O Cthulhu intersemiótico: um estudo da transposição do conto de Lovecraft ao RPG

Abstract

This research aims to understand the intersemiotic translation processes that surround the adaptation of the elements of the fantastic present in the short story “The Call of Cthulhu” (LOVECRAFT, 2019) to its Role Playing Game version, of the same name. To conceptualize fantastic literature, the research revisits the studies by Camarani (2014) and Todorov (1975), in which they highlight the hesitation between the real and the supernatural as recurring in the narrative. To understand the transposition between the media, we used the concepts of iconic, symbolic, and indexical translation proposed by Julio Plaza (2003). We analyze the main aspects that are present both in “The Call of Cthulhu” and in the RPG. First, we discuss the construction of the narrator in both works. In the sequence, we consider the characters and their constitutions within the narrative and the respective demands of each media. Also, we search for common themes. The analysis indicates that the RPG keeps most of the characteristics presented in the story, such as the dubious atmosphere and the supernatural theme, in addition to the characters being directly inspired by Lovecraft’s work. The role of the narrator stands out by changing its form to better fit in the narrative structure of the game. Finally, this investigation sought to contribute to the understanding of Lovecraft’s short story in the area of fantastic literature, as well as its adaptation to RPG and, as a consequence, to expand the horizons of intersemiotic translation.