Kamille #4 Blog Post
After discussing in class on Friday the reading: "Intertextuality and the Discourse Community" by James E. Porter, I thought an immense amount about the role it plays in literature. Authors use other texts as a reference, inspiration, or to carry on the story of another. Some simply note the structure of readings to influence their own writing. A few become intrigued through a story. Others want to continue the fundamental aspects of a certain piece and "re-create" it. This goes back to the idea of "remixing" that we discussed a couple weeks back. I believe all 3 are important in the English world. They each are uniquely special to keeping alive the idea of intertextuality.
Immediately after reading more about what the interrelationship between texts meant, I thought of some examples I have came across in my english classes in previous years. In my senior year, I remembered reading the play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard. The class explored this piece of literature directly after reading Shakespeare's "Hamlet." This was ironic because we all soon learned how closely related both were to each other. However, the points-of-view were complete opposites, and this was for a reason. Stoppard specifically wrote the play to focus on the two characters: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They become the center of attention in Stoppard's play due to them being "unimportant" in Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Some of the text from "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" is even from "Hamlet." An example of this is the exact speech from Claudius to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Nonetheless, Stoppard added stage notes. "CLAUDIUS: Welcome, dear Rosencrantz... (he raises a hand at GUIL while ROS bows - GUIL bows late and hurriedly.)... and Guildenstern. (He raises a hand at ROS while GUIL bows to him - ROS is still straightening up from his previous bow and half way up he bows down again. With his head down, he twists to look at GUIL, who is on the way up.) Moreover that we did much long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sanding. (ROS and GUIL still adjusting their clothing for CLAUDIUS's presence.)" This usage of intertextuality added to the story of "Hamlet."
Something interesting I thought about was if I had the chance to take a piece of literature and add to it through intertextuality what would it be? For me, I would have to choose "Twilight." Although both the book series by Stephenie Meyer and the movies produced from them are extremely controversial due to some believing they are some of the "worst books ever written," I strongly disagree. The story is very notable for being original (in my opinion). Because... how often did you hear of vampire love stories before the Twilight series? Meyer's creativeness is what has led to shows like "The Vampire Diaries" to thrive and even Disney Channel series such as "My Babysitter's A Vampire." Overall, intertextuality is significant in literature because it builds on the structures that existed before it.
Immediately after reading more about what the interrelationship between texts meant, I thought of some examples I have came across in my english classes in previous years. In my senior year, I remembered reading the play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard. The class explored this piece of literature directly after reading Shakespeare's "Hamlet." This was ironic because we all soon learned how closely related both were to each other. However, the points-of-view were complete opposites, and this was for a reason. Stoppard specifically wrote the play to focus on the two characters: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They become the center of attention in Stoppard's play due to them being "unimportant" in Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Some of the text from "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" is even from "Hamlet." An example of this is the exact speech from Claudius to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Nonetheless, Stoppard added stage notes. "CLAUDIUS: Welcome, dear Rosencrantz... (he raises a hand at GUIL while ROS bows - GUIL bows late and hurriedly.)... and Guildenstern. (He raises a hand at ROS while GUIL bows to him - ROS is still straightening up from his previous bow and half way up he bows down again. With his head down, he twists to look at GUIL, who is on the way up.) Moreover that we did much long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sanding. (ROS and GUIL still adjusting their clothing for CLAUDIUS's presence.)" This usage of intertextuality added to the story of "Hamlet."
Something interesting I thought about was if I had the chance to take a piece of literature and add to it through intertextuality what would it be? For me, I would have to choose "Twilight." Although both the book series by Stephenie Meyer and the movies produced from them are extremely controversial due to some believing they are some of the "worst books ever written," I strongly disagree. The story is very notable for being original (in my opinion). Because... how often did you hear of vampire love stories before the Twilight series? Meyer's creativeness is what has led to shows like "The Vampire Diaries" to thrive and even Disney Channel series such as "My Babysitter's A Vampire." Overall, intertextuality is significant in literature because it builds on the structures that existed before it.
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