INTERTEXTUALITYTo learn about the concept of intertextuality

and how it works.

What do you think the term means?

•Inter

•Textuality

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

• 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.

Where a text alludes to, or references,

another text

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=Sgwfvu6k0xs

• Shrek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5DyOgvmizE

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 genreprovides 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.

Task• List all the intertextual references made

in 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

Intertextuality - Simpsons

Intertextuality - Simpsons

Intertextuality - Simpsons

Theory

• 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