Donnee

A 'donnée' (pronounced don-AY) is a French term, originating from artistic and literary contexts, that signifies a given element or circumstance, often used as a starting point or constraint. It's the pre-existing condition, the established fact, or the foundational premise upon which further action, creation, or analysis is built. Think of it as the raw material, the initial condition, or the unchangeable truth that shapes the subsequent narrative or argument. This foundational concept can apply to art, literature, science, or any field that involves making decisions based on some form of known information. The donné is not something you invent, it is something you accept. The donnée acts as a frame, a boundary, or a catalyst within a creative work.

Donnee meaning with examples

• In writing her novel, the donnée was a world ravaged by a specific virus. From this established fact, the author explored themes of survival, social division, and the resilience of the human spirit. Characters, plot, and setting were all intricately connected to this fundamental premise. The virus, in this case, shaped the story.
• For the architect, the city's zoning laws served as the initial donnée. This constraint determined building height, style, and usage, thus influencing the design process. The architect's choices must follow what is required by law for the location. The donnée acted like a box to work from.
• The scientist commenced their experiment by accepting the data collected from a previous study, the primary donnée. The scientist knew where to start, the data had already been collected. This established this, and the next experiments followed based on the previous study. The donnée was their starting point.
• The artist began a new painting series, and their given donnée was the color blue. Every brushstroke, every composition, every theme emerged from this single color. The artist embraced the boundaries that blue created. The donnée created the constraints for a new series.
• When evaluating a business strategy, the current market conditions often serve as the core donnée. Economic factors, competition, and consumer trends, acting as given facts, influenced decisions of how to move forward. The business strategy had to begin with the given information about the current state of the market.