"The term, as applied to the arts, came from the French philosopher Claude Henri de Saint-Simon, who in 1824 encouraged artists to be the avant-garde (or front line), to generate new ideas and advocate for change."
"By the 1960s, the country's theater scene had become increasingly experimental in what the theater historian Arnold Aronson has called the utter rejection of the status quo notably in downtown Manhattan."
"For the New York playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury, the German director Thomas Ostermeier, and the Belgian director Ivo van Hove, the genre's most successful productions adhere to Saint-Simon's original intent: They're works that changed not only the medium but audiences too."
Avant-garde theater emerged in 19th-century France, driven by a desire for social reform and provocative artistic expression. The term was popularized by Claude Henri de Saint-Simon, who urged artists to lead change. By the late 1800s, European theater companies began challenging traditions, using performances to critique culture. The anti-establishment spirit carried over to American theater in the 1930s and '40s, leading to experimental works in the 1960s. Successful avant-garde productions align with Saint-Simon's vision, transforming both the medium and audience engagement.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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