Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 57-67.

• Issue in Focus: Art Theory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Forms, Approaches and Limitation of Avant-garde Art's Intervention in Society

Li Lei   

  1. the School of Literature, Capital Normal University
  • Online:2020-03-25 Published:2020-04-26
  • About author:Li Lei, Ph. D., is an associate researcher of the School of Literature, Capital Normal University. He is mainly engaged in Chinese aesthetic history in the 20th century, contemporary aesthetic culture and the theoretical study of art.
  • Supported by:
    the Cultural and Artistic Research Project of the Ministry of Culture (16DH77) and the research project of Beijing Municipal Education Commission (SM201910028006)

Abstract:

The concept of "the avant-garde" has both political and aesthetic connotation when applied to arts, which, to some degree, corresponds to its two approaches of intervening in society. It either abandons artistic autonomy and directly intervenes in society based on certain political ideas and party positions, or, it adheres to artistic autonomy and intervenes indirectly in society by maintaining a distance from society. There are thus irreconcilable contradictions between ideas and approaches of the avant-garde when it intervenes in society. This internal paradox makes it difficult for avant-garde art to truly intervene in society, and it also determines the efficacy of its intervention.

Key words: artistic intervention, autonomy, avant-garde art, the non-organic