Intertextuality

Intertextuality

Definition

Intertextuality refers to the process by which films derive meaning by referencing, echoing, or responding to other texts—literary works, previous films, or cultural artifacts.

Theoretical Foundations

Coined by Julia Kristeva in the 1960s upon Mikhail Bakhtin’s dialogism, intertextuality frames cinema as a network of signs that converse across time, genre, and medium, inviting viewers to detect homages, parodies, and thematic continuities.

Forms and Functions

Intertextual practices include direct quotations, stylistic pastiches, genre mashups, and Easter eggs. They engage audiences in active interpretation, foster fan cultures, and can critique or celebrate cinematic traditions. Such dialogic referencing shapes collective memory and cultural identity within film discourse.