INTERTEXTUALITY

To 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

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=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 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.
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