1. NEA
Intertextuality in Media Texts
L/O: to know what intertextuality is, be able to identify and analyse it in a
range of media texts
Task: there are a number of tasks to do in this presentation including NEA
research task 6 (Due Monday)
2. Requirement for Level 5 (top level)
• You need a form of intertextuality to get into top band – L5.
4. What is it?
• It could be argued that media products are not original because they recycle ideas from similar media
products. In summary, intertextuality is when a text refers to another text.
• Think back to when we studied Guetta’s ‘Titanium’: has intertextuality as there are references to 2 films:
________ & _________. It does this through the narrative & characterisation, colour grading/editing and
mise-en-scene.
PARODY PASTICHE HOMAGE
-mock -imitate/copy -tribute
-deliberate exaggeration
You could choose to ‘parody’ (imitate
with deliberate exaggeration) ideas
from other well-known media texts
you could choose to create an
‘homage’ (to create a copy that
respectfully references another well-
known media text or period in media
history)
or a pastiche (a video which
references many other styles or media
products).
8. Examples of Intertextuality in media (Simpsons)
PARODY (sometimes a bit of pastiche/homage) – it often is a funny/light hearted reference to popular culture
9. Examples of Intertextuality in media (Deadpool)
PARODY – example of non respectful references to superhero films and other popular culture (it pokes fun at superhero genre
because it knows that you know it’s a dying genre that has overused clichés/conventions)
10. Original film
‘Clueless’ (1995)
‘Fancy’ music video
by Iggy Azalea
(2014) which is a
pastiche/homage to
‘Clueless’ and 90’s
films/culture/fashion
Examples of Intertextuality in media
(Clueless/Fancy)
PASTICHE – imitates the style/mise-en-scene of the film clueless but also 90’s culture (COULD ARGUE HOMAGE as you could
argue it is a homage or tribute to 90’s films/culture/fashion etc)
11. Parody of music video
which is based on film
(2 layers of
intertextuality)
Alicia Silverstone
(original star in
Clueless the film –
doing a lip sync which
is based on music
video which is based
on the film (2 layers
of intertextuality)
12. Intertextuality in magazines
• Can be done by visuals/pictures OR text
• It is generally not as explicit as a music video but it does still exist in
many magazine covers
• Examples on next slide
13. Example 1
• IR (intertextual reference) to OJ Simpson and his mug shot (everyone
knew the story of how he was charged with murdering his wife).
14. Example 2
IR to 007 as everyone
recognises this as ‘Bond’
and the fact it’s a hugely
successful franchise and has
been for a long time
IR to pop culture as we
know about the
breakdown of marriage
between Katie Holmes
and Tom Cruise
because of Tom’s
interest in controversial
‘scientology’
15. Example 3
You could argue the known
trends in fashion are IR’s
IT to Twitter and controversies
with Twitter (ie twitter storms)
IR to TV show ‘Glee’ and the
main star from the show
Non explicit IR:
-typical and recognisable
conventions of girly teen
magazines
(pink/fluffy/bubbly) colours
and style
16. Example 4
• IR to Donald Trump being president and
his claims of ‘fake news’
• This is in the style of parody – the
ultimate mock!
18. Example 6
• What are the IR in this mag cover?
• (we’ll discuss on Monday)
19. Why have intertextuality?
• Familiarity – audiences like what is familiar and what they know
• Nostalgia – brings back warm/fuzzy memories of things in the past
• Cultural capital – that rewarding feeling when you understand the
reference (makes you feel smarter)
• Originality – something different to the norm and can be very
engaging (although it’s become rather conventional/non-original
now)
• Subversion – to recycle something and manipulate it, present it in a
different way to understand it in a different way (i.e. think of the way
meme’s allow you to look at an image and create new meaning)
20. But it’s more complex…..
• Watch the following video and take notes in your book/folder
https://lifehacker.com/this-video-explains-how-hollywood-uses-
intertextuality-1782662955
• Why does Hollywood use so much intertextuality?
• What are the detrimental effects of having so much of it?
• What is meant by ‘weaponised intertextuality?
21. And more complex…
• Watch the following video and make notes in your book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgQlwscDyus (there is swearing!)
• What are your thoughts on the intertextual references in Deadpool to
Green Lantern, People magazine, X-Men, superhero genre
conventions etc? Are they effective? Why or why not?
• Is this approach truly original and engaging?
22. NEA RESEARCH TASK 6
MUSIC VIDEO MAGAZINE
Find a music video (ideally dance) that uses
intertextuality.
a) Explicit or implicit?
b) Is it parody/pastiche/homage?
c) What is the intertextual reference?
d) Why would they apply this intertextual reference?
Challenge: How does the intertextual reference
link/appeal to the target audience?
Find a magazine (ideally fashion) cover that uses
intertextuality.
a) Is it by visual or text?
b) Explicit or implicit?
c) Is it parody/pastiche/homage?
d) What is the intertextual reference?
e) Why would they apply this intertextual reference?
Challenge: How does the intertextual reference
link/appeal to the target audience?
