What is Avant-Garde?

a·vant-garde (French pronunciation: [avɑ̃ɡaʁd]); from French, "advance guard" or "vanguard") is a French term used in English as a noun or adjective to refer to any creative group of people (or work) active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques, whose approach and ideas are markedly experimental or in advance of those generally accepted; particularly with respect to art, culture, business and politics etc. Avant-garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo.