Genealogy and Originality of José Afonso's Musical Intervention Programme: taste hygienism, pedagogy, popular music

Abstract

This study examines the innovative and culturally transformative musical intervention program of José Afonso (1929-1987) within the context of Portuguese society from 1969 to the Carnation Revolution. Afonso’s ideas merge pedagogical intentions with a critique of aesthetic contamination imposed by imperialist influences and the propagandistic strategies of Portugal’s Estado Novo regime. Anchored in the genealogical research approach of Michel Foucault, this paper explores the ideological roots and original contributions of Afonso’s project, highlighting its alignment and tension with neorealist cultural theories, particularly those of Fernando Lopes-Graça.

Afonso drew inspiration from rural folklore as an anthropological expression of collective identity, initially aligning with the ethnographic principles of Lopes-Graça and Michel Giacometti. However, Afonso redefined this approach by incorporating urban and popular music elements, departing from rigid neorealist frameworks. His program sought to elevate cultural literacy among the masses, emphasizing music as a tool for ethical and aesthetic transformation.