This document defines and provides examples of intertextuality. Intertextuality refers to the shaping of a text's meaning by another text through references, allusions, and transformations between texts. It is based on the idea that texts do not exist independently, but rather absorb and transform influences from other texts. Examples provided include film remakes, references between TV shows and other media, and how genre conventions create intertextual frameworks that link texts together through shared influences.

1. INTERTEXTUALITY
To learn about the concept of intertextuality
and how it works.

2. What do you think the term means?
•Inter
•Textuality

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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"

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. Intertextuality - Simpsons

14. Intertextuality - Simpsons

15. Intertextuality - Simpsons

16. Intertextuality - Simpsons

17. 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.

18. 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