Shrek Intertextuality & Feminist Ideology Ms. M. White Media Studies 120 1

Shrek & Intertextuality Intertextuality is the way in which texts refer to other media texts that producers assume audiences will recognize. 2

Intertextuality Each media text exists in relation to the others. Some argue that texts are more constructed by their intertextuality than by their authors. An article in a magazine is not only related to other articles in that magazine but also to all other articles of its genre, to commercials, to the political situation, to movies currently played in cinemas, fashion etc. All potentially influence each other. 3

Shrek Shrek is an animation, based on a children’s book. There are two levels of the movie – the level of the simple children’s story – just married ogre couple goes to visit groom’s parents ‘in law’ to discover that the only thing that matters is their love not how they look. The second level, full of references and quotes, can be decoded in full detail only by adults. 4

Shrek 2 & Popular Culture Intertextuality There are numerous signs around the kingdom of Far Far Away that refer to known American brands: Burger Prince (Burger King) Olde Knavery (Old Navy) Far Far Away sign (Hollywood sign) Saxon Fifth Avenue (Saks Fifth Avenue) Versarchery (Versace) Gap Queen (Gap Kids) Farbucks Coffee (Starbucks) Friar’s Fat Boy (Big Boy). 5

Elements of Fairy Tales Shrek 2 is a fairy tale– it has a special beginning, “Once upon a time” and the whole movie is about a potion called “happily ever after”. There are good and bad characters, a royal castle, there is a problem to be solved and magic things happen. It also has a number of references to other fairy tales. 6

Fairy Tale Intertextuality The references to other fairy tales in the movie come straight away. We see the hotel, where just married couple was staying during their honeymoon, which looks just like the house of a bad witch from Hansel and Gretel. The only person, who passes the place is Little Red Riding Hood, lost in the forest on the way to her Grandma’s house. Needless to say, seeing Shrek and Fiona she runs away shouting. 7

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Fairy Tale Character Cameos: Other characters appearing in Shrek2: Captain Hook and Tinkerbell from Peter Pan The Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow An ugly stepsister from Cinderella The furniture dancing in Fiona’s room, when Fairy Godmother is introduced, looks like the furniture from Beauty and the Beast. 9

Popular Culture Intertextuality There are various digressions to modern society: Fiona’s mother in bed is reading a copy of “Kings are from Mars, Queens are from Venus” The Ball organized to celebrate Fiona’s marriage looks just like the Oscar’s Award Ceremony, with a red carpet, celebrities and a hyper enthusiastic TV presenter. Shrek 2 is also dotted with references to other movies and characters from the real world, like the man releasing pigeons, who looks a lot like American comedian Rodney Dangerfield. 10

Rodney Dangerfield 11

Joan Rivers 12

Pop Culture Intertextuality The gigantic Gingerbread Man that storms the castle of Far Far Away, is a reference to the “Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man” from Ghost Busters. His last words; “Be good” are a reference to the final scene from Steven Spielberg’s E.T. Another character – Puss In Boots uses his sword to write a “P” on a tree with three strokes. Antonio Banderas, who is a voice of Puss played “Zorro” in The Mask of Zorro, who is known for using his sword to write “Z” with three strokes. 13

Pop Culture Intertextulaity Puss In Boots brings a few other references. While on stage performing with Donkey he sits on a chair and douses himself with water, just like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance After the ball he says he is going to the Kit-Kat Club Club, which is the club from Cabaret. 14

Pop Culture Intertextuality In the fight scene with Shrek, Puss in Boots tears out from the chest of Shrek’s clothing, in reference to the alien bursting out of Kane’s chest in Alien. Another character who brings a few references and is a reference himself is Pinocchio. During the ball he imitates Michael Jackson’s famous dance: the Moonwalk. 15

Pop Culture Intertextuality Before the ball, when he is lowered by his puppet strings into the cell where Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots are being held, the background music is the theme from Mission Impossible. 16

Pop Culture Intertextaulity Not only Antonio Banderas has a references to his ‘real’ role. Eddie Murphy; who is the voice of Donkey, played in Beverly Hills Cops. Donkey entering the kingdom of Far Far Away looks just like in the settings from Eddie Murphy’s movie. 17

Pop Culture Intertextuality The producers of Shrek 2 play with all types of movies. Action movies like Spider-Man (when in the opening “Honeymoon Montage” Fiona wipes the mud off of Shrek while he hangs upside down and kisses, just like Mary Jane kisses Spider- Man) 18

Pop Culture Intertextuality In the Honeymoon Montage at the beginning of the film, the couple is seen being fitted for wedding rings. A flying ring dropping on Fiona’s finger and sporting a red fiery writing afterwards is a parody of Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Ring. Also the sign for The Poison Apple, the tavern where Captain Hook voiced by Tom Waits and Nick Cave plays piano, is shown in exactly the same manner as the sign of The Prancing Pony from Lord of the Rings- The Fellowship of the Ring. 19

Assignment Make a list to keep track of as many references to other texts (intertextuality) as you can. Choose one example of intertextuality to explore more thoroughly; explain why it is included in the story and explore the cultural assumptions embedded in the text. Read the Time Magazine article, “Is Shrek Bad for Kids” and write a position piece– decide what you and your partner think, is it bad for kids? Why or why not? 20