Morgan Falconer. How to be Avant-Garde.

 The book must be titled "How to be a self-centric prick". Obviously, high art always attracted prima donnas, eccentrics, etc., but European High Modernism (EHM) got a head start, for the artists inherited an impetus from Symbolist movement with its cult of unusual, uncanny and bizarre. In fact, compared to the Symbolists, early twentieth century avant-gardists were quite a sedate bunch. This they compensated in tireless self-promotion made easier by the proliferation of printed press, increase in international travel and communication between different group of artists. But do not expect deep insights on the nature of EHM from Falconer.