The Russian avant-garde was a composite of antagonistic groups who wished to overthrow the basic aesthetics of classical realism. Modernism was the totality of these numerous aesthetic theories which achieved a measure of coherence immediately after the First World War. This collection of essays by leading scholars examines the major figures, movements and manifestos of the period. Scholarly attention is given to literature, visual arts, cinema and theatre in an attempt to capture the complex nature of the modernist movement in Russia. This book would be especially relevant for university courses on the Russian twentieth century as well as for those looking for a comprehensive approach to the various movements and artistic expressions that constitute the Russian avant-garde.