This study analyzes the relation between avant-garde and the autonomy of art. Although the phenomenon of avant-garde is widely discussed, there is no agreement about this concept. The central...Show moreThis study analyzes the relation between avant-garde and the autonomy of art. Although the phenomenon of avant-garde is widely discussed, there is no agreement about this concept. The central disagreement seems to be based on the understanding of art as autonomous versus an interpretation of art as an instrument for advancement in society, as exemplified by the theories of Clement Greenberg and Peter Bürger. This study proceeds then to analyze a more original understanding of autonomy, as described by Immanuel Kant, followed by a more recent understanding of autonomy.Show less