Question 3: Foster discusses the “dialogue between…texts.” He refers to
this as “intertextuality.” What is the significance, value, and effect of this textual connection?
How does it inform and enhance our reading experiences? Is intertextuality intentional or
serendipitous? How does it operate? How might it relate to the “one big story?” How might it
relate to archetypes, symbols? When have you noticed intertextuality at work in the “real”
world? What is the “mythic level?”
Intertextuality is the correspondence of one text to another to result in a collision of themes, ideas,
and expressions to create a new story. Throughout chapter 4, Foster insinuates the idea that “there’s
no such thing as a wholly original work of literature” (24). Foster intensifies the importance of
realizing that every story has a distinctive connection to another artifact that it models after. The
importance of intertextuality is that is enables the reader to recognize different meanings of the text.
As a method of reading between the lines per say, intertextuality motivates the means of symbolic
representation within a story. Through recognizing common themes, ideas, and expressions within a
story, it enables the reader to “connect the dots” and understand fundamental ideas that are widely
recognized, which is primitive in enhancing the reading experience (Foster 27). The creative process
of writing promotes writers to reflect on past experiences, writings, cultural artifacts, and other
symbolic representations, and then take that knowledge and build upon it. According to Foster,
“...you can’t create stories in a vacuum” (25). That everything written is derived from a memory or
reflection that has been embedded deep within the mind. Intertextuality, as inferred, is solely
serendipitous, as nothing is original through the collision of previous knowledge interfering with the
motif of the text. Thus as nothing is original, Foster states, “...there’s only one story” (27). Using an
extended simile, Foster compares the originality of a story to a barrel of eels, as the eel deters from
the original path, it still relates to where it first came from. Foster often notes how the Bible has
impacted literature. In a contemporary standpoint, and from one of my favorite books, The Lion, The
Witch, and the Wardrobe alludes to religious context, as the novel metaphorically represented
crucial testimonies from the New Testament. Intertextuality is a commonality in all novels as one
story builds from another, resulting in the evolution of themes, ideas, and expressions that have
revolutionized the writing process. It's difficult to determermine the myth level when each story is
derived from another source, which may not have a fundamental truth in it, perhaps it just relies on
theory or cultural accepted truths. However, in terms with how apparent this literaturistic appeal is
within writings, intertextuality is not mythical, but a common practice that is implemented
within all of literature.
derived from another source, which may not have a fundamental truth in it, perhaps it just relies on
theory or cultural accepted truths. However, in terms with how apparent this literaturistic appeal is
within writings, intertextuality is not mythical, but a common practice that is implemented
within all of literature.
Intertextuality is what makes the writer’s message a little bit easier to uncover. It’s important as readers that we continue to read so we can draw comparisons to better understand a work. Your example of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe contains allusions to the New Testament. Foster kind of makes it seem like allusions to Christianity are fairly common, he dedicates a chapter of his book on literature to these allusions, and as you have shown with your example they’re even in children’s novels. Foster talks about Christ figures in chapter 14 and how a Christ figure can be found in many forms, even unlikely forms. To find a Christ figure, readers must know the basic traits and information that make up those figures. When I was first reading the chapter about Christ figures, I found myself thinking what’s the purpose of drawing these comparisons. I was like okay cool this lady is a Christ figure but why does that matter in terms of the text? As I continued reading, I found that by identifying the symbols and character types readers uncover the depths of a character which could develop the plot or lead to the meaning of the text. It’s so important to find these intertextual connections so that we have a better shot at understanding what the writer was trying to say. Also, I’ve only seen the movie version of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and it was a super long time ago, would you mind explaining to me how it relates to the New Testament and which character you identified as the Christ figure, if there was one?
ReplyDeleteI had to re-watch this recently actually. Aslan, the Lion in the movies/books, actually symbolizes the crucifixion of Christ. The lion has sacrificed himself for the sins of Edmund, therefore he was murdered. He then, however, rose again. Aslan then confides in the warriors to wage a war against the White Witch which symbolizes the Holy Spirit breathing into the disciples.
DeleteThanks for sharing, I never noticed that before!
DeleteI really like your analysis on how intertextuality affects writers. I didn't reflect on how it affects the creative process of writing. I agree, I think that intertextuality does prompt writers to look at other texts, as well as personal experiences and events, in order to enrich their writing. But since writers do look at other texts and try and incorporate parts of them into their own writings, I think that not all intertextuality is serendipitous. If some writers purposefully 'engage in dialogue with other texts,' then I think that some of the the intertextuality surrounding their work is intentional. I also really like your analysis of the mythic level. I didn't really understand this part before, but now I see how intertextuality helps propagate and establish these myths.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it is important for writers to look at older texts to gather the correct and best information for his or her writing, it allows for symbols, ideas, etc. to be passed on accurately for readers to then reflect upon and understand. I also really like how you added that memory and reflections are important to writing as well, showing that an author’s writing is in fact nothing new, but is original due to his or her own personal thoughts and opinions being what drives them to write. I also enjoyed reading about the Bible in literature in your example, it is by far one of the most commonly used older texts in literature, and yours and Abby’s discussion was very eye opening and intriguing.
ReplyDelete