Intertextuality, in simple terms, is when
one text/work connects to or references another text/work. I strongly believe
that the many things we interact with daily reflect on us and we carry them,
for example, our own values, morals, etc are what influence our worldview and
our decisions.
One of the books I read over the
summer, The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway was deeply
intertextual, with its title coming from Ecclesiastes 1:5: "The
sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he
arose." Hemingway uses this from the bible as a method of framing the
"Lost Generation" (those who survived World War I) and how their
drifting away emotionally and spiritually. To go more in depth, the bible verse
reflects the endless repetition of human struggle and renewal; by using this
"ancient" text and creating a novel based of faith and
disillusionment it's a text that is "haunted" by another text,
exactly what intertextuality is.
To be more personal, I would definitely agree
that everyday occurrences or ideas exposed to us have some impact on the
"intertextuality of our own identity", for example in AP Biology
there has been a strong push by the teacher to be more environmentally smart,
which of course is the right thing to do. I
have no argument against that,
but specifics such as pushing towards EV's and cutting down on certain diets
are a few of the many things that conflicts with my personal worldview. As
someone who loves nature and animals, I do agree that many things such as
single use plastics and other things such be cut down and that big corporations
should be held accountable, but my love for ICE (internal combustion engine)
vehicles also clash with those ideals, causing an internal clash within myself.
The sweet sound of a cammed V8 or saving the world from global warming by
entertaining some quiet, soulless EV are just some of the ways that
intertextuality can be witnessed in my life.
Is there hope for me where I can find some
middle ground between being environmentally friendly and able to enjoy the
beauty of ICEs??? (yes... the new BMW M5 which is a hybrid!!! Environmentally
friendly right???). But just like in Hemingway's The Sun also
Rises, Jake and Brett can't be together, but they keep living and
moving forward. I'll find something that satisfies both sides.
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