The idea of intertextuality shows me how much it relates to the way I learn and communicate every day. To me, intertextuality means that nothing I write or say really exists on its own; it’s always connected to something I’ve read, heard, or experienced. I notice this most in school when I’m working on research projects. Research projects are designed to have you build on someone else’s idea. You don’t just pull information out of thin air. I go through credible sources, try to understand them, and then add my own perspective. That process of layering what I know, what I’ve learned, and what others have said is exactly how people build their place and advance a discourse community.
Intertextuality In School
I’ve been going to school since I was five years old to get knowledge that I can use to grow myself and my community from. Knowledge isn’t something created by itself; it’s put together. Every time I add on to a discussion or turn in an assignment, I’m adding another piece to a conversation that has already been happening before me and will continue to happen after me. A big part of intertextuality is using sources that are credible. A credible source allows me to be confident that the base of the information is solid because if the base isn’t solid, I can’t build onto it.
Online Intertextuality
Because everything is so online, I also notice intertextuality outside of school in the way I interact online. Like when I comment on TikTok videos, I’m connecting my voice to other texts and ideas. I’m not speaking in a vacuum. I’m responding and building on what’s already out there. That doesn’t mean that what I’m saying is the only thing that matters, but my perception on the information provided could help someone else to understand it in their own way, which would just build on the community we now share in that comment section. Intertextuality highlights that I’m part of something bigger. My voice matters, but it’s stronger when I connect it with others and add something new to the conversation.
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