Imitation is the Highest form of Flattery

A nudge, a nod, a wink, or a subtle tribute from one media creator to another. Intertexuality is a way for someone to give a mark of respect and/or pay homage to another artist that gave that person inspiration (or in some cases, to get in a friendly jab or to ignite or continue a rivalry).

One instance of intertextuality is a back and forth that Wes Craven and Sam Raimi had back when they were in their horror heydays. It all started when Wes Craven paid homage to Jaws in The Hills Have Eyes. A ripped poster of Jaws appears. Because Wes Craven was a source of inspiration to Sam Raimi, He then had a ripped poster of The Hills Have Eyes in Evil Dead. That was returned in kind to Raimi by Craven putting footage of The Evil Dead. In A Nightmare on Elm St. That was then paid in kind to Craven by Raimi when he put Freddy’s glove in Evil Dead II.

At the end of the video at the 3:09 mark, above the door, hanging there is Freddy’s glove. It is a little difficult to see due to the quality of the video, but it is there.

In the image below, you can see the glove on the top of the picture in the middle.

I think that intertexuality is a great way for people to pay tribute to the things that the like and have influenced them in their creative process. It is a sign of respect that is given to the original inspiration letting them know that they left a lasting impression on the person who is putting the reference in their own material. It is also a way to shows fans of the content that the creator has a sense that they aren’t the first person to do something, but they are doing it in their own way. It also lets the fans feel like they are part of an almost secret type of club that only the real fans get or understand, which is always a cool feeling.