Publication Search

This study analyzes signs and symbols in Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Doll’s House” (1922) using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic approach. The study is descriptive qualitative in nature, employing data collection techniques such as close reading and note-taking. The analysis was conducted by classifying signs based on Peirce’s theory, icons, index, and symbols, through the triadic model (representamen, object, interpretant). The results of the analysis indicate that the doll’s house functions as both an icon and a symbol of social status and the false luxury of the upper class. Elements such as the smell of paint and the appearance of the Kelvey sisters serve as indices of social inequality. Meanwhile, the small lamp is the strongest symbol representing hope, warmth, and the possibility of transcending social class boundaries. Through this short story, Mansfield critiques class prejudices learned from childhood while conveying a message of empathy across social classes.

This article examines umpasa as the determinant of the validity of the Mangalahat Horbo ritual and as a vehicle for transmitting the cultural values of the Batak Toba people from an anthropolinguistic perspective. Mangalahat Horbo is a buffalo sacrifice ritual that functions simultaneously as a cosmological, political, and linguistic event. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using three theoretical frameworks: Dell Hymes' (1974) SPEAKING model to analyze the ritual as a speech event, Roland Barthes' (1968) semiotics to dissect the denotative and connotative meanings of umpasa, and Kluckhohn's (1953) theory of cultural values and Sibarani's (2014) local wisdom theory to identify embedded cultural values. The findings reveal that umpasa operates on three simultaneous layers of meaning: pragmatic-performative, social-hierarchical, and cosmological-ecological. Umpasa is not merely an aesthetic ornament but a constitutive element of the ritual that shapes the social and cosmological reality of the Bius community. Eight cultural values are identified: communicative courtesy, adat knowledge transmission, self-restraint, collective responsibility, cultural preservation, cosmological reciprocity, distributive justice, and ecological harmony. This study affirms the urgency of anthropolinguistic documentation of Mangalahat Horbo before the Parhata masters of umpasa diminish further.

This study analyzes visual signs in the Charlie Chaplin animations Safari at The Park and The King in The Ring using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic framework, focusing on icons, indexes, and symbols. Film and animation communicate meaning through visual elements such as gestures, facial expressions, movements, and character interactions, making them rich for semiotic analysis. Using a descriptive qualitative method, the research identified and categorized visual signs in both animations. Results show that icons, which resemble real-world objects, dominate by establishing story settings natural safari environments in one animation and competitive boxing arenas in the other. Indexes reveal cause-and-effect relationships, demonstrating how gestures, expressions, and actions convey danger, fatigue, or emotional shifts. Symbols convey conventional or cultural meanings, such as Charlie Chaplin’s bowler hat and cane representing his comedic identity, a championship belt symbolizing victory, or a rose indicating affection. While both animations use the same types of signs, the intensity and focus vary with the narrative context: Safari at The Park emphasizes situational and natural elements, whereas The King in The Ring highlights competition and emotional reactions. This study confirms that Peirce’s triadic model effectively explains how meaning is constructed in animation through dynamic visual communication.

The phenomenon of emotional healing has become increasingly prominent in popular culture as the younger generation experiences increasing loss, emotional exhaustion, and numbness. Popular music serves as a medium of expression, representing these emotional dynamics through poetic language and symbolic structures. This study aims to analyze the emotional representation of healing in Umay Shahab's song "Perayaan Mati Rasa" using Roland Barthes's semiotic approach. The research method used is descriptive qualitative, analyzing three layers of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth, through breaking down the lyrics into several lexicons and reading signs. The results show that (1) denotatively, the lyrics construct an emotional arc from inner tension to self-contemplation; (2) connotatively, the use of diction and imagery represents vulnerability, resilience, and emotional reflection; and (3) at the mythical level, the song constructs release as a form of emotional maturity and loss as a process of identity formation. Thus, this song functions as a cultural representation in interpreting the process of emotional healing in popular culture.

This study aims to analyze the symbolic meaning of the mangulosi tradition in Toba Batak traditional wedding ceremonies using Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected from visual media such as YouTube and TikTok, supported by informants familiar with Toba Batak culture. The findings reveal that meaning in the mangulosi tradition is constructed through three levels of signification: denotation, connotation, and myth. At the denotative level, mangulosi is understood as the act of giving ulos in a wedding ceremony. At the connotative level, ulos and the ritual process convey symbolic meanings such as blessings, protection, harmony, and the strengthening of social and kinship relationships. At the myth level, the tradition reinforces the cultural ideology that marriage is considered legitimate when it receives recognition and blessings from family and customary authorities. Quantitatively, the findings show that artifacts are dominated by visual connotative meanings (40%), while ritual actions emphasize non-verbal (30%) and verbal (20%) meanings. Therefore, the mangulosi tradition is not only a ceremonial practice but also a medium for preserving cultural identity and social values within the Toba Batak community.

By examining how visual aesthetics play a crucial role in creating a hyperreal symbolic reality, this study critically investigates the creation and consumption of simulacra in the Instagram marketing of regional Indonesian fashion firms. This study shows that local brands actively create representational worlds that negotiate identity between claims of locality and global aesthetic standards, in addition to selling products, using an interpretative qualitative approach that combines netnography, visual semiotic analysis, and in-depth interviews with brand managers and consumers. According to the research, rigorous visual curation techniques result in what are known as ethical simulacra, in which ideals like sustainability and community support are reduced to beautiful pictures divorced from tangible behaviors. In addition to examining ethical conundrums in netnographic research within ambivalent digital settings, this analysis emphasizes the critical role that Instagram's algorithms play as non-human actors that influence aesthetic canons. By highlighting distinctive dynamics including self-exoticization tactics and modernity paradoxes that influence symbolic consumption patterns, this study theoretically advances Consumer Culture Theory and critical marketing by concentrating on the Indonesian setting. The study's findings suggest a more ethical and thoughtful approach to marketing when confronting the logic of digital hyperreality.

Film is a communication medium capable of conveying moral messages to the public through a series of moving images, usually accompanied by sound. One such medium is the short film. "The waiting room" by Galih Firdaus, a production of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) released in April 2024 and received positive acclaim for its engaging plot and relevance to the audience's reality. This study aims to analyze the moral message in the film using Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotic theory, which emphasizes three main elements: Representation, Object, and Interpretant. The study used a descriptive qualitative approach with a content analysis method to uncover the moral meanings behind the film's scenes. The results found 15 scenes that explicitly convey moral values, including the importance of open communication within the family, the meaning of simple kindness, valuing togetherness, the commitment of true love, a mother's fortitude, loyalty in waiting, and sincere care. The moral message is constructed through Representation (physical signs such as a bowl of soto), Object (the reality conveyed, such as an apology), and Interpretant (the audience's understanding that the soto symbolizes improving relationships). In conclusion, the film "The waiting room" successfully conveys a strong moral message through a neatly structured narrative.

This research aims to understand the representation of cooperation between the older and younger generations and work ethic in the film "The Intern" by Nancy Meyers. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic analysis in the form of a meaning triangle, namely sign, object, and interpretant. Signs are in the form of visuals, dialogue, and symbols. The object is what the sign represents, and the interpretant is the understanding derived from both the sign and the object. In this study, the researcher carried out an analysis by selecting each scene that shows generational differences, the emergence of cooperation, and the work ethic applied in the film The Intern. We collected data through library research, which included relevant books, articles, and scientific writings. The data collection techniques used are interviews, observations, and documentation. The results of this research show that this film succeeded in presenting generational differences not as obstacles but as a way to work together well and develop. This film demonstrates work ethic values such as hard work, responsibility, honesty, and cooperation. This research concludes that the film The Intern is not only entertaining but also provides many social messages about cooperation and work ethic.

This study explores how Eric Carle’s children’s storybook The Very Hungry Caterpillar creates depth in its narrative through visual components and tactile elements despite its limited text. Using a multimodal analysis approach, this study highlights the texture of the collage, the use of symbolic colors, and the die-cut holes as elements that can be felt. The results of this study show that the physical design of this book is not merely decorative, but functions as a key narrative guide that helps children understand the concepts of growth and change independently. The die-cut holes have a specific role as a physical symbol of hunger, allowing young readers to interact directly with the story. The combination of the book’s materials and visual storytelling has proven to transcend language barriers, making it an effective literacy tool for beginner readers. This research confirms that visual storytelling intertwined with the physical form of a book can convey complex philosophical themes more effectively than narratives composed solely of dense text. The success of this book confirms that tactile and visual elements are important literary tools in the world of children’s literature.

Language is part of culture. Not everyone knows the philosophy and meaning behind the names of food. The purpose of this study is to find out the meaning, function, and value of the names of jenang in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. In addition, to find out what the philosophy of naming jenang is in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. From the perspective of semiotics (Roland Barthes' semiotic theory), semantics, culture and philosophy, several conclusions can be drawn. This research method includes a qualitative descriptive research method. Research data were obtained using the technique of listening and speaking. The data analysis method uses qualitative descriptive. Data analysis uses Rolland Barthes' semiotic theory. The author also briefly touches on meaning using a semantic perspective. In Purworejo Regency, eight (8) types of jenang are familiar in the daily lives of the people in Purworejo Regency, namely jenang sumsum, jenang abang putih, jenang procot, jenang candil, jenang katul, jenang pathi kerut (jenang garut), jenang krasikan, and jenang alot.

Penelitian ini mengkaji identitas visual merek Pia Saronde—salah satu produk kuliner khas Gorontalo—dengan menggunakan pendekatan semiotika yang berlandaskan teori Roland Barthes. Sebagai salah satu UMKM yang bergerak di sektor pangan, merek ini sangat bergantung pada peran logo untuk membentuk persepsi konsumen, memperkuat posisi merek, serta membedakannya dari produk lain dalam persaingan pasar. Penelitian ini bertujuan menelaah struktur visual yang membentuk logo, menginterpretasikan makna denotatif dan konotatif yang muncul, serta menilai sejauh mana logo tersebut mampu merepresentasikan nilai-nilai budaya lokal. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif dengan memadukan pengamatan visual terhadap logo dan kajian pustaka yang relevan. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa kombinasi warna kuning dan coklat pada logo mampu menimbulkan kesan hangat, manis, dan menggugah selera, sedangkan bentuk tipografi yang melengkung menghadirkan citra tradisional, akrab, dan bernuansa rumahan. Selain itu, penggunaan nama “Saronde” menciptakan hubungan simbolis dengan Pulau Saronde yang terkenal, sehingga memperkuat keterikatan merek terhadap identitas daerah. Secara keseluruhan, temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa logo tersebut berhasil mengomunikasikan keterkaitan budaya dan citra kuliner yang diusung produk. Meskipun demikian, penelitian ini merekomendasikan adanya pengembangan pada beberapa elemen simbolik dan peningkatan adaptasi visual untuk kebutuhan media digital guna memperkuat daya saing merek.

This study aims to describe the characteristics of AIESEC Future Leaders (AFL) promotional content on the Instagram account @aiesecupnvy using a descriptive qualitative approach and Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic analysis. Promotional content was chosen as the focus of the research because it plays a crucial role in building audience interest and understanding of the self-development programs offered. The research results indicate that AIESEC UPNVY utilizes several types of visual and verbal signs designed to attract attention and build emotional closeness with its target audience, namely students and young people. Content highlighting program benefits, testimonials from previous participants in the form of single words, expressions of delegates' happiness, and symbolic videos about togetherness proved effective in creating social proof and strengthening AFL's image as a program that provides valuable experiences. This strategy aligns with the AIDA principle, where each piece of content is designed to attract attention, generate interest, cultivate desire, and encourage registration action. Additionally, using a cutting-edge approach thru creative visuals, short narratives, and authentic content strengthens the promotional appeal on digital platforms. Overall, this study concludes that the AFL promotional content has been strategically and innovatively crafted, enabling it to enhance the effectiveness of marketing communication and help strengthen audience engagement with the program.

Instagram has become one of the most influential digital platforms for the construction and dissemination of lifestyle meanings, particularly through the presence of social media influencers. Among various lifestyle narratives, luxury is one of the most dominant and ideologically loaded representations circulated by influencers. This study examines how luxury is represented, constructed, and naturalized in the Instagram content of female Indonesian influencers using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework. The object of this research consists of visual and textual Instagram posts that display luxury-related lifestyles, including fashion, travel, leisure, and consumption practices. The main problem addressed in this study concerns how signs of luxury operate at the levels of denotation, connotation, and myth to shape audience perceptions of success, femininity, and social status. The objective of this research is to reveal the ideological meanings embedded in influencer content and to explain how luxury is transformed into a normalized and desirable lifestyle. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with semiotic analysis. Data were collected through purposive sampling of Instagram posts from selected female Indonesian influencers with significant follower engagement. The findings show that luxury is represented not merely through high-priced commodities but through symbolic systems involving aesthetics, body presentation, spatial settings, and narrative captions. At the mythological level, luxury is naturalized as the result of personal effort, self-discipline, and modern femininity, thereby obscuring structural inequalities and reinforcing consumerist ideology. This study concludes that Instagram influencers function as cultural agents who reproduce dominant myths of success and luxury in digital culture.

This study examines the presentation of trauma in the character of River in the film “The Architecture Of Love” through Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis, which includes three levels of meaning: denotative, connotative, and mythological. The focus of this study is on scenes that reflect trauma, categorized according to Cavanagh.M. (1982) theory as situational, developmental, intrapsychic, and existential trauma. The methodology used is descriptive-qualitative with documentation and observation techniques, where all trauma scenes are identified and analyzed in depth. The results of the study show that intrapsychic trauma is the dominant category, followed by existential, situational, and developmental trauma. The representation of trauma in the character River is conveyed through visual symbols such as dark colors, a closed language system, dim lighting, and a quiet urban atmosphere, which create emotional meaning without verbal expression. This finding confirms that films can convey complex psychological experiences through visually rich language, while also revealing new insights into non-verbal communication in film media.

This study analyzes how the aspirations of a single mother are depicted in the music video "Nina" by Feast. The video portrays the social reality of contemporary women, shedding light on their struggles and aspirations. Using a qualitative approach and Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotics, this research examines the relationship between signifiers and signifieds in both audio-visual and narrative media. The analysis reveals that the aspirations of single mothers are depicted through various symbols, including dialogue and key expressions, which represent the conflict between personal dreams and responsibilities. The music video captures the themes of independence, determination, and sacrifice, as the single mother navigates her roles within society and family. The video emphasizes the internal and external struggles of women as they strive to balance their dreams with the demands of daily life. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how media can reflect and amplify the personal and social dynamics of women, particularly single mothers, in the context of contemporary challenges.

This study aims to analyze the meaning of the message in Pertamina’s advertisement “Gerakan Kebaikan Lampaui Batasan” (Movement of Kindness Beyond Limits) using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic theory, which consists of three main elements: representamen (sign), object, and interpretant. The advertisement features various social and visual actions that reflect the spirit of kindness, inclusivity, and care for others. Through the analysis of visual signs such as gestures, facial expressions, and symbols of solidarity, the study reveals that Pertamina seeks to build a positive corporate image through a strong humanitarian message. The signs used in the advertisement convey the importance of empathy, social collaboration, and respect for diversity. The advertisement not only promotes the brand but also functions as an educational tool, instilling moral and social values in the audience. By using Peirce’s semiotics, this research uncovers the deeper meanings embedded in the advertisement’s visual elements, demonstrating how the company connects with society through values that transcend business objectives.

Music and song lyrics serve as a means of self-expression capable of conveying messages, feelings, and representing a person's self-concept in the face of reality and social expectations. This research focuses on a semiotic analysis of the lyrics of the song "Mengenal Lebih Jauh" by Nuca to identify the representation of self-concept and individual understanding of themselves amidst complex social demands. This research aims to reveal an analysis of self-concept representation in the lyrics of the song "Mengenal Lebih Jauh" by Nuca. Using Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotic analysis approach, the researcher attempts to uncover the meaning within the lyrics of the song "Mengenal Lebih Jauh." The results of this study reveal that the lyrics of the song "Mengenal Lebih Jauh" by Nuca contain a relationship between the signified and the signifier. The lyrics of this song are not just a beautiful sequence of words, but also a form of communication that expresses very human feelings and emotional experiences. The lyrics from the first to the sixth stanzas are a series of stories that depict a person's journey in understanding themselves and others.

The development of technology and digital platforms such as Netflix has influenced the representation of career women in films, including how career women are depicted in the competitive world of work. This study examines the representation of career women in the film The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, especially through the character of Kiara, a smart, ambitious, and assertive television producer. The purpose of this study is to find out how career women are represented in the film, the values they uphold, and the messages they convey regarding women in the world of work. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis method to analyze the denotative, connotative, and mythical meanings in the film. The results of the study show that the character of Kiara represents a modern woman who is independent, professional, and able to compete on an equal footing with men without eliminating her emotional side. This film not only presents women as story sweeteners, but as central figures who bring change to the narrative flow. This representation provides inspiration and motivation for the audience, especially women, in facing stereotypes and challenges in the world of work. This film also conveys an important message about and empowering women in the professional realm.

Women are an interesting subject of analysis in the media, especially in films. The status of single women, meaning those without a partner, is often accompanied by negative stigma and social pressure to meet societal expectations. This phenomenon is often perceived as a failure to fulfill one's expected role, thereby creating various challenges for single women. This study aims to examine the representation of singlewomen through the character Lainy in the film Kinda Pregnant, exploring how Lainydeals with social stigma and pressure related to her status. Using Stuart Hall's theory of representation, this study applies a descriptive qualitative method and a semiotic approach developed by Roland Barthes. This study analyzes 12 selected scenes to identify relevant themes, such as expectations, reproductive myths, social pressure, and negative stereotypes faced by single women. The analysis reveals that single women are often labeled as “old maids” and compared to the ideal married woman. In this context, Lainy is depicted as struggling against societal expectations regarding marriage and motherhood, while striving to find self-acceptance amid the stigma attached to her status. This study aims to provide insights into the challenges faced by single women in social and cultural contexts, emphasizing the importance of solidarity among women.

This research aims to understand how the meaning of loss is constructed in the lyrics of the song “Cutting My Fingers Off” by Turnover, using Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotic approach. The song was chosen as the object of study because it expresses the emotion of loss intensely through poetic and emotional lyrical symbols. According to Saussure’s theory, meaning is formed through the relationship between the signifier and the signified, where words in the lyrics function as signs that carry deep meaning. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with interview, textual analysis techniques, supported by literature review and observation of listener Turnover’s “Cutting My Fingers Off”. The analysis involves breaking down each verse to identify signifiers and signifieds that shape the emotional meaning of loss. The findings show that the lyrics reflect not only physical loss but also psychological experiences such as alienation, regret, and severed emotional attachment. Symbols like “Cutting My Fingers Off” form a visual metaphor for deep emotional pain. This research concludes that music particularly lyrics is an effective medium of symbolic communication to convey personal experiences. “Cutting My Fingers Off” successfully constructs a complex meaning of loss that resonates personally with its listeners.