Abstract
A critical introduction to the commented translation of two books by German literary theorist Peter Bürger: Theory of the Avant-Garde and Aging of the Modernity. The essay inserts basic concepts of Bürger's theory (historical avant-garde movements, autonomy of art) in the context of the origin of his crucial book, places them into methodological framework of the Critical Theory, acquaints the reader with the critical reception of Bürger's thought (Hal Foster, Lambert Zuidervaart) and demarcates the measure of its relevance in the present condition of culture.