The avant-garde and Aesthetic Values

T Pawlowski

doi:10.4102/lit.v6i1.899

Abstract

Does it make sense to speak of aesthetic values in avant-garde art? Is not the very formulation of the them e tainted with contradiction? After all, avant-garde artists have postulated repeatedly, and quite unambiguously, that it is not their aim to create aesthetic values; we do not want to have anything to do with aesthetic values — they used to add contemptuously. The presence of aesthetic values in art depends on its definite features. Until recently many of them were unanimously looked upon as the constitutive properties of art. Yet, it was exactly the avant-garde that called in question nearly all properties regarded earlier as the specific features of art. Perhaps, then, the problem posed in the title falls not only because of the postulated neutral, or even anti-aesthetic, attitude of the avant-garde, but also because the avant-garde is not art at all?

Highlights

TH E D ISTIN C TIV E FEA TU RES OF A R T. Does it m a k e sense lo speak o f aesthetic values in avant- g a rd e art? Is not the very form ulation of the them e tainted with contradiction? After all, avantg a r d e artists havepos tu la te d re p e a te d ly, andqu it eunambiguously, t h a t it is not their aim to create aesthetic values; we do not w ant to have anything to do with aesthetic values — they used to add contemptuously
T he presence of aesthetic values in art depends on its definite features
Similar examples of new aesthetic values created by random juxtaposing of objects can be found in such dom ains of contem porary art, like the Assemblage, the Environm ent, or the Happening

Summary

Introduction

Does it m a k e sense lo speak o f aesthetic values in avant- g a rd e art? Is not the very form ulation of the them e tainted with contradiction? After all, avantg a r d e artists havepos tu la te d re p e a te d ly , andqu it eunambiguously , t h a t it is not their aim to create aesthetic values; we do not w ant to have anything to do with aesthetic values — they used to add contemptuously. Does it m a k e sense lo speak o f aesthetic values in avant- g a rd e art? It was exactly the avant-garde th at called in question most properties regarded earlier as the specific features of art.

Results

Conclusion