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How did Russian Futurist poets Velimir Khlebnikov and Vladimir Mayakovsky challenge poetic traditions?

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The father of modern Russian literature — Russian literature Aleksandr Pushkin, oil on canvas by Vasily Tropinin, 1827; in the National Pushkin Museum, St. Petersburg

Russian Futurist poets Velimir Khlebnikov and Vladimir Mayakovsky challenged poetic traditions by rejecting the past and seeking to renovate language through radical experimentation.123

Khlebnikov focused on the "word as such," exploring archaic roots and folk culture to create a "translogical" or zaum language. By using neologisms and generating permutations based on word roots—such as in his poem "Incantation by Laughter"—he aimed to move language beyond logical meaning toward a new, visionary mysticism.132

Mayakovsky, a leading spokesman for the movement, championed a provocative, self-assertive style that sought to "depoetize" verse by adopting the language of the streets. His work was characterized by:4
* Defiance: Co-authoring the manifesto "A Slap in the Face of Public Taste," he rejected conventional aesthetics.43
* Innovation: He utilized daring technical innovations and a declamatory style intended for mass audiences.4
* Subjectivity: His poetry blended romantic radicalism, satire, and irony, often focusing on the tension between personal emotion and the realities of modern life.24

Together, they moved away from the mysticism of Symbolism, viewing art instead as a social utility.12