Dadaism, a cultural and artistic movement that spanned mediums and countries alike, began as a rejection of nationalism as World War I raged on throughout Europe. Many European artists were forced to leave the country or face persecution, leading to a community of artists throughout Switzerland that used their art to express their anger at the senseless violence of the war.

The movement of Dadaism can be traced back to Hugo Ball, who coined the term in the early 20th century. A poet, Ball was one of the first to perform his work in public and was often credited with wild displays of costumes and emotion. The goal of most Dada artists and performers was to use whimsy, obscenity and humor to evoke emotion and action from the audience and challenge the societal norms put in place by society.

Writers of the modern century draw upon Dadaism to make their work stand out and shock the reader. Invaluable took a look at the literary principles of Dadaism in the infographic below, and included writing prompts so that budding artists can learn to write in the same style.