Da tela à tela: para uma leitura intermedial de O Fado, de José Malhoa

Abstract

What are the intermedial relations existing between O Fado, a José Malhoa’s painting, FadoMalhoa, a José Galhardo and Frederico Valério’s song, performed by Amalia Rodrigues, and the short film homonym of the song, directed by António Fraga? In this article, we aim to establish  the point of contact between these artistic manifestations, produced in different media, not in order to understand the irrather obvious thematic link, but to perceive their semiotic connection since they represent different ways of subverting the political ideology dominant in Portugal at the time when they were made. Thus, it is our goal to uncover the values they share as works of art that are critical of political ideology. In this particular case, the expressed criticism reveals contrasting ways of looking at national identity – at the artists and the sovereign political systems. We will place the texts in their corresponding social contexts in order to highlight the fact that they are multifunctional objects possessing not only an aesthetic meaning, but also, and perhaps above all, a reflective and socially interventionist one.