The Meaning of the Avant Garde, and Overcome by Ed Kowalczyk

One of the goals of the Integral Vision is to resurrect the concept of the avant garde. The term is synonymous with "vanguard," technically defined as a small troop of highly skilled soldiers who explore the territory ahead of an advancing army, plotting a course for the army to follow. In a similar way, today's avant garde serves to open pathways for us all to grow into newly emergent artistic, cultural, and intellectual possibilities—the most current embodiment of the Kosmic impulse to constantly go beyond what went before, adding brilliance and revelation to the deadening forms of the previous moment.

While generally applying to anyone on the cutting edge of conscious evolution, throughout history it has often been the artists who have pushed that edge forward the most profoundly. This may be because, as Ken has often pointed out, artists have a certain freedom of experimentation which people in most other vocations simply do not have. Of course, for exactly this reason avant garde art has often been the product of some less-than-balanced souls—but if the leading edge is now integral, then we can begin to look to artists whose consciousness is integrally informed to offer us glimpses of a more sane and more inclusive future, and help unearth the radical potentials that await us there.

Ed Kowalczyk, lead singer of the band Live, is one such artist trying to bring an explicitly integral awareness to rock and roll, and here he offers a very intimate performance of his hit song, Overcome.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ken
• Wilber
• Ed
• Kowalczyk
• Live
• Overcome
• Avant
• Garde
• Art
• Spirituality
• Integral
• Naked
• Rock

[CodyRicheson]

So, why is this song featured here? I watched the entire thing, thinking, what will this avant-garde composition sound like, and it ends up being a very conventional acoustic rock song. What was its purpose here?

[MeatyCockandBallz]

This video is hilarious. They begin with talking about avant-garde music and the expanding of consciousness and end with the cheesiest, most conventional VH1 rock song ever! LOL

FAIL!

[keldude83]

cheesy is american idol. this is better than that.

[misteredwino]

This is so weak.

[JamaisMEC]

What I find fascinating about the self-proclaimed avaint garde is the near-manic and obsessive efforts to erect and sustain an image of avant-garde-ism. In this sense les avant-gardes become slaves to their deconstructionism, their nihilism...and in the process become their own self-fulfilling prophesies. Yet I am particularly appreciate of those among the avant-gardes who can laugh at their own ventures into the expression of self-importance...as for the others? Narcissists with BFA/MFA's?

[MeatyCockandBallz]

Hahaha

[MeatyCockandBallz]

LMAO!!!

After watching this video I'm convinced Wilber is a hack and a fraud.

[etkinyang]

but, they really should look in some books and read about this movement which is called avant garde. and which actually has to do with interaction with everyone in the performance and creativity coming from 'presence'. it's very weird that ken wilber is also involved into a misunderstanding

[etkinyang]

this song is not avant-garde. not even in conscious sense expressed art.. it is totally automating people to the center of the song.. and it is keeping a distance between the audience and the artist.. fusion of life and art does not come together at all.. this is just some music which is talking to people.. which is also nice..