COVER DESIGN, FILM POSTER, AND SUBTITLES: SEMIOTICS OF PARATEXTS IN SELECTING PARODIES

A literary text becomes complete only when all its linguistic components are seen together to form meaning. French literary theorist Gerard Genette introduced a term called ‘Paratext' to identify the additional parts of a text like subtitle, prefaces, introductory notes that contribute meaning to the text. A parody is generally understood as a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony. In the field of literature, a parody comes with the effective imitation of the content of the parodied work in a satirical and ironical way. Paratext also attributes a lot in detailing the imitation of a work which fulfills the nature of parody from cover to cover. The relationship between a paratext and a parody can be better understood from a semiotic perspective. When paratexts are consideredas linguistic, cultural, and contextual signs, they make the reader acquainted to the text. Hence, this research paper analyses the semiotic significance of paratexts in selecting parodies with reference to cover design, cover illustrations, subtitles, and film posters of select parodies