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The unexpected juxtaposition of ordinary objects is a hallmark of which art movement?

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juxtaposition

American  

[juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uhn] / ˌdʒʌk stə pəˈzɪʃ ən /

noun

• juxtapositions
  plural

1. 

   an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

2. the state of being close together or side by side.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• juxtapositional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• juxtapositions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of juxtaposition

First recorded in 1655–65; from French, from Latin juxtā “near, bordering, side by side” + French position position; cf. joust ( def. )

Explanation

If a waiter served you a whole fish and a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the same plate, your surprise might be caused by the juxtaposition, or the side-by-side contrast, of the two foods. Any time unlike things bump up against each other, you can describe it as a juxtaposition. Imagine a funeral mourner telling jokes graveside, and you get the idea — the juxtaposition in this case is between grief and humor. Juxtaposition of two contrasting items is often done deliberately in writing, music, or art — in order to highlight their differences.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

juxtaposition juxtapositions

Here’s where the band generates a fascinating juxtaposition: part of “Escrito en Agua” is recorded in a lo-fi style, with rough-around-the-edges moments — like the kind of teen barrio band that you feel protective of.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

London's deer population is much-loved and photographed, due to their apparent juxtaposition with city-life.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Much of the humor, and there’s plenty, arises predictably out of the juxtaposition of smalltown Minnesota and Tarantino-esque mayhem; “Fargo” is forever on one’s mind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

I don’t know how to make those facts, that awful juxtaposition, clean, and I have stopped trying.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026

This juxtaposition of his heart and mind gave him not only headaches but weird dreams.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Those, like myself, who want to know more will be grateful for the catalog, which includes excellent research into the construction of cards and juxtapositions of different interpretations of individual cards across centuries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

He followed it with a succession of intensely theatrical divertissements, often revolving around unexpected intellectual conceits or bizarre juxtapositions and featuring brilliant dialogue, puns, repartee, double meanings and misunderstandings.

From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2025

The exhibition, filled with beautiful, illuminating juxtapositions of their work and accompanied by an expansive, scholarly catalog, is superb.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2025

Could we then define L.A. music as simply be music of, and open to, juxtapositions?

From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2025

The loveliest scenes, he found, were comprised of the simplest, most natural juxtapositions of native plants.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson