Yellow spray paint on blue wooden planks that says, "Stay connected."

Intertextuality is Everywhere, We Just Don’t Often Recognize It.

by

Danielle Nagy


As I read in Doug Eyman’s article, I discovered that intertextuality is a phenomenon that we come across quite often in our daily lives. In its simplest form, this occurrence explains the relationship between texts.  For example, when one text references, quotes, shapes, or inspires another, a connection between the two is made.  We see this happening in our daily lives, whether it be digitally, creatively, or academically!

In the Media

Movies mentioning other movies.  TV shows inspired by other TV shows.  Memes.  These are just some examples of how we are surrounded by intertextuality , especially in the media.  

Let’s think about memes, a prime example of intertextuality for today’s generations.  What are they?  What’s their purpose?  At their core, memes reference a thought or feeling that is connected to a form of media once consumed (thanks, Friend!).  Think back to the last time you were scrolling your feed, saw a meme, and sent it to someone.  By sharing that funny or relatable post, you were engaging in intertextuality!

In Academics

Essays quoting other essays.  Books building off of elements from other books.  Intertextuality is present throughout the entirety of our educational career.  In elementary school, students often for connections with different books they read to deepen their understanding of different skills.  In higher education, scholars often write research papers where they refer to and quote previously published research to build their credibility.  Across all grade levels, intertextuality helps to create more meaningful connections between texts and experiences to enhance learning.

Want to learn more about intertextuality? Click here for an in-depth definition and examples!


Comments

One response to “Intertextuality is Everywhere, We Just Don’t Often Recognize It.”

  1. […] was born!  But I’ll spare you the trouble of reading about that here since I already have a blog posted that talks all about […]

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