Intertextuality

Definition

Intertextuality refers to the relationship between texts and the ways in which they influence, reference, or echo one another. This concept highlights how literary works are interconnected, often revealing deeper meanings through their connections to other texts, genres, or cultural contexts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intertextuality can be seen in how authors borrow themes, motifs, and styles from earlier works, creating a conversation across different periods and cultures.
2. In Meiji era literature, authors like Natsume Sōseki often referenced Western literary traditions while incorporating Japanese cultural elements, showcasing intertextuality in their narratives.
3. Contemporary Korean authors like Han Kang use intertextuality to connect personal experiences with historical and social contexts, adding layers of meaning to their stories.
4. Modernist and postmodernist writers frequently employ intertextuality to challenge traditional narrative forms and to question the nature of authorship and originality.
5. Film adaptations of East Asian novels often highlight intertextual connections by drawing from multiple source materials and reinterpretations that resonate with audiences.

Review Questions

• How does intertextuality enhance the themes presented in Meiji era literature?
  • Intertextuality in Meiji era literature enriches themes by allowing authors like Natsume Sōseki to weave Western literary influences into their narratives. This blending creates a dialogue between Eastern and Western ideas, enabling a deeper exploration of identity, modernity, and cultural transition. By referencing Western texts and styles, these authors can also critique or reaffirm their own cultural values, making their works resonate on multiple levels.
• Discuss the role of intertextuality in shaping the narrative strategies employed by contemporary Korean novelists.
  • Contemporary Korean novelists such as Han Kang utilize intertextuality to create layered narratives that reflect on personal and collective histories. By drawing on references from both Korean folklore and global literature, these authors craft stories that resonate with universal themes while also addressing specific cultural issues. This technique allows readers to engage with the text on various levels and encourages them to consider how history and memory intertwine within individual lives.
• Evaluate the impact of intertextuality on the perception of modernism and postmodernism in East Asian literature.
  • Intertextuality significantly impacts the perception of modernism and postmodernism in East Asian literature by challenging notions of originality and authorial intent. Modernist writers often engage with earlier texts to question established narrative structures and cultural norms, while postmodernist authors use intertextuality to blur boundaries between genres and media. This interplay creates a complex landscape where meanings are fluid, encouraging readers to actively participate in constructing understanding based on their own experiences with both familiar and foreign texts.

Related terms

Allusion:

A brief reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance that is not elaborated upon.

Palimpsest: A manuscript or document on which multiple layers of text have been written and overwritten, symbolizing how new texts can contain traces of older ones.

Pastiche: A literary work that imitates the style or character of another work or genre, often as a way of celebrating or parodying it.