Intertextuality (whatever that means)

“No poet, no artist of any art, has his complete meaning alone. His significance, his appreciation is the appreciation of his relation to the dead poets and artists. You cannot value him alone; you must set him, for contrast and comparison, among the dead. I mean this as a principle of aesthetic, not merely historical, criticism.”― T.S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood

If you type "intertextuality" into Google, you will get the definition "the relationship between texts, especially literary ones." However, I believe that intertextuality requires far more explanation than that one line, so I am devoting this post to explaining intertextuality, what it entails, and what it serves.

Julia Kristeva developed the original theory of intertextuality to explain the relationships between texts. According to Kristeva's theory, every literary text is essentially made up of earlier texts. To put it another way, all literature is fundamentally a conversation, and no literary work stands alone. Kristeva contended that every text is a "intertext" that exists as a link between other literary works. Kristeva's concept of intertextuality is more complex than most contemporary media interpretations, but it is a compelling one that has been discussed further by other theorists and philosophers. For example the song "Survival" by eminem has references to call of duty (a video game) or like marvel movies have references to other universes.

Intertextuality can be used to inform audiences about a work's themes, thesis, or plot. It can also be used to generate humour or to reinterpret the source material creatively. Some artists use intertextuality to intentionally situate their work within a specific tradition or to draw attention to the work of another artist. Intertextuality can sometimes provide audiences with a framework that helps them understand a new work through comparison. The purposes of intertextuality are so diverse that it would almost be more accurate to say that each unique instance of intertextuality has its own unique purpose based on the needs of the work and the artist's choices.

Fancy by Iggy Azalea

This video contains numerous intertextual references to the American teen chick flick "clueless."(1995). The outfits she wears are identical to those worn by the main character in clueless, and she recreates several of the most iconic scenes from the film.

Intertextuality, like everything else in media, has different types. Some of them are:

Paroody

Parody music, also known as musical parody, entails changing or copying existing (usually well-known) musical ideas and/or lyrics, or copying a composer's or performer's specific style, or even a general style of music. A parody video could also mock something by making a ridiculously exaggerated version of it. Making parody videos is a great way to gain exposure on YouTube!

The lyrics and music video parody Michael Jackson, who was facing child molestation charges at the time. The song also makes fun of Beavis and Cornholio, MC Hammer, Madonna, and other celebrities. It also heavily spoofs Pee-wee Herman, even imitating his signature shout during the chorus, and Eminem dresses like him in the video.

Allusion

An allusion is an indirect reference to a historical, cultural, or literary figure, place, thing, or idea. The emotions associated with allusions contribute to the depth of the image in song. It's an excellent poetic and lyrical device. It aids in understanding the theme and experiencing the writer's emotions more accurately. It is a lyricist's expression to convey something to the reader's mind without explicitly mentioning it.

'that you were Romeo, you were throwing
Pebbles
And my Daddy
Said ‘ stay away from
Juliet’

The author is attempting to demonstrate how her family does not approve of her boyfriend. However, his hatred does not prevent him from attempting to win her heart. She made a reference to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" here.

Homage

An homage is essentially a copy of another work. At first glance, an homage may appear to be a rip-off or a poor imitation, but an homage actually pays tribute to and honours the source work. Homage is an excellent way to use the style and content of other artists to help you find your own distinct voice as an artist.

Madonna dressed up as a Marilyn Monroe look-alike in the music video for "Material Girl," which made fans take a second look. Madonna perfectly paid homage to the iconic '50s film, from the hazy and dreamy cinematography to the impeccable costumes.
Madonna puts on a whole theatrical production with suited-up dancers as she flaunts her diamonds and glamorous pink outfit, much like in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Though the pop star added her own flair to the choreography, it's clear that the singer was heavily influenced by that particular Marilyn Monroe musical number.

Translation

Translation can refer to the narrative of any media text that can be interpreted differently, essentially transforming it into another form of media.

Calque

Calque in a music video refers to the appearance of another culture or some words (language) in a music video. Calque in music videos connects the video to another culture.

Lean oN by Major Lazer and DJ Snake is one example. In this video, girls are shown wearing sarees (a traditional Indian dress), thereby representing Indian culture.

Bricolage

Bricolage is a term used to describe a work created by combining existing materials, regardless of their original purpose. The first thing I discovered was how subcultural groups used other items of clothing to promote their own messages. Punks wearing dog collars as a status symbol is an example of this. It was the concept of combining two ideas to create something new. It was about turning clothes related to jobs or simply with meaning into a fashion statement. Bricolage is a French word for Jumble.

Hybridity

This consists of two types of components that produce similar results; this could be a mixed origin that produces either the same or a different resultant piece. This could be due to the blending of culture and tradition, as well as old and new eras, making it difficult to understand what is being represented.

Pastiche

A pastiche is a creative work that is based on the work of another author or genre. It's a way of paying homage to great works of the past. Pastiche differs from parody in that it does not mock the works it imitates; however, the tone of pastiche is frequently humorous. Pastiche is extremely common in music, as musicians must constantly try out new styles in order to keep their sound from getting stale.

This music video is a patiche of Elvis Presley