Definition
To place two things, typically contrasting or dissimilar items, side by side or in close proximity, often to highlight their differences or create a striking effect. Juxtaposition is a common literary, artistic, and rhetorical technique.
Example Usage
The artist juxtaposed images of nature and industrial decay to emphasize environmental destruction.
Origin
From Latin iuxta (beside, near) + ponere (to place), combining to mean 'place beside,' entering English in the 19th century.
Fun Fact
Juxtaposition is a core strategy in filmmaking, where contrasting shots edited together can create meaning beyond what either shot conveys aloneβa technique called montage.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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