Intertextuality

Intertextuality is a term used to describe the visual reference between films. Quite literally, films 'borrow' from each other, meaning the audience may recognise certain camera angles, aspects of mise en scene, snippets of sound or methods of editing in some film that have been seen in others. 


Intertextuality can attract a certain audience type, and can help the viewer relate to each aspect of a film. The film 'Psycho' is a well known film from the 1950's, which many films try to emulate in one way or another nowadays. 


I watched a clip from the film 'The Stepfather' which used intertextuality from the film 'Psycho'. It did this in many ways, by doing the following: woman being chased up the staircase, to a bathroom with glitterring white tiles. They use the same weapon, which is a kitchen knife, and the curtains of the bath tub are ripped out when the killing takes place. Finally, the dead body is placed in the bath tub, which is identical to 'Psycho'. 


This made it very interesting, as the older generation may be able to relate to it, as they may have seen the film 'Psycho' in their earlier days. Also, it enabled the younger generation to see how each film was set out out, and realise that many films relate to great, older films. 

PSYCHO:

Below is a screen grab during the scene in 'The Stepfather' where the man who has died has pulled down the shower curtains. If you look closely, they are underneath him at this point. It is intertextuality from the famous film I was talking about named 'Psycho'.