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Dadaism, an avant-garde art movement originating in Zurich during World War I, was characterized by its rejection of traditional aesthetic values and its emphasis on irrationality, absurdity, and nonsensical elements. It sought to challenge established societal norms and conventions through provocative and often shocking works that defied conventional artistic practices and expectations. Dadaism emerged as a response to the horrors of war and the perceived bankruptcy of traditional art forms, which were seen as complicit in perpetuating destructive ideologies. Dadaists rejected the idea of art for art's sake and instead sought to use art as a tool for social critique and political commentary. Dadaist works often incorporated elements of chance and randomness, with artists employing techniques such as collage, photomontage, and assemblage to create unexpected juxtapositions and challenge the boundaries between art and everyday life. Dadaists also experimented with poetry, performance, and other forms of expression, seeking to break down barriers between different artistic mediums and disrupt traditional notions of beauty and meaning. While Dadaism was initially associated with nihilistic tendencies and a rejection of all values, it eventually evolved into a more constructive and positive movement that sought to create new forms of art and expression that were better suited to the modern world. Dadaist influences can be seen in a range of subsequent art movements, including Surrealism, Fluxus, and Neo-Dada.