Fairy Tale PortfolioFairy Tale PortfolioTask 6: Task 6: ShrekShrek & & IntertextualityIntertextuality

Ms. M. WhiteMs. M. White

Media Studies 120Media Studies 120

Shrek Shrek & Intertextuality& Intertextuality

IntertextualityIntertextuality is the way in is the way in which texts refer to other which texts refer to other media texts that producers media texts that producers assume audiences will assume audiences will recognize.recognize.

IntertextualityIntertextuality

Each media text exists in relation to the Each media text exists in relation to the others. Some argue that texts are more others. Some argue that texts are more constructed by their intertextuality than by constructed by their intertextuality than by their authors. their authors.

An article in a magazine is not only related An article in a magazine is not only related to other articles in that magazine but also to to other articles in that magazine but also to all other articles of its genre, to all other articles of its genre, to commercials, to the political situation, to commercials, to the political situation, to movies currently played in cinemas, fashion movies currently played in cinemas, fashion etc. All potentially influence each other. etc. All potentially influence each other.

ShrekShrek

Shrek is an animation, based on a children’s Shrek is an animation, based on a children’s book. book.

There are two levels of the movie – the level There are two levels of the movie – the level of the simple children’s story – just married of the simple children’s story – just married ogre couple goes to visit groom’s parents ogre couple goes to visit groom’s parents ‘in law’ to discover that the only thing that ‘in law’ to discover that the only thing that matters is their love not how they look. matters is their love not how they look.

The second level, full of references and The second level, full of references and quotes, can be decoded in full detail only by quotes, can be decoded in full detail only by adults. adults.

Shrek 2 & Popular Culture Shrek 2 & Popular Culture IntertextualityIntertextuality

There are numerous signs around the kingdom of There are numerous signs around the kingdom of Far Far Away that refer to known American Far Far Away that refer to known American brands:brands:

Burger Prince (Burger King)Burger Prince (Burger King) Olde Knavery (Old Navy)Olde Knavery (Old Navy) Far Far Away sign (Hollywood sign)Far Far Away sign (Hollywood sign) Saxon Fifth Avenue (Saks Fifth Avenue)Saxon Fifth Avenue (Saks Fifth Avenue) Versarchery (Versace)Versarchery (Versace) Gap Queen (Gap Kids)Gap Queen (Gap Kids) Farbucks Coffee (Starbucks)Farbucks Coffee (Starbucks) Friar’s Fat Boy (Big Boy). Friar’s Fat Boy (Big Boy).

Elements of Fairy TalesElements of Fairy Tales

Shrek2 is a fairy tale– it has a special Shrek2 is a fairy tale– it has a special beginning, “Once upon a time” and beginning, “Once upon a time” and the whole movie is about a potion the whole movie is about a potion called “happily ever after”. There are called “happily ever after”. There are good and bad characters, a royal good and bad characters, a royal castle, there is a problem to be castle, there is a problem to be solved and magic things happen. It solved and magic things happen. It also has a number of references to also has a number of references to other fairy tales.other fairy tales.

Fairy Tale IntertextualityFairy Tale Intertextuality

The references to other fairy tales in the The references to other fairy tales in the movie come straight away. We see the movie come straight away. We see the hotel, where just married couple was hotel, where just married couple was staying during their honeymoon, which staying during their honeymoon, which looks just like the house of a bad witch looks just like the house of a bad witch from from Hansel and Gretel. Hansel and Gretel. The only person, The only person, who passes the place is Little Red Riding who passes the place is Little Red Riding Hood, lost in the forest on the way to her Hood, lost in the forest on the way to her Grandma’s house. Needless to say, Grandma’s house. Needless to say, seeing Shrek and Fiona she runs away seeing Shrek and Fiona she runs away shouting. shouting.

Fairy Tale Character Cameos:Fairy Tale Character Cameos:

Other characters appearing in Shrek2:Other characters appearing in Shrek2: Captain Hook and Tinkerbell from Captain Hook and Tinkerbell from Peter Peter

PanPan The Headless Horseman from The Headless Horseman from The Legend The Legend

of Sleepy Hollowof Sleepy Hollow AAn ugly stepsister from n ugly stepsister from Cinderella Cinderella The furniture dancing in Fiona’s room, The furniture dancing in Fiona’s room,

when Fairy Godmother is introduced, looks when Fairy Godmother is introduced, looks like the furniture from like the furniture from Beauty and the Beauty and the Beast. Beast.

Popular Culture Popular Culture IntertextualityIntertextuality

There are various digressions to modern society:There are various digressions to modern society: Fiona’s mother in bed is reading a copy of Fiona’s mother in bed is reading a copy of

“Kings are from Mars, Queens are from Venus”“Kings are from Mars, Queens are from Venus” The Ball organized to celebrate Fiona’s The Ball organized to celebrate Fiona’s

marriage looks just like the Oscar’s Award marriage looks just like the Oscar’s Award Ceremony, with a red carpet, celebrities and a Ceremony, with a red carpet, celebrities and a hyper enthusiastic TV presenter. hyper enthusiastic TV presenter.

Shrek 2Shrek 2 is also dotted with references to other is also dotted with references to other movies and characters from the real world, like movies and characters from the real world, like the man releasing pigeons, who looks a lot like the man releasing pigeons, who looks a lot like American comedian Rodney Dangerfield. American comedian Rodney Dangerfield.

Rodney DangerfieldRodney Dangerfield

Joan RiversJoan Rivers

Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality

The gigantic Gingerbread Man that storms The gigantic Gingerbread Man that storms the castle of Far Far Away, is a reference the castle of Far Far Away, is a reference to the “Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man” from to the “Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man” from Ghost Busters.Ghost Busters.

His last words; “Be good” are a reference His last words; “Be good” are a reference to the final scene from Steven Spielberg’s to the final scene from Steven Spielberg’s E.T. E.T.

AnotherAnother character – Puss In Boots uses his character – Puss In Boots uses his sword to write a “P” on a tree with three sword to write a “P” on a tree with three strokes. Antonio Banderas, who is a voice strokes. Antonio Banderas, who is a voice of Puss played “Zorro” in of Puss played “Zorro” in The Mask of The Mask of Zorro,Zorro, who is known for using his sword to who is known for using his sword to write “Z” with three strokes. write “Z” with three strokes.

Pop Culture IntertextulaityPop Culture Intertextulaity

Puss In Boots brings a Puss In Boots brings a few other references. few other references. While on stage While on stage performing with performing with Donkey he sits on a Donkey he sits on a chair and douses chair and douses himself with water, just himself with water, just like Jennifer Beals in like Jennifer Beals in FlashdanceFlashdance

After the ball he says After the ball he says he is going to the Kit-he is going to the Kit-Kat Club Club, which is Kat Club Club, which is the club from the club from Cabaret.Cabaret.

Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality

In the fight scene with Shrek, Puss in Boots In the fight scene with Shrek, Puss in Boots tears out from the chest of Shrek’s tears out from the chest of Shrek’s clothing, in reference to the alien bursting clothing, in reference to the alien bursting out of Kane’s chest in out of Kane’s chest in AlienAlien..

Another character who brings a few Another character who brings a few references and is a reference himself is references and is a reference himself is Pinocchio. During the ball he imitates Pinocchio. During the ball he imitates Michael Jackson’s famous dance: the Michael Jackson’s famous dance: the Moonwalk.Moonwalk.

Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality

Before the ball, Before the ball, when he is lowered when he is lowered by his puppet by his puppet strings into the cell strings into the cell where Shrek, where Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Donkey, and Puss in Boots are being Boots are being held, the held, the background music background music is the theme from is the theme from Mission Impossible. Mission Impossible.

Pop Culture IntertextaulityPop Culture Intertextaulity

Not only Antonio Not only Antonio Banderas has a Banderas has a references to his ‘real’ references to his ‘real’ role. Eddie Murphy; role. Eddie Murphy; who is the voice of who is the voice of Donkey, played in Donkey, played in Beverly Hills CopsBeverly Hills Cops. . Donkey entering the Donkey entering the kingdom of Far Far kingdom of Far Far Away looks just like in Away looks just like in the settings from the settings from Eddie Murphy’s movie. Eddie Murphy’s movie.

Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality

The producers of Shrek The producers of Shrek 2 play with all types of 2 play with all types of movies. Action movies movies. Action movies like like Spider-ManSpider-Man (when (when in the opening in the opening “Honeymoon Montage” “Honeymoon Montage” Fiona wipes the mud Fiona wipes the mud off of Shrek while he off of Shrek while he hangs upside down and hangs upside down and kisses, just like Mary kisses, just like Mary Jane kisses Spider-Man) Jane kisses Spider-Man)

Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality In the Honeymoon Montage In the Honeymoon Montage

at the beginning of the film, at the beginning of the film, the couple is seen being the couple is seen being fitted for wedding rings. A fitted for wedding rings. A flying ring dropping on flying ring dropping on Fiona’s finger and sporting a Fiona’s finger and sporting a red fiery writing afterwards red fiery writing afterwards is a parody of is a parody of Lord of the Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Rings- The Fellowship of the RingRing. Also the sign for The . Also the sign for The Poison Apple, the tavern Poison Apple, the tavern where Captain Hook voiced where Captain Hook voiced by Tom Waits and Nick Cave by Tom Waits and Nick Cave plays piano, is shown in plays piano, is shown in exactly the same manner as exactly the same manner as the sign of The Prancing the sign of The Prancing Pony from Pony from Lord of the Rings- Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the RingThe Fellowship of the Ring. .

Task 6Task 6

Make a list to keep track of as many Make a list to keep track of as many references to other texts (intertextuality) references to other texts (intertextuality) as you can.as you can.

Choose one example of intertextuality to Choose one example of intertextuality to explore more thoroughly; explain why it is explore more thoroughly; explain why it is included in the story and explore the included in the story and explore the cultural assumptions embedded in the text.cultural assumptions embedded in the text.

Read the Time Magazine article, “Is Shrek Read the Time Magazine article, “Is Shrek Bad for Kids” and write a position piece– Bad for Kids” and write a position piece– decide what you and your partner think, is decide what you and your partner think, is it bad for kids? Why or why not?it bad for kids? Why or why not?