Sell’s text challenges the simple idea of what the avant-garde is. He argues that it’s not just about art that breaks rules but also about power and who controls how we define radical movements. The avant-garde has a history of being both revolutionary and exclusive, often ignoring marginalized voices like women or non-Europeans. Sell pushes us to see the term as more flexible and to question the systems—like academia or galleries—that shape our understanding of it. Instead of giving a clear definition, he encourages us to stay open to different, often conflicting, interpretations of what the avant-garde can be. It’s a reminder that even "radical" movements need to be critically examined.