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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!” quote by Tristan Tzara
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“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!”

Tristan Tzara

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.

Key Takeaway

Embrace chance in creation.

Themes

creativity rebellion randomness

Mood

playful experimental

Type

artistic instructional

When to use this quote

  • writing workshops
  • classroom exercises
  • social media memes
  • performance art

Key Concepts

dadaism collage literary experimentation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does chance influence your perception of art?
  • Can randomness convey deliberate messages?
A Different Perspective

Randomness may lack intentional meaning for some audiences.

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