The term "'quotidian'" derives from the
Latin word for "daily" and refers to repetitive daily actions, events or routines - yet in typical usage carries a vaguely negative overtone. "Quotidian" is generally used to convey a sense of the
mundane; that is, there is an implication of the 'commonplace' — often in the disparaging sense, and at the very least to indicate that there is nothing unexpected or surprising to be found in things quotidian.
In
art criticism, "quotidian" refers to art works which reference mundane aspects of
everyday life. When used in a negative sense, however, the word denotes art or any
creative work that, while reflecting or incorporating everyday life, references something that is a very temporary
phenomenon that will date the work. For example, the
Train song "
Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" incorporates a
classic rock sound, but references
Tae Bo, an exercise trend that was only popular for a short period in the late
1990s.