To make a poem, take one newspaper, one pair of scissors…
“To make a poem, take one newspaper, one pair of scissors, snip the words one by one and put them in a bag. Shake gently, draw them out at random, and copy them conscientiously... DADA est mort. DADA est idiot. Vive DADA!”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Randomly assembling words from newspapers creates spontaneous, anti‑conventional poetry.
In simple terms: Make art by cutting up text.
Embrace chance in creation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- classroom exercises
- social media memes
- performance art
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does chance influence your perception of art?
- Can randomness convey deliberate messages?
Randomness may lack intentional meaning for some audiences.