ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dada

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdɑˌdɑ// UK //dˈɑːdɐ// da·da

n. an art movement from the early 20th century that was meant to be confusing and silly. It was a protest against traditional art and the rules of society.

n. an early 20th-century avant-garde movement that rejected logic, reason, and aestheticism in favour of nonsense, irrationality, and anti-bourgeois protest. When capitalised, it refers specifically to the historical movement; in lowercase, it may describe a style or attitude resembling this movement.


SIMPLE

The artist used Dada techniques to create a strange collage.

CONTEXTUAL

Dada emerged in Zurich during World War I as a radical response to the perceived insanity of the conflict.

COMPLEX

By incorporating found objects and chance operations into their work, the proponents of Dada sought to dismantle the traditional boundaries between high art and the mundane realities of modern life.

Synonyms
Origin

From French dada (literally “hobby horse”).

Usage

Usually capitalised as 'Dada' when referring to the specific historical art movement.

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