Homage is pronounced variously as , , or . The last reflects the modern French pronunciation, although the word entered Middle English many centuries ago. In traditional usage it is analogous to
praise; one properly speaks of
homage or
the homage, rather than
a homage or
an homage. The latter usage, however, has been rising during the twentieth century, reflecting the modern French use of the word to refer to an act or work of homage, especially one work of art imitating another. The French pronunciation in English is generally restricted to this sense of the word.
Homage is generally used in modern
English to mean any public show of
respect to someone to whom one feels indebted. In this sense, a reference within a creative work to someone who greatly influenced the
artist would be homage. It is typically used to denote a reference in a work of art or literature to another, at least somewhat widely known, work. In
literature and
film, homage is similar to
allusion, except that whereas allusion merely refers to another work, homage typically repeats a recognizable scene or stylistic element from the other work. Homage can be similar to
parody, except that parody typically exaggerates characteristics of target works for comedic effect.
Homage may occasionally be perceived negatively by critics as a technique often associated with amateur creators. Use of homage may be regarded as
fannish or as an excuse for lack of originality.
In modern society, homage is less accepted in the mainstream than parody, but still exists. For example, the mass video site
Youtube sports many parodies, but also amateur attempts to mimic and honor popular films.
See also
