Intertextuality Research

 In this Intertextuality research task I will be looking at how a range of media products in the category of 'magazines' use intertextuality to appeal to a wide range of audiences.  I will also be highlighting what makes these references to other media texts effective.

-' ex machina' film released in 2015 in the United Kingdom - GQ Magazine featuring (fashion model) Cara Delevingne (from the United Kingdom) released in 2017

-Plot of 'ex machina' -a young male programmer, gets a chance to become a part of a strange scientific experiment where he is expected to assess artificial intelligence by interacting with a female robot. Robot seems to expresses a desire to experience the outside world. 

- women today are often treated like machines through the experience of societal pressure- through having the weight of the households maintenance, the pressure to sustain the family as well as the rising pressure to prove their ability to be financially independent and the ability to disprove gender stereotypes such as being the weaker and least intelligent gender etc. (through societies depiction of women, women have to prove that their intelligence is in fact authentic in the midst the patriarchy- which in a sense suggest that women are being assessed/tested) reference from ex machina 'what happens if i fail your test?'  would women then be repressed back into the stereotypical gender roles if they fail to prove their competency in a patriarchal society, which prevented them from experiencing the fullness of the outside world?(the work force)

the patriarchy- the male dominated society assess women- in the same way the young male programmer in assessing the female robot- in the same way Cara is featured in a predominately  male magazine GQ 'gentlemen's quarterly' where her 'transformation' is being assessed  

-Ava (the robot) has a robotic body but a human-looking face, hands and feet- which is mirrored in the models metallic attire

-they both have similar straight postures which connotes a confidence, authority and power as well as  serious expressions to compliment their stances 

GQ IS A PREDOMINATELY MALE MAGAZINE- WOMAN ON THE COVER- signify's the emergence of societal ideologies/norms- women are able to enter predominately male spaces and still exemplify power and strength  

-GLAMOUR magazine released 2017 featuring Zendaya (model/actress born in Okland, California) - intertexual reference to the black pathers. The Black Panther Party, originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was a revolutionary socialist political organisation- an activist group (formed in 1966 Okland, California) 

- Zendaya  holds up her fits- which is a sign created by the black panthers- as a sign of black power/pride - formed for- black nationalism, socialism, and armed self-defense, particularly against police brutality.

-being that Zendaya is bi-riacial she can relate to the cause of the black panthers as it is apart of her idnetity- she wears her hair in its natural curly state as (something that the black panthers did proudly as shown in the image) apart of the black panthers foundational beliefs of embracing your natural state and finding the beauty in it      

- she is further connected as she is born and raised in the state that the black panthers were formed- therefore has a fair understanding of the political stance that she takes when she puts her fits up 

- 'if people know your name, they should know it for a reason'- (reason- boldness, courage and strength)

Zendaya is known for using her platform to speak out against injustice and actively supports political and social ideologies in favour of equality and justice e.g. in 2017 Zendaya gave a speech at the teen choice awards where she encouraged young people to speak out against inequality as they are the future- this was in the wake of a white nationalists rally that took place in Virginia which left many people injured and one dead- an event that exemplified hate in order to divide-  

- Zendaya actively speak out against injustice in hopes to bring about social change.

 -The black panther party instituted the Free Breakfast for Children Programs to address food injustice, and community health clinics for education and treatment of diseases including sickle cell anaemia, tuberculosis, and later HIV/AIDS.- actively brought about social change by creating a platform to do so.

The boldness, courage and strength  that the black panthers had to be catalysts to change for their time and is the reason why people ‘ know their names’- which is something that Zendaya mirrors and embodies through the use of her platform.

This research has helped me drive my idea forward as it has helped me in understanding that Intertextuality can be used to aid in portraying the message intended clearly. What could make Intertextuality effective when targeting an audience is by incorporating certain elements of society in which the target audience intended can understand and possibly relate to. In my NEA I would use Intertextuality mostly via images as I would like for my message to be interpreted through the depiction of the symbolistic elements.