Intertextuality

Intertextuality is the way in which texts refer to other media that producers assume audience will recognise. The audience are more likely to consume and enjoy the media if they recognise the reference in one media text to another media text. The use of intertextuality can help create a connection with the audience through sharing the same humour etc. The use of intertextuality helps make the text less bland. Intertextual media targets other media that takes its self too seriously, and exposes it through mocking the media. We are going to look at how 'scary movie' uses intertextuality to capture the interest of the audience and how it exposes other films. 'Scary movie' makes fun of films such as: child play, madea's Family reunion, Paranormal activity, Inception, Piranha, Black swan, 127 hours, insidious, scream 4,rise of the planet apes, the cabin in the woods, the hunger games, ted, here comes honey boo boo, Mama and evil dead. The main part of the film we will concentrate on is the first part of the film which is based on the film 'Paranormal activity'. As soon as the film starts you can clearly notice that the first scene of the film resembles the main scene from ' Paranormal activities'. Also as i watched the first part of the film I noticed that the film was not only mocking the 'Paranormal activity' film but it was also mocking the two main characters of the scene (Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan). Charlie Sheen is well known for his scandals e.g., he was caught having an affair with more than two women at a time, But in the first scene of the film he boldly reassures Lindsay Lohan that he is 'strictly a one woman guy'. Also Lindsay Lohan then goes on to say that ''I pride myself in keeping a low profile'' but we all know that her scandals have been in the public eye for a long time and her life is everything but low key. By using these characters the film makers are able to reach out to the audience, it’s almost as if they are trying to tell the audience we know what you are thinking. ''scary movie5'' Mimics the style which ''Paranormal activity'' was filmed, the actual movie ''Paranormal activity'' was films in the style of a documentary, in the film a couple set up a camera in their room to record paranormal events happening in their bedroom as they were sleeping. Scary movie over exaggerates this by showing as a room with a lot of cameras installed everywhere.