No meio do caminho deste jogo: a jornada de Dante na selva interativa

Abstract

This master's research examines the adaptation of the narrative poem The Divine Comedy (1304 - 1321), with emphasis on the first canticle, Inferno, by Dante Alighieri, to the electronic game Dante’s Inferno (2010), developed by Visceral Games. The study investigates how Dante uses combinations of words to create complex and detailed imagery of a realm of torment, and how this translation— known as the transmutation of one system of signs into another—is carried out. The idea of "transmutation" of systems of signs is discussed based on the Theory of Adaptation, primarily through the ideas of Robert Stam. For the author, adapting a work is not simply translating it from one medium to another — like turning a book into a movie or a game. It is a more creative process, where the work gains new layers of meaning as it migrates from one format to another. In the case of Dante’s Inferno, the transition from the literary poem to the world of video games was not just a direct transfer of the story. The game recreates the work within a new context, blending elements of pop culture, interactive technology, and the visual language of video games. In other words, it is not a faithful copy, but a reinterpretation that dialogues with its time and its medium. The main objective is to understand how this transmutation modifies, dialogues with, and adapts to the narratives, goals, languages, audiences, and circulation mediums of each sign system. The research questions how the game's complexities enhance, reinterpret, or subvert the literary narrative to create its own story and how this affects the protagonist's journey. The analysis draws on theorists such as Linda Hutcheon (2013), Robert Stam (2006), Joseph Campbell (2007), and Itamar Even-Zohar (1990), whose perspectives illuminate the adaptation process and interactions between different communication systems. By integrating these theoretical approaches, the analysis aims to deepen understanding of the complexities involved in intermedial adaptation and its impacts on literary and gaming narratives. The study seeks to understand the dynamics between classical literature and new media forms, exploring how the adaptation process can broaden the reach and accessibility of literary works while challenging their original interpretations and meanings. Through critical examination of these relationships, the research aspires to contribute to an interdisciplinary dialogue between Literary Studies, Media Studies, and Translation Studies, enriching the understanding of how stories are told and experienced across different cultural and technological contexts.