Semiotic Analysis of the Myth of Eroticism in English Song Lyrics

Abstract

The study aimed to carry out a semiotic analysis on a text of an English song lyric, which was limited airtime by the West Java Branch of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission due to sexual content. The elements of eroticism in the song lyric were analyzed by using Barthes’ semiotic theory, particularly the concepts of denotation, connotation, and myth. The research employs a qualitative method with a descriptive technique. The study shows that the lyric tends to show the implicit sexual contents rather than the explicit ones. It suggests that the song lyric constructs the myth of eroticism, which is driven by sexual desire in a relationship, instead of constructing pornographic content, which is usually intended to exploit sexual activities. However, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission apparently regard eroticism to be the same as pornography since they banned the daytime broadcast of the song. The present study is expected to provide insight into the different concept between eroticism and pornography and thus it can be used to determine whether an adult content is indeed violating the norms of Indonesian society or not.