Intertextuality in Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive and Paterson

Abstract

The thesis is a study of intertextual relations between Jim Jarmusch’ films and other works of cinema and literature. The aim of the thesis is to analyze referential and typological intertextuality in two of Jarmusch’s movies, Only lovers left alive (2013) and Paterson (2016), by exploring direct and indirect connections to other texts. Jarmusch’s films are very dense with intertextuality, including allusions, quotations, calque and parody of genre clichés, which is done intentionally in order to influence and enrich an audience's interpretation of the ideas expressed in his films. I argue that exploring intertextuality in Jarmusch’s movies can contribute to better understanding of his messages to audience, especially his social commentaries, expressed in deep layers of the films.