Juxtaposition comes from the Latin words juxta, meaning “near,” and positio, meaning “placement.” In English, it has been used since the 17th century to describe the act or instance of placing things close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. Juxtaposition is often used in art, literature, and other creative fields as a way to create visual or conceptual interest, or to highlight the relationships between different elements. Today, juxtaposition remains a commonly used technique in a wide range of media and genres.