Description
Book SynopsisFor over a hundred years 'the avant-garde' has been the most influential concept in modern art; its impact on the history of modern culture has been profound. In this Very Short Introduction, David Cottington explores why the avant-garde carries so much authority, and places it within the context of western modernity and capitalist culture.
Trade ReviewCottington's book is both a brisk history of the idea of the avant-garde and a precise set of arguments about what constitutes avant-garde ... To navigate the waters ahead we will require cultural historians like Cottington more than Amazon reviews, Facebook likes and fleeting tweets. * The Scotsman *
Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Origins: emergence and consolidation 1820-1914 ; 2. Professionalisms and Politics Between the Wars ; 3. Consumerism and co-option ; 4. The Avant Garde and Revolution ; Conclusion ; Further reading
