The much, awaited revolution needed to take the then stale, avant-garde never arrived, instead a process of co-optation prevailed. The emotion captured beautifully by French poet and essayist Marcelin Pleynet ‘the rupture of history is transformed little by little into a history of rupture’ published in the mid-1960s, conveyed in essence the truth that ‘avant-garde’ became ‘exact opposite of what it once was’.
What was avant-garde? In simple terms avant-garde refers to people or works that are experimental, unorthodox and radical with respect to culture, society or art. It is frequently characterized by aesthetic innovation and initial unacceptability. Originally the French term ‘avant-garde’ meant ‘the foremost part of an advancing army or naval force’. Its meaning expanded to incorporate political discourse, as In simple terms avant-garde refers to people or works that are....
