avant-garde
ah-vahnt-GARD
/ˌæv.ɒ̃ˈɡɑːrd/
New and experimental ideas and methods in art, music, or literature.
Specifically implies being ahead of one's time, often acting as a 'vanguard' that paves the way for future mainstream acceptance.
The story behind the word. Originally a French military term for the 'vanguard' or the small troop that scouts ahead of the main army. In the mid-19th century, it was adopted by French social reformers and artists to describe those who lead the way in cultural progress.
Word relationships
- innovative: Innovative is broader and can apply to technology or business, while avant-garde is strictly cultural.
- pioneering: Pioneering emphasizes being the first, whereas avant-garde emphasizes being radical and challenging.
- traditional: Traditional relies on established customs rather than breaking them.
- conservative: Conservative seeks to preserve existing styles rather than experiment.
Commonly confused with
- modern: Modern refers to a specific historical period (roughly 1860s-1970s), while avant-garde refers to the 'cutting edge' of any era.
Word family
- avant-gardism (noun): The practice or promotion of avant-garde ideas.
Collocations
- avant-garde movement
- avant-garde artist
- avant-garde theater
Example sentences
- "The director's avant-garde approach to storytelling abandoned linear plots in favor of sensory experiences." Describing a filmmaker's style.
- "The avant-garde is the only one that can save us from the stagnation of the academy." A historical reference to the movement.
Memory hook
Think of the 'vanguard' of an army. They are the first to enter the battle, just as avant-garde artists are the first to fight old traditions. The 'front guard' of the future.
When not to use
Do not use for things that are simply 'new'; it must imply a level of artistic or intellectual risk-taking.
Fun facts
- The term was first used in an artistic sense by Henri de Saint-Simon, who believed artists should serve as the vanguard for social change.
Related words
Explore more words
vanguard, cutting-edge, subversive, innovate, pioneer, unconventional
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