Intertextuality

Kiss& Robbie Williams

Intertextuality
Intertextuality is when a text is referenced or copied
by another, there are three different ways that
intertextuality can be used
Parody
This is when the new text pokes fun at the old, it will
crate humour while referencing the old text.
Homage
This is when the new text pays totally respect to the old
one and is near identical to the old.
Pastiche
This is similar to parody, although they do pay respect
to the original text and is less offensive.

Intertextuality theories
John Stuart- modern media
incorporates, raids and reconstructs
Julia Kristeva- any text is the
absorption and transformation of
another
Both theorists are referring to
intertextuality and how there is no
original texts anymore and how
people just re use old texts

kiss
Kiss is an American hard rock band, well known for
their make up and costume. Their costume and
make up consists of full-face black and white make
up, with big extreme costumes.
They are also known for their extreme stage
performances that feature blood, fire, spitting and
violence as part of the act.
The band originated in 1970 in new york city. The
band has gone through many changes with its
members although today consists of, Paul Stanley,
Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer

Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams was originally in the band pop
band Take That before leaving for his solo
career in 1995
His first seven albums were a massive success
all reaching number one in the uk charts; also
selling 75 million records world wide
Not only is he a solo singer he can also play a
wide rang of instruments including piano,
guitar and drums.

Robbie Williams- Let Me Entertain

you
Two years after his first split from
Take That Robbie released Let Me
Entertain You.
The video makes reference and uses
Intertextuality in two parts of the
music video. Firstly to Ozzy Osbourne
and then throughout the video to the
band kiss.

Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy was well know for his crazy stage performances and fans would often throw
things up onto the stage for Ozzy
Although one time while playing a show in 1982 on the 20th of January a fan threw a
live bat up onto the stage and Ozzy mistook the real bat for a fake one and bit the
head off the animal.
Robbie makes reference to this incident at the beginning of his video for Let Me
Entertain You.
He uses intertextuality at the beginning of the video when it seems that he is about
to bite the head of a bird off, Robbie used intertextuality and referenced the event at
the beginning of the video to acknowledge the rock and roll lifestyle and also give
reference to the genre of the video the audience are about to watch.
The form of intertextuality used in this part of the video is parody, although Robbie is
not mocking Ozzy it adds an element of humour to the video; and anyone who knows
about the incident would find it an comedic element.

Intertextuality- Kiss
Throughout the rest of the video Robbie uses intertextuality in a
different way, he uses homage to reference the hard rock band Kiss.
Through the mise-en-scene of the video you can clearly see that
Robbie is referencing Kiss, he has his face painter all in black and
white, with a similar costume to the band on.
His performance during the video he is also referencing the band,
kiss are well known in for their extreme performances on stage and
really giving the audience a show. In the video his actions are vary
large and mimics a lot of actions you may see on stage by kiss.

Shot analysis
You can clearly see that through the use of
his actions that Robbie in imitating kiss
and their stage performances. He copies
the actions that they use on stage and also
their facial expressions. Gene Simmons is
well known for his tongue and Robbie even
imitates this in the video. Through the
actions that Robbie is clearly using
pastiche to reference Kiss; he has used to
as a way to create a new image after
leaving Take That. With the reference to
Ozzy he uses more parody, it adds a sense
of humour before the video stars.
The mes-en-scene in the video is a
reference to kiss with nearly identical
costumes and make up, Kiss have a very
easily recognisable look which makes it
easier for Robbie to reference especially
when he want to now be associated with

Why use intertextuality

Robbie Williams came from being in a pop band to
leaving and having more of a Rockstar lifestyle with a
totally new image
The video may have been his way of creating his new
image. Kiss were very well known for their image and
being very reckless and have a rock and roll lifestyle.
By Robbie imitating them gives an image that is
completely different to the one that he has given from
being in Take That.
He has used intertextuality in an effective way to re
create his image by associating himself with a totally
new one from what he already has. To took kiss and
based his new look around them.