Intertextuality

Intertextuality often refers to the general relationship between two or more media texts that will be recognised by audiences from the assumption of a producer. Intertexuality can also be defined as one media text shaping concepts of another. These concepts can be either subtle or obvious to the audience, however these concepts are identified based on the audiences knowledge of the films.

A films genre is significant to the audiences identification, as without the genre, audiences may not be interested. Genre is key to intertextuality as films inherit concepts of popular films which have the same genre. The 'Popular' films may contain concepts which are easily identifiable from the audience, this is the main reason why 'other' films supposedly copy these concepts to portray a similar idea.

There are many films which use intertextuality such as;

• The "Scary Movie" Franchise, which mimics scenes from the "Scream" and The "Final Destination" Franchise as well "Paranormal Activity" in "Scary Movie 5"
• The films, "What Lies Beneath", "Step Father" and "Fatal Attraction" contain key elements of the popular thrilling shower scene in "Psycho"
• Also "Disaster Movie" consists of popular characters such as "Iron Man", "Alvin and The Chipmunks", "The Hulk", "Miley Cyrus" and many more, it also includes story lines from "Indiana Jones", "Enchanted" and many more

Intertextuality from Psycho: 

The Stepfather, 2009

What Lies Beneath, 2001

Psycho, 1960

Fatal Attraction, 1987

The film "Psycho" is famously known for it's shower scene, which is used in many other thriller films which are located on the side All these films have a character who have or are being killed by someone. These characters are all against a wall or having their face towards the camera which is similar to the film Psycho. Also all these scenes take place in a white bathroom in a bath tub which accentuates how murder occurs in a isolated and a private place. This highlights how the movie "Psycho" is a good role model for potential thriller film. 

 Intertextuality in Scary Movie: 

From Scream: 

Scary Movie 1

Scream 

Scary movie 1 took the killers mask from the franchise of Scream. Scary movie 1 is a spoof of scream however the audience will be able to realise that Scary Movie 1 is a spoof of Scream through the mask.

From Paranormal Activity:

In Scary Movie, they have used the same scene where there is a "stranger" waiting ominously outside also in both images there is a white window frame as well as curtains.

Paranormal Activity 4

Scary Movie 5

Both character in the film are blonde which highlights the similarity although Scary Movie is a spoof, the audience will be able to identify that Scary Movie is based on Paranormal Activity.