There are two tools that help us track the conversations that take place among scholars. Both of these tools allow us to track citations, that is, track in both directions those items that scholars use in their bibliography. For example, when you write a paper on a topic, you create a bibliography to support or clarify (or contradict!) the things you say in the paper. These two tools keep track of those bibliographies and allow you to look at both that list of items at the end of a scholarly paper, and a list of others who cite THAT paper.
The first tool is called the Arts & Humanities Citation Index. You can do a keyword or topic search, or search for a specific author whose work you would like to track. Note that each record has something called "Times cited" and "References". These links go both forward and backward for works cited.
The second is actually a version of a Google search, using Google's tool called Google Scholar. Note in the results list of a search the "times cited" link. Also note that if you are using Google Scholar on an authenticated network connection, OLinks and other full text options will appear with your search.
