Abstract
From a sociological point of view, what is the relevance of the early twentieth-century avant-garde artistic act in modern society? What theories and empirical realities could be used to argue this importance? This essay will proceed by developing three basic targeted points: (1) The importance of art as a social phenomenon in the theories of Duvignaud and Simmel, and in the critical theory of Horkheimer and Adorno, together with Baudrillard’s extreme criticism; (2) The specific role of the avant-garde as artistic social action; (3) the specific case of the artistic adventure of Fortunato Depero.