THE intertextuality it is the textual presence of semantic and/or formal elements that refer to other texts previously produced. It can manifest itself explicitly, allowing the reader to identify the presence of other texts, or implicitly, being identified only by those who already know the reference.
Through this relationship between different texts, intertextuality allows an expansion of meaning, as it creates new possibilities and displaces meanings. In this way, it can be used to improve an explanation, present a critique, propose a new perspective, produce humor, etc.
Read too: Scientific popularization text - genre that presents scientific information to the lay public
What is intertextuality?
Intertextuality refers to the presence of formal or semantic elements of texts, already produced, in a new textual production. In other words, it refers to texts that present, in whole or in part, similar or identical parts of other texts produced previously.
This intertextuality can be explicitly indicated in the text or it can come “disguised” by the author's language. In any case, for the meaning of the established relationship to be understood, the reader needs to identify the intertextual marks and, in some cases, know and understand the previous text.
In scientific work, like articles and dissertations, it is common to have citation of ideas or information from other texts. The citation can be direct, full copy of the necessary passage, or indirect, when the desired information is explained in your own words. Both forms comprise intertextuality, as they take advantage of ideas already produced to contribute with new information.
intertextuality can also occur at the formal level., when the author repeats elements of the previous structure, but alters other aspects, thus building a new text, with explicit links with the previous production. It's very common in artistic genres, like poetry and music, in advertising texts etc.
Types of intertextuality
- Allusion – is the act of indicating or insinuating a previous text without, however, delving into it. This method of intertextuality presents in a superficial and objective way information, ideas or other data present in previous texts or texts.
Example: As the poet would say, tomorrow is another day.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
- Parody – it is the type of intertextuality in which a structure similar to that of a previous text is presented, but with changes that interfere and/or subvert the meaning of the text, which starts to present a strong critical, comic and/or content. satyr. Thus, in addition to building a new text, with similarities to a previous one, it also seeks to show a change in meaning.
Example:
“My land has California apple trees
where they sing gaturanos from Venice.
the poets of my land
are blacks who live in amethyst towers,
army sergeants are monists, cubists,
philosophers are Poles selling on installments.
we can't sleep
with the speakers and the mosquitoes.
The sururus in the family have Gioconda as a witness
I die suffocated
in a foreign land.
our flowers are prettier
our most delicious fruits
but they cost a hundred thousand reis a dozen.
Oh, I wish I could suck a real carambola
and listen to a thrush with a certificate of age!"
Murilo Mendes
Parody of “Canção do Exílio”, by Gonçalves Dias
- Paraphrase – is the process of intertextuality in which the meaning of the original text is reaffirmed, but with little or no structural similarity. In this type, the intention is to rewrite the subject of the original text, mainly taking advantage of the already existing semantic elements, to produce a new language with the same theme.
Example:
"My Brazilian eyes close with nostalgia
My mouth searches for the 'Song of Exile'.
What was the 'Song of Exile' like?
I'm so forgetful of my land...
Oh land that has palm trees
Where the thrush sings!"
Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Paraphrase of “Canção do Exílio”, by Gonçalves Dias
- Title – is the reproduction of a small part of the original text at the beginning of a new text. It is usually placed at the top of the page, in the right corner and in italics. Despite being a “loose” passage, the epigraph always has a relationship with the content of the new text.
“despite you
tomorrow will be
other day."
Chico Buarque
- Quote – it is when the author references another text because it is pertinent and relevant to the content of the new text. The citation can occur directly, when you copy the passage in its entirety and highlight it between quotation marks, or it can be indirect, when affirming what the author of the original text said, but explaining the concepts with new words, relating the approach to the new content.
Example:
According to Socrates, "Sage is the one who knows the limits of his own ignorance", so there is no point in having an accumulation of information, when self-criticism and reflection are not applied as tools for recognizing the strengths and limits of our knowledge.
See too: Advertising - genre whose function is to present products/brands to a wide audience
Differences between implicit intertextuality and explicit intertextuality
Intertextuality can be expressed in two ways: implicit or explicit. The implicit mode includes productions that, despite referring to information, concepts and data already presented in previous texts, will not do so with full copies or with an explicit indication.
As well as the paraphrase of drummond, a implicit intertextuality quotes without showing or advertising. If the reader does not know the previous text, he may find it difficult to perceive any established relationship.
already the explicit intertextuality is that which expresses itself directly on the textual surface, that is, it presents similarities or copies of excerpts from the original text. In this process, even if the author does not know the first text, he will at least identify that there is a reference to another production.
Examples of intertextuality
Intertextuality is present in different textual genres, but has a privileged space in artistic genres. In these contexts, it is also used as a tool for inspiration and creativity, as it provokes a reinterpretation of already known texts in new contexts. Here are some examples of intertextuality in textual genres artistic:
In the song:
“From Jackson do Pandeiro, not even Cremilda
From Michael Jackson, not Billie Jean
From Jimi Hendrix, nor sweet Angel
Neither Angela nor Lígia, by Jobim
Neither Lia, Lily Braun nor Beatriz
Of the twelve goddesses of Edu and Chico
Until the thirty Leilas de Donato
And from Layla, from Clapton, I abdicate
Only you,
I sing and play only you
Only you
Like you, no one else can be"
(Lenin)
The music of Brazilian singer Lenine presents a declaration of love from the me lyric to your inspiring muse. In the lyrics, the poet makes reference to different muses, already socially recognized, which are inspirations from others, but not from him, as his only muse is his beloved, a truth confirmed in “only you”, in contrast to the enumeration of referenced muses.
In literature:
"My land has palm trees
where the sea chirps
the birds here
They don't sing like the ones over there
My land has more roses
And almost more loves
My land has more gold
My land has more land"
(Oswald de Andrade)
In the second example, poem by Oswald of Andrade, we find the intertextuality with the poem “Canção do Exílio”, previously published by the poet Gonçalves Dias. The second text presents elements that show this relationship, such as the repetition of expressions such as “Minha land”, “palmares”, “chirps”, “from here”, “there”.
In visual texts:
THE Mona Lisa is one of the texts that has the most reinterpretations, exemplifying the relationship of intertextuality points with the original work. In the two previous images, it is possible to recognize the reference to Leonardo da Vinci's painting — the position of the hands, the color palette, the hair, the position of the body, among other details. It is noticed that, even with so many similarities, the two texts present new meanings for the image, each one with its specific signature.
By Talliandre Matos
Writing Teacher
