ENG 3416-0005

Intertextuality
Volume 1, Issue 1

is everything a remix?

February 16, 2014

Um, What is Intertextuality?

Hello, new EWM major! How is life?
Is it filled with History of Text Technologies and ten-page papers? I
hope not, for your sake.
But back to the question: what is intertextuality? Well, let me explain so
that you have some background
knowledge on it and are able to grasp
fundamental rhetorical theory concepts.
This
guide will help
you recognize
the
relationships between
texts and the
importance of
connection!
The long, boring definition of
intertextuality
is the interconnectedness
among texts,
or the concept
that any text is
an amalgam*
of others, either because it
exhibits signs
of influence or because its language
inevitably contains common points of
reference with other texts through
such things as allusion, quotation,
genre, style, and even revisions. (Murfin & Ray, 2009.) Sorry
about that mouthful.
So lets pretend youre a writer. (You
might very well be one, actually!)
Anyway, you are writing Text A and
decide to use the infamous idiom of
MLK Jr.s I Have a Dream speech.

This means that Text A pulls from Text

B.
In short, it is defining how the two are
connected.
Boom. You have intertextuality.
However, this doesnt just apply simply
to writing! It can refer to ideas, theories, images,
and so on.
For example,
Toy Story 2
uses Jurassic
Park as inspiration in the
scene where
the toys are in
Als Toy Barn
looking
for
Woody. Barbie
is driving and
Rex (the dino)
is running behind
them,
trying to catch
up. The audience sees him
in the rearview mirror with the Objects
are closer than they appear message,
which is almost an exact replica of the
image conjured in the Jurassic Park
scene where there is a T-Rex following
the tour Jeep.
To be completely honest, I didnt notice this particular illustration of the
concept until I started actively seeking
out examples, but doesnt the correlation of the two make you smile? And

*Yes, were English majors, but I didnt know what this meant so Im hoping you wont either. Amalgam: mixture or blend.

One text joins hands with another,

demonstrating the true friendship and
interaction that they
have with each other.

Inside this issue:

Um, What is Intertextuality

Pg 1

Yay, Origin!

Pg 2

Purpose

Pg 2

Social Media

Pg 2

Remix

Pg 3

The Essentialness

Pg 3

In the Real World

Pg 3

Special points of interest:

Learn how and why intertextuality is
important!
Make sure to check out the point
about the connection between social media and intertextuality!
Think you dont unconsciously use
intertextuality every day? Think
again!
You are so great for reading this.
Give yourself a pat on the back.

Intertextuality

Yay, Origin!
The term intertextuality
was first used in 1966.
In Word, Dialogue and
Novel, Julia Kristeva
proposed it as a
dynamic site in which
relational processes and
practices are the focus
of analysis instead of
static structures and
products (Alfaro, 268).
Her creation of the word
is said to embody an
attempt at analyzing the
semiotics of numerous
linguists.

Going off of the dynamic

-versus-static idea, she
went on to define intertextuality as an intersection of textual surfaces rather a point.
Over the past 49 years,
intertextuality has
evolved into a sort of
umbrella term. It encompasses a broad
sense of communication
and is frequently related
to literary (specifically,
genre) evolution. The
actual intertextuality ob-

viously has to evolve

from the tangible literature that it connects to,
because without Text B,
Text A is nothing. (If intertextuality is what you
are going for.)
The most significant
concept that the
connection word is
linked to is probably
remix.
But hold your rhetorical
horses for just a couple
more articles.

Is There A Purpose? Duh.

That was a bit blunt, sorry. But
something that I have learned along
the way (of life) is that if there is a
yes-or-no question that seems out
of the blue, the answer is usually
yes. Why else would your time be
wasted with it?
Moving on. The purpose of intertextuality is simple: to connect with
audiences. And to allow the audience to connect things in their
minds. The word itself is somewhat
self-explanatoryinter being the
linking factor and textual meaning

that the connecting is done in or

through texts.
Overall, this is done for the sake of
ethos. Authors need their audience
to trust them, feel comfortable accepting what is being said, and be
able to relate to the notions presented.

Question: Does an Instagram caption

that refers to movie characters count as
intertextuality? What about one that
comes straight from a movie or book?
I think the answers to these questions
are all the same: theres no one answer,
because it depends on the situation.
In relation to this post, Mia Thermopolis,
the main character in The Princess Diaries, works at a rock climbing gym and
is seen climbing at one point, relatively
easily. But thats all.

From authors own library.

Review: Why use intertextuality?

Comprehension, connection, interest. Its all about the audience.

For instance, when professors use

popular movie references to explain
a theory to the class. They are attempting to grab their students attention and encourage understanding, but the transmission of ideas

Social Media

Page 2

has to be at their level.

Therefore, I dont think it is the dictionary definition of intertextuality, but it is

an example of how it can be difficult to

determine what is and isnt.

I would say that intertextuality is present in cases where a direct quote is
utilized, but then again, isnt intertextuality when one entire text pulls from
another?
Not necessarily! Remember that the
denotation says that any text can be a
blend of another intertextuality if it
exhibits signs of influence or because
its language inevitably contains common points of reference.
This means that as long as you use an
image, idea, or quote, from another
form of media, you have intertextuality!
Is that word becoming a little overused?

Volume 1, Issue 1

Is Everything a Remix?
A common theory about
movies, books, art, and media in general, is that everything is a remix of something else. This idea would
mean that one authors idea
for a book was simply developed as a result of another that he or she read,
and one work of art that an
artist claims as his masterpiece is really only a remix
of something else he has
already seen.
This, I believe, is comparable to dreams. It is said that

because the plot seems equivalent to something else,

every person you see in
merely changed up a bit. Nicholas Sparks is conyour dreams, you
stantly battered by people who say that all he does
have seen before,
is change the character names and the obstacle
whether it have
that the two lovers must overcome.
been on street, in a
Nevertheless, I have to disagree with this general
store, or your neighstatement of remix. Instead, I believe intertextuality
borhood.
is the outcome of many works. Like previously
But does this theory apmentioned, it includes pulling from ideas,
ply to every aspect
concepts, and direct quotes, which covers
of our lives? Surely,
about everything that could be remixed.
at some point there
had to have been
something new to
jumpstart the revolution.
It is true that many current productions of
novels and movies
seem overdone

The Essentialness of Intertextuality

Intertextuality is like water or air to humanity,
believe me. We use it
every day as we talk,
because we are drawing
from our experiences
the times we have read
a novel, watched a movie, or listened to a
speech, or really anybody talk.
The concept requires
that we understand texts
not as self-contained
systems but as differential and historical, as

traces and tracings of

otherness, since they
are shaped by the repetition and transformation
of other textual structures.
Julia Kristevas definition
and use of
intertextuality is constructive because it is
inclusive of and takes
into account the structure, process, and outcome of the term. She

also recognizes the dynamism that it brings the

to piece of literature.
Read on to figure out
why intertextuality is
necessary through the
following examples.

Art cannot be
created or
destroyed
only remixed.
~Kirby Ferguson

In the Real World

You may be asking yourself, How will understanding this word help me navigate
the waters of rhetoric? Toy Story 2 and snappy Instagram captions arent necessary to sustain life.
Well, let me just say rude! and they just might be. Kidding. But in all honestly,
intertextuality might not be essential to humankind; I just think that it would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to write without using intertextuality. It is something that is frequently done unconsciously because certain notions and images
are ingrained in our minds when we are children, making it seem like they were
always a part of us, and not some picture book or cartoon that we read or watched.
Therefore, if we use intertextuality every single day when we talk, because we are
drawing from our experiences, our minds are shaped by the repetition and transformation of other textual structure (Alfaro, 271). This all culminates to signify that
we would have a field day attempting to cut out all utilization of the word in everyday life.

Check out this WORKS CITED!

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