A critical-empirical research on the classification of avant-garde literature

Abstract

This paper will focus on theories of avant-garde literature. It will be argued that these theories lack a well-developed terminological system. In developing theories of avant-garde literature and in attempting to determine the specificity of this type of literature, scholars will turn out to proceed in a way which is quite similar to the one adopted by theorists of so-called traditional literature. As they fail to satisfy the elementary requirements for empirical research, their approach is liable to methodological criticism. This will lead to the conclusion that extent theories of avant-garde literature are no more than alternative formulations of prevalent and until now dominating conceptions of literature.