meat sculpture"

[@mysoundtomultiply]

i constantly wake up in the middle of the night sweating because of that horrid meat sculpture

[@thimblepunk7359]

I'm crying with laughter

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

SWISS CHARD?! This is meant to be an all-Italian dish!

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

Further more, panko is japanese!

[@TheOriginalLeo]

F/A/S/T 👌🏻

[@adenosine2electricboogaloo647]

Is that a reference to what I think it is? faster

[@iridescentaurora268]

… Leonardo da Vinci, I don’t think he ate meat, are there any records of *his* recipes??? I wanna see some *OLD* vegetarian recipes!

[@vaporwavevocap]

Of course the futurist would have orange juice and mint in the same reci-- formula.

[@hannahjoyhopes]

Right but like... How was it????

[@gw7389]

I would have interpreted those instructions so differently

[@AndreiGromit]

It does look delicious and decadent. Enjoy meat while you still can. Some of us have lost our taste for it, and so will you probably. That's a possible future.

[@b_____d]

lololololol Very interesting.