Emerging in the 1960s and operating globally, Fluxus was an interdisciplinary and experimental approach to art that emphasized blending different artistic media and breaking down traditional boundaries between art and everyday life. Fluxus artists encouraged a playful and open-minded approach to art-making, creating a wide range of unconventional works, often using ordinary objects and actions to challenge traditional notions of art and engage audiences in interactive experiences. George Maciunas, the primary founder and organizer of the movement, described Fluxus as, "a fusion of Spike Jones, gags, games, Vaudeville, Cage and Duchamp".

While the vast majority of Fluxus artists conformed to some, if not all, of the main themes of the movement, many held contrasting ideals and different individuals viewed Fluxus in different ways, leading to significant variation. As filmmaker George Brecht stated, "In Fluxus there has never been any attempt to agree on aims or methods; individuals with something unnamable in common have simply coalesced to publish and perform their work." For some Fluxus artists, even the act of defining the movement was seen as restrictive and counterproductive to the spirit of their work. By resisting a clear definition, they maintained a commitment to challenging established norms and fostering a creative environment. This makes Fluxus difficult to define and some debate exists around which artists should be included in the movement.