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ShrekShrek Intertextuality & Intertextuality & Feminist IdeologyFeminist Ideology

Ms. M. WhiteMs. M. White

Media Studies 120Media Studies 120

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Shrek & IntertextualityShrek & 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.

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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 constructed by their intertextuality than by their authors. by 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 other articles in that magazine but also to all other articles of its genre, to 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, movies currently played in cinemas, fashion etc. All potentially influence each fashion etc. All potentially influence each other. other.

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ShrekShrek Shrek is an animation, based on a Shrek is an animation, based on a

children’s book. There are two levels of the movie – the There are two levels of the movie – the

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

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

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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).

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Elements of Fairy TalesElements of Fairy Tales

Shrek 2 is a fairy tale– it has a Shrek 2 is a fairy tale– it has a special beginning, “Once upon a special beginning, “Once upon a time” and the whole movie is about time” and the whole movie is about a potion called “happily ever after”. a potion called “happily ever after”. There are good and bad characters, There are good and bad characters, a royal castle, there is a problem to a royal castle, there is a problem to be solved and magic things happen. be solved and magic things happen. It also has a number of references to It also has a number of references to other fairy tales.other fairy tales.

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Fairy Tale IntertextualityFairy Tale Intertextuality

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

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Fairy Tale Character Cameos:Fairy Tale Character Cameos:

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

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

of Sleepy Hollowof Sleepy Hollow An ugly stepsister from Cinderella An ugly stepsister from 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 Beauty and the like the furniture from Beauty and the Beast. Beast.

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Popular Culture Popular Culture IntertextualityIntertextuality

There are various digressions to modern There are various digressions to modern society: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 “Kings are from Mars, Queens are from Venus”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 Ceremony, with a red carpet, celebrities and a hyper enthusiastic TV presenter. and a hyper enthusiastic TV presenter.

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

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Rodney DangerfieldRodney Dangerfield

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Joan RiversJoan Rivers

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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.

Another character – Puss In Boots uses his Another 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 The Mask of of Puss played “Zorro” in The Mask of Zorro, who is known for using his sword to Zorro, who is known for using his sword to write “Z” with three strokes. write “Z” with three strokes.

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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, himself with water, just like Jennifer Beals just like Jennifer Beals in Flashdancein Flashdance

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 Kat Club Club, which is the club from is the club from Cabaret. Cabaret.

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Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality

In the fight scene with Shrek, Puss in In the fight scene with Shrek, Puss in Boots tears out from the chest of Shrek’s Boots 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 Alien.out of Kane’s chest in Alien.

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.

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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 Donkey, and Puss in Boots are being in Boots are being held, the held, the background music background music is the theme from is the theme from Mission Impossible. Mission Impossible.

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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 Cops. Beverly 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 Eddie Murphy’s movie. movie.

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Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality

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

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Pop Culture IntertextualityPop Culture Intertextuality In the Honeymoon In the Honeymoon

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

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AssignmentAssignment

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 cultural assumptions embedded in the text.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?