Glossary

5.4 Intertextuality and the relationship between films and other media

4 min read•august 15, 2024

in film studies explores how movies connect with other media. It's all about the ways films reference, adapt, or remix elements from books, TV, music, and art. This creates a web of meaning that goes beyond just what's on screen.

Understanding intertextuality helps us see how films fit into the bigger cultural picture. It's like uncovering hidden layers in movies, where nods to other works add depth and spark new interpretations. This concept is key to grasping how films communicate and create meaning.

Intertextuality in Film Studies

Definition and Relevance

Top images from around the web for Definition and Relevance

  • The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Chapter 1 View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original

    Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Definition and Relevance

  • The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • Chapter 1 View original

    Is this image relevant?

  • The Rhetorical Situation – Essentials for ENGL-121 View original

    Is this image relevant?

1 of 3
  • Intertextuality refers to the interconnectedness between texts, where one text influences, shapes, or is shaped by another text or multiple texts
  • Explores the relationships between films and other media (literature, television, music, visual arts) in film studies
  • Manifests through various forms (direct references, allusions, adaptations, remakes, parodies, ) in film
  • Helps understand how films are situated within a broader cultural context and engage with pre-existing texts and conventions
  • Functions as a form of dialogue between texts, where filmmakers consciously or unconsciously draw upon other works to create new meanings and interpretations

Forms and Manifestations

  • Direct references to other films (character mentioning a specific movie title, scene recreating a famous moment from another film)
  • Allusions to literary works (film's plot structure or characters mirroring those found in a novel or play)
  • Adaptations of novels, short stories, or comic books into films, transforming the source material into a new medium
  • Remakes of earlier films, either within the same culture or across different cultural contexts
  • Parodies that imitate and satirize the conventions, styles, or tropes of other films or genres
  • Pastiche, combining elements from various sources to create a new work that pays homage to or critiques the original texts

Identifying Intertextuality in Films

Connections to Other Media

  • The use of music (popular songs, classical compositions) to evoke associations with other media or cultural contexts
  • Visual references to paintings, photographs, or other artworks incorporated into a film's mise-en-scène or cinematography
  • Adaptations of stage plays or musicals into films, translating the theatrical experience to the cinematic medium
  • The incorporation of television tropes, formats, or aesthetics into films, blurring the boundaries between the two media

Intertextual Markers and Signals

  • Explicit verbal references or quotations from other texts within the film's dialogue or narration
  • Visual allusions or homages to iconic scenes, shots, or imagery from other films or media
  • Casting choices that deliberately evoke associations with an actor's previous roles or star persona
  • The use of similar narrative structures, plot devices, or character archetypes across different films or genres
  • Stylistic or aesthetic similarities to other films, such as cinematography, editing techniques, or production design

Intertextuality and Meaning Construction

Layers of Meaning

  • Serves as a means of creating layers of meaning within a film, as references to other texts add depth, complexity, and nuance to the narrative
  • Situates a film within a specific genre, style, or tradition, allowing the filmmaker to engage with and comment on established conventions
  • Challenges or subverts audience expectations, as familiar elements from other texts are recontextualized or combined in new ways
  • Creates a dialogue between texts, encouraging viewers to consider the relationships and tensions between the referenced works

Cultural Commentary and Context

  • Functions as a form of cultural commentary, as films draw upon and respond to the social, political, and historical contexts in which they are produced
  • Evokes a sense of nostalgia or cultural memory, as films reference past works and the emotions or experiences attached to them
  • Reflects and shapes cultural attitudes, values, and ideologies through the selection and treatment of intertextual references
  • Engages with broader cultural discourses and debates, using intertextuality as a means of critique, subversion, or affirmation

Intertextuality's Impact on Audiences

Audience Interpretation and Reception

  • Shapes audience expectations and interpretations, as viewers bring their knowledge of referenced texts to their understanding of a film
  • Varies in recognition and appreciation among audiences, depending on their familiarity with the referenced works and
  • Creates a sense of exclusivity or insider knowledge, as some references may be more accessible or meaningful to certain audiences than others
  • Influences the reception of a film, as audiences compare and contrast it with referenced works, assessing its originality, quality, and effectiveness

Audience Engagement and Participation

  • Contributes to the cult status or enduring popularity of certain films, as audiences engage in recognizing and decoding various references and allusions
  • Inspires active audience engagement, as viewers seek out referenced works, participate in fan discussions, or create their own intertextual responses (fan fiction, fan art, other forms of appropriation)
  • Fosters a sense of community and shared cultural knowledge among viewers who recognize and appreciate the intertextual elements
  • Encourages multiple viewings and close analysis, as audiences may discover new intertextual connections and meanings upon repeated encounters with a film

Cultural Context and Interpretation

  • Varies in interpretation across different cultural contexts, as the meanings and associations attached to referenced works may differ based on local histories, traditions, and values
  • Requires cultural competence and media literacy to fully grasp and appreciate the intertextual references and their significance
  • Reflects and perpetuates cultural hierarchies and power dynamics, as the selection and treatment of intertextual references may privilege certain cultural forms or perspectives over others
  • Contributes to the global circulation and cross-cultural exchange of texts and ideas, as films draw upon and reinterpret elements from various cultural sources

Key Terms to Review (18)

Adaptation theory: Adaptation theory is the study of how narratives and texts are transformed into different media forms, such as films, television shows, or video games. This theory emphasizes the relationship between the original source material and its adapted version, focusing on how changes in medium can affect storytelling, character development, and audience reception. Understanding adaptation theory helps analyze how intertextual connections shape meaning and influence cultural perceptions.
Allusion: Allusion is a literary device that references a person, place, event, or work of art, often indirectly. It relies on the audience's familiarity with the referenced subject to convey deeper meaning or context without needing detailed explanation. Allusions enrich narratives by adding layers of significance and creating connections between various media forms.
Avant-garde: Avant-garde refers to innovative, experimental, and often radical artistic movements that challenge established norms and conventions. It seeks to push boundaries, often blending various forms of media and styles to create unique expressions. This term is closely related to the intersection of different media, the use of film as a tool for counter-hegemonic narratives, and the representation of marginalized voices in contemporary cinema.
Cultural Literacy: Cultural literacy refers to the ability to understand and participate fluently in a given culture, including its language, symbols, and significant references. This concept emphasizes the importance of being knowledgeable about cultural texts, historical contexts, and intertextual connections that shape our understanding of media. In the context of film and other media, cultural literacy enables viewers to appreciate deeper meanings and recognize the relationships between different works.
Faithful adaptation: Faithful adaptation refers to the process of transforming a source material, such as a novel or play, into a film or another medium while maintaining the core elements and themes of the original work. This concept highlights the relationship between different media forms and emphasizes how adaptations can both honor and reinterpret their sources through visual storytelling.
Hypertextuality: Hypertextuality refers to the relationship between texts that is characterized by non-linear connections, enabling readers to navigate through various layers of meaning and associations. This concept emphasizes how texts can reference, quote, or build upon other texts in a fluid and interactive manner, creating a web of interconnected narratives that can enhance the understanding of both the original and derived works.
Intermediality: Intermediality refers to the interactions and relationships between different forms of media, highlighting how they influence and shape one another. It emphasizes the blending of various media formats, such as film, television, literature, and digital content, demonstrating that no single medium exists in isolation. This concept is crucial for understanding how texts draw from one another, reflecting a broader cultural context.
Intertextuality: Intertextuality refers to the relationship between texts, where one text references, influences, or echoes another. This concept highlights how films and other media communicate through shared themes, symbols, and narrative structures, creating layers of meaning that enrich audience interpretation.
Julia Kristeva: Julia Kristeva is a Bulgarian-French philosopher, literary critic, and psychoanalyst known for her work on intertextuality and the semiotic. She argues that texts are not isolated works but are interconnected with other texts and cultural practices, influencing how films and other media can be understood in relation to one another. Her theories help us see how films reference, quote, or draw inspiration from various sources, creating layers of meaning through intertextual relationships.
Media convergence: Media convergence refers to the merging of traditional and digital media, leading to the interconnection of various platforms and the integration of content across different formats. This phenomenon impacts how audiences engage with media, blurring the lines between distinct media forms and reshaping consumption patterns.
Metafiction: Metafiction is a form of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, often blurring the boundary between fiction and reality. This genre encourages readers or viewers to reflect on the act of storytelling itself, revealing how narratives are constructed and challenging traditional storytelling conventions. By drawing attention to its own fictional status, metafiction can enhance intertextuality by inviting connections with other texts and media.
Parody: Parody is a form of satire that imitates the style and content of a particular work, genre, or cultural phenomenon, often exaggerating its characteristics for comedic effect. It plays with familiar elements in a way that highlights their absurdity or flaws, creating a humorous commentary on the original. By referencing and remixing existing texts, parody engages with intertextuality, inviting audiences to reflect on the relationships between different media and the cultural context in which they exist.
Pastiche: Pastiche is a creative work that imitates the style or character of one or more other works, often as a form of homage or celebration. This technique allows creators to blend different influences and genres, resulting in a unique hybrid that pays tribute to various sources. It plays a significant role in how films evolve over time and how they interact with other media by drawing on established conventions and styles.
Postmodernism: Postmodernism is a cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by a skepticism towards grand narratives and ideologies, embracing fragmentation, irony, and self-reflexivity. It challenges traditional structures and conventions in art, literature, and media, reflecting a shift in how narratives are constructed and understood.
Reader-response theory: Reader-response theory is a literary theory that emphasizes the role of the reader in creating meaning from a text, suggesting that the interpretation of a work is shaped by individual experiences, emotions, and thoughts. This approach connects deeply with the ways in which signs and symbols are interpreted, how texts relate to one another across various media forms, and the importance of critical thinking when consuming films and media.
Remix culture: Remix culture refers to a creative environment where existing works are transformed, reinterpreted, and recombined to create new expressions and meanings. This culture thrives on the idea that content is not created in a vacuum but is influenced by and builds upon previous works, fostering innovation across various media forms. It highlights the participatory nature of creativity, encouraging users to engage with and contribute to the collective knowledge of art, music, film, and more.
Roland Barthes: Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist and philosopher known for his work on semiotics, the study of signs and meaning-making. He significantly contributed to understanding how meanings are constructed through cultural texts, emphasizing that interpretations are not fixed but are shaped by various factors, such as context and audience reception. Barthes' ideas on denotation and connotation have had a profound impact on the analysis of film and other media.
Transmedia storytelling: Transmedia storytelling is a narrative technique that unfolds a single story or story experience across multiple platforms and formats, engaging audiences in different ways. This approach enhances the depth of the narrative and allows for a richer exploration of characters, themes, and settings by leveraging the unique strengths of each medium involved, creating a cohesive and immersive world.
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
Back
Practice QuizGlossary
Practice QuizGlossary
Next guide