Date: Sun, 28 May 1995 13:22:02 -0700
From: reijo-AT-ix.netcom.com (reijo koski)
Subject: Re: Simon Ford's article


You wrote: 
>
>>The concept of the avant-garde in context of our post-modern 
situation 
>>is valid, of course. 
>
>But the concept of post-modern is limping, if not permanently lame. 
It's an
>"oh I'm gonna be the next thing" sort of sentiment; while remaining 
too lazy
>to even give that next thing a clear name that makes any reference to 
its
>content or direction.
>
>"Post-modern" is not avant-garde. It's the sort of empty, Orwellian
>terminology that true avant-gardes have never embraced. The conceit of 
the
>"post-modern" that they are avant-garde is what's giving avant-garde a 
bad name.
>
>
>\/\/ I-I I T         = < [  whitfb-AT-dorsai.org  ] > =          nyc usa
>
>
>
>     --- from list avant-garde-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
>
Whit, I'm merely suggesting that the avant-garde idea is relevant for 
discussion in the postmodern context, perhaps under erasure, but still 
worthy of discussion. Avant-garde is, in the sense that I have been 
discussing it in these posts (which are my first on this list, so bear 
with me and hello), an esthetic theory or category adopted by 
art/anti-art, political movements, and all the variants of these 
positions. What we are facing now is an attack on the culture and 
concept of the avant-garde, its adherents, etc. This attack is taking 
place in the political camp, or at least in the politicized esthetic. 
The fight may be about structuralism vs. deconstruction, modernism vs. 
pomo, political vs. esthetic, etc. If we agree to discuss the 
avant-garde, that's all that matters. If one is encased in the 
postmodern cocoon, this discussion may be irrelevant. In this, I'm with 
Malgosian's reference to the "deep connection between...two aspects of 
the avant-garde...the individualistic and the collective..." My 
position leans toward the individualistic, but I recognize the 
collective forces out there (the postmodern discoursive, the fascist, 
etc.).

Reijo.  
-- 
ÐÏࡱ



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