INTERTEXTUALITY

BY Z A C K C H R I S T O D O U LO U

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.

DEFINITIONThe 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.

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.

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.