The Russian avant-garde was a composite of antagonistic groups who
wished to overthrow the basic aesthetics of classical realism. Modernism
was the totality of these numerous aesthetic theories, which achieved a
measure of coherence immediately after the First World War. This
collection of essays by leading scholars examines the major figures,
movements, and manifestos of the period. Scholarly attention is given to
literature, visual arts, cinema, and theatre in an attempt to capture
the complex nature of the modernist movement in Russia. This book would
be especially relevant for university courses on the Russian twentieth
century as well as for those looking for a comprehensive approach to the
various movements and artistic expressions that constitute the Russian
avant-garde.