Social Change and the Avant Garde

This interdisciplinary course explores how radical shifts in 19th- and 20th-century society shaped—and were shaped by—the Avant-Garde. From Futurism’s obsession with speed to Dada’s reaction to industrialized war and Surrealism’s embrace of Freudian theory, artists examine how this movement challenged aesthetic, philosophical, and cultural norms.

Through manifestos, literature, film, performance, music, and visual art, artists investigate the revolutionary spirit of the historical Avant-Gardes and their lasting impact on contemporary culture. Key questions include: What made the Avant-Garde truly original? How did they fuse art with revolution? And how critically did they engage with the emerging culture industry?