So I have a novel, on-going, in which I have a main protagonist who enjoys films and TV and likes to think about and reference things from this medium. So for one example, at one stage, whilst he is standing outside a building in the gloom of a streetlight, he likens himself to the iconic poster from the Exorcist film. My problem/query comes with what, if anything, can I reference from popular culture and have publishable in a book? Film/Tv titles? Names of Characters in Films/TV? Song titles? Can I get away with saying stuff like ...'It was like that scene from Total Recall, where the guy had a baby strapped to his chest. No, he thought, it wasn't a baby it was a wrinkly man. Either way, it was a bit like that, apart from the gross bits and the bit where he gets shot.....
This is generally fine. You might alienate some readers who don't get the references if you do it too often, but a judicious amount can please readers who recognize the references and won't bother most of the ones who don't.
Exorcist: scariest movie of all time! You're asking a good question. I'd think in a story or a novel you could get away with it if you didn't use that particular reference too much. Especially if the story is in first person? I don't know, really. Wouldn't bother me, as a reader.
Thanks for advice. I was hoping to use it as a tool to further accentuate the differences between his view on the world and the characters he is interacting with, whilst also giving a few humourous references. I was wary of putting in too many references that may not be too accessible, but at the moment am trying to stick with only very recognisable (iconic even) references such as the Excorcist, Star Trek etc. I think at the moment I have about 3 of these types of interjections within the novel. So will bear in mind not to flog the proverbial dead horse when it comes to this.
To be honest, it sounds like something I would do - IF I wrote novels, short stories, etc. Your comment above sounds good & interesting, to me! - a little bit of everything. A nice balance.
Referencing titles, events, characters, etc from pop culture should be fine. I'm sure an agent or publisher would raise concerns if it's an issue when you get to that point. I would strongly advise against quoting passages, lyrics, lines, etc, however, as that can get tricky from a legal standpoint.
Quoting actual lyrics is a copyright infringement. Ditto with actual lines, unless they are generic enough that they could have come from anywhere. Titles and characters are not subject to copyright but CAN be trademarked. The real danger, as @Steerpike pointed out, is in the readers who miss the reference. Then again, Nick Hornby wrote an entire novel full of such references (High Fidelity) so there you go. If this is your first attempt at a novel, I'd say go ahead and write it however you want to write it, as it may well wind up being a step in the learning process. If you actually get to the point of pitching it, you can revisit the issue then.
I've been trying to remember this post/thread. 'World' is the key. I reference the 'real world' all the time. Off topic maybe. Just sayin' .