Sunday Times Declare Freaky Dressing Is The "New Avant-Garde'

Influential British newspaper the Sunday Times labelled clubbers at the recent Alternative Miss World (AMW) as members of the "New Avant-Garde' this week, and suggested they represent a dramatic cultural movement.

"Who are they, these colourful characters and where have they come from-" asked Sunday Times Style expert Jessica Brinton.

"I haven't seen them in All Bar One (office worker bar chain- Ed) lately. Or on Top Of The Pops. Until now they have been invisible in the mainstream," she claimed.

AMW producer/ presenter Matthew Glamorre of Kashpoint fame also popped up in the piece, and broadly agreed with the Times' assertion that "the New Avant-Garde could define the decade "like glam punk did in the 80s (-) and grunge in the 90s'.

"Yes the New Avant-Garde is underway in London, however, there are some remarkable differences from movements of the past," Matthew told Skrufff.

"Traditionally 'new' movements would use aggressive newness and amorality to 'shock' society - a kind of wake up call to reflect the brutality and hypocrisy of modern living but what I call the 'destroy' agenda has recently given way to more of a ' create' agenda," he suggested.

"This is maybe because there is precious little in society left to destroy - it's doing a good job of destroying itself."

The Kashpoint promoter, whose club operates a strict no street-wear door policy, painted a bleak picture of contemporary Britain, particularly in relation to the politics of dressing up.

"Violence is the reality of a sick society and in today's world of mass conformity, promoted to the public by the powerful mind manipulation of consumer corporations, to stand out becomes perilous," he said.

"Youngsters of school age, and adults too, are literally risking their lives to make 'anti' conformist style statements, " he added. "To make an assertion of real Individuality, ie outside the marketed 'lifestyle boundaries'; takes a brave heart indeed."
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