Intertextuality: To Learn About The Concept of Intertextuality and How It Works

INTERTEXTUALITY
To learn about the concept of intertextuality

and how it works.
What do you think the term
means?
•Inter
•Textualit
What they
mean
•Inter: a prefix from Latin, where it meant
“between,” “among,” “in the midst of,” “mutually,”
“reciprocally,” “together,” “during”
•Textuality: all of the attributes that

distinguish the communicative content under analysis as
an object of study
Intertextuality
• the shaping of a text's meaning by another text.
• Intertextual figures include: allusion, quotation,

calque, plagiarism, translation, pastiche and
parody.
• An example of intertextuality is a writer’s

borrowing and transformation of a prior text, and
incorporating an aspect of it in a new text.
Definition
The shaping of texts' meanings by other texts.
• Notion introduced by Julia Kristeva.

• Kristeva argued against the concept of a text as a
isolated entity which operates in a self-contained
manner and states that:
"any text is the absorption and transformation of

another"
Definition
Where a text alludes to, or references,

another text
• Every text (and we can insert any cultural object

here: image, film, web content, music etc.) is a
mosaic of references to other texts, genres, and
discourses.
Intertexuality
• Some texts refer directly to each
other – such as in 'remakes' of films,
extra-diegetic references to the
media / society in the animated
cartoon The Simpsons, and many
amusing contemporary TV ads.
• The interpretation of these
references is influenced by the
audiences’ prior knowledge of other
texts.
Examples of
Intertextuality
• Friends
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAWrzYjBW4Y&safe=active
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnZHqp6bByY
•Officer and A Gentleman https://www
.youtube.com/watch?v=goikm-zX9r8
• Scary Movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgwfvu6k0x
s
• Shrek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5DyOgvmi
zE
Audience
Pleasures
• This particularly self-conscious form of
intertextuality credits its audience with the
necessary experience to make sense of such
references and offers the pleasure of recognition.
• By referring to other texts and other media

reminds us that we are in a mediated reality.
This runs counter to the dominant 'realist'
tradition which focuses on persuading the
audience to believe in the on-going reality of the
narrative.
Intertextuality and
Genre
• There are intertextual frameworks
(references) at work that are less obvious or
direct.
• The assignment of a text to a genre

provides the audience of the text with a key
intertextual framework.
• Each example of a genre utilises

conventions which link it to other members
of that genre.
• Such conventions are at their most obvious

in 'spoof' versions of the genre.
Tas
• List all the intertextual references made
kin the opening sequence of
• Austin Powers: Goldmember (Roach 2002)
• Watch the following clip that

summarises what we have just
discussed...
• Any questions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhPkkHuov
FY
Intertextuality -
Simpsons
• Almost every episode of The Simpsons contains
at least one film reference to a famous film scene.
• The Simpsons also contains intertextual

references to politics, religion – nearly every
aspect of social, political and cultural life.
• The grabs on the following slides are from an

episode where the Simpsons referenced Psycho
Intertextuality - Simpsons
Theor
y
• In 1968 Barthes announced 'the death of the author' and
'the birth of the reader', declaring that 'a text's unity lies
not in its origin but in its destination' - in other words
there is no longer such a thing as an original text – very
postmodern.
• This highlights how interpretation lies with the audience –
that it is subjective - it is the audience that creates
meaning.
Something Else to
Consider
• The notion of intertextuality problematizes the idea of a
text having boundaries and questions the separation
of 'inside' and 'outside':
• Where does a text 'begin' and 'end'?
• This again is postmodern

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INTERTEXTUALITY

To learn about the concept of intertextuality

•Textuality: all of the attributes that

• Intertextual figures include: allusion, quotation,

• An example of intertextuality is a writer’s

• Notion introduced by Julia Kristeva.

"any text is the absorption and transformation of

Where a text alludes to, or references,

• Every text (and we can insert any cultural object

• By referring to other texts and other media

• The assignment of a text to a genre

• Each example of a genre utilises

• Such conventions are at their most obvious

• Watch the following clip that

• The Simpsons also contains intertextual

• The grabs on the following slides are from an

• Where does a text 'begin' and 'end'?

• This again is postmodern

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