Semiotic Research Articles

Representation of Family Dysfunction in the Film "Noktah Merah Perkawinan" (Semiotic Analysis of Roland Barthes)

A film is a collection of many images combined into a single whole, consisting of audio and visual components. Movies also often serve as a mirror of social reality. One of the Indonesian films that reflects social reality is the film "Noktah Merah Perkawinan" which tells the story of conflicts and dynamics in domestic life, as well as depicting various social and cultural issues that are relevant to Indonesian society. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze how family dysfunction is represented in the movie "Noktah Merah Perkakahan" and how this can affect people's perception of family problems. Using a descriptive qualitative research method with Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis by identifying several scenes that describe the characteristics of being in a dysfunctional family proposed by a psychotherapist named Dr. Rashmi Prakash in Fistory Parenting, including lack of communication, lack of empathy, mental problems, excessive behavior control, lack of emotional support and violence. The findings emphasize the depiction of gender inequality as a major contributing factor to dysfunction, revealing that children are deeply impacted by such dynamics. This research enriches the understanding of media's role in portraying family dysfunction and aims to offer insights into addressing such issues effectively in real family settings.

An Analytical Study of Semiotic Perspectives in Simpsons’ Seasons: Fiction cum Reality

Language plays an indispensable role in human communication. It has many forms, and each form has specific goals. This research explores the intricate interplay of semiotic elements within the iconic animated television series, Simpsons, across multiple seasons. Language in its multiple manifestations can also play a significant role in determining the relation between fiction and reality. The researchers have opted for a qualitative approach to analyzing the data in this regard. The most relevant Seasons were targeted and specific scenes of the selected episodes from these Seasons were analyzed critically. The study focused on ten predictions that relate to real-life events. In the semiotic analysis, the researchers targeted two levels of meaning: denotative and connotative. The first referred to literal meanings whereas the second more profound and contextualized ones. The findings illustrate that semiotics, in its various dimensions, play a significant role in the predictions of subsequent realities in the Simpsons.

How to Detonate a Semiotic Bomb: The Dynamics of Lotmanian Explosion in the Semiosphere

Abstract Lotmanian cultural dynamics involve change through textual interaction. Texts, offering vehicles for information, play a central role in this, with cultural change happening in two modes: gradual and explosive instances of texts that alter the semiosphere. This paper focuses on the process of explosion–an unpredictable mode of change in Lotmanian theory–through a metaphorical methodology, by introducing the concept of semiotic bomb. A semiotic bomb works here as a theoretical object that tries to harness the effect of explosion within the semiosphere. The concept of semiotic bomb serves as both a way to examine what is necessary for explosion to happen and as a theoretical exercise in attempting to predict the unpredictable in culture. We contend that cultural change must be understood in terms of sign configurations and information transmission through Charles Morris’s behavioral semiotics, and that this basis works as a complement of Juri Lotman’s cultural dynamics by grounding textual information on behavioral change and resignification. Taking a note from information and semiotic warfare, we look at what it takes for culture to foster change through the prism of Lotman’s theory, and how we could conceptualize intentional change through information manipulation and presentation. The paper offers a novel look into the logic of explosion within the semiotic theory of Juri Lotman and proposes conceptual avenues for exploring, analyzing and tentatively implementing the concept of explosion by the proposed idea of a semiotic bomb.

The Universalism of Logic in Stephen Langton’s Analysis of the Blessing Given to Jacob

AbstractIn this article, I illustrate the universalism of logic using the example of Stephen Langton’s ($$\dagger $$ † 1228) exegesis presented in his theological question 103. This text refers to the biblical story of Isaac blessing his son Jacob, who pretended to be his brother, Esau. I present the universalism of logic understood as its broad applicability and effectiveness. I argue that logic is very useful even in analyzing biblical exegesis. Langton’s exegesis benefits from logical knowledge on different levels. One of them is the application of a semiotic theory to formulate a solution to the problem of the validity of Isaac’s blessing. Above all, Langton distinguishes between a discrete and a vague (or simple) use of the pronoun “you.” Notably, Langton’s analysis of various speech acts in terms of his semiotic (or pragmatic) theory is also a basis to formulate the conditions of felicity of the act of blessing (understood in the theological context), which shows that logic can be not only broadly applicable, but also effective. Finally, question 103 proves that logic is universal also in a different way, namely: it can provide solutions which are acceptable for representatives of different traditions.

The construction of anti-pandemic image: a semiotic study of the role metaphors play in pandemic discourse in China

Abstract The pandemic has attracted extensive media attention around the world. In reports on the pandemic, metaphors are widely used to frame pandemic events through cross-domain mappings. Based on critical metaphor analysis, this study examines the metaphors in pandemic reports published in China Daily, the largest government-owned English-language newspaper in China and explores the metaphorical construction of China’s anti-pandemic image. We find more than 13 metaphor varieties, among which, the metaphors of war, journey, and family and friend are dominant. Through these metaphors, China is largely constructed as a people-oriented, united, resilient, responsible, and friendly country as well as a victim of political stigmatization. We argue that the stance and ideology of China Daily and the international background of infodemic influence the representation of China’s anti-pandemic image.

The spirit of the book cafe: Kurdish-language activism and the contested values of youth and culture in Turkey

ABSTRACT This article deploys a semiotic anthropological analysis of value to understand the recent emergence and spread of the Kurdish book cafe, or pirtûk kafe, using it as a window into the changing state of Kurdish language-activism and Kurdish youth culture in Turkey. Drawing on ethnographic research and interviews with cafe owners, operators, and patrons, the article offers both an overview of the pirtûk kafe in contemporary Turkey and an analysis of its role in promoting Kurdish culture and the use of the Kurdish language among the country’s youth.

The Unsettling of Women Prime Ministers: A Gendered Analysis of Political Cartoons

Women politicians have long experienced gendered and often sexist portrayals within the mainstream media that reproduce and reinforce the heteronormative gender binary. Though the media overwhelmingly support binary notions of gender, the way in which they portray women politicians, intentionally or not, also has the potential to unsettle notions of sex/gender. Political cartoons have been widely and historically used by newspapers to communicate certain messages to the reader, drawing from cultural norms and stereotypes, often in ways that would be regarded as unacceptable if written in the text of the article. However, little research has examined gender stereotypes in political cartoons of women political leaders and those that do largely focus on the “feminine”. This paper will address that gap by analyzing how “masculine” stereotypes are used in political cartoons of four women Prime Ministers from English speaking Westminster Democracies: Julia Gillard (Australia), Margaret Thatcher (UK), Jenny Shipley (NZ) and Helen Clark (NZ). Drawing from Judith Butler’s idea of gender performativity and utilizing a feminist semiotic methodological analysis of selected political cartoons, I explore how masculine stereotypes are used to ridicule these leaders for their supposed gender subversion while also inadvertently unsettling the gender binary.

The social commentary of Squid Game: reflections on Korean art, space and inequality

This paper discusses how communal spaces of childhood activity in Korea are reimagined in the drama Squid Game as part of a social commentary on class and economy. Many spaces shown in Squid Game are nostalgic representations of common Korean playgrounds, parks, and urban neighborhoods. In the show, however, these spaces of delightful memory are transformed into gory places where the literalized violence of neoliberal capitalism plays out. I argue that the creators of the show participate in a history of understanding communal spaces as focal points of social structure and expression that have been crucial in Korea since the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). The use of such spaces over centuries, including their reenvisioning in modern media, illustrates how political and economic relationships are intimately tied to constructions and perceptions of space. Through a detailed structural, visual, and semiotic analysis of the communal spaces of historical and modern urban Korea, and a comparison with the spaces in Squid Game, I argue that social spaces are intimately tied to social hierarchies and the long history of inequality in Korea.

VALUES OF CHILDREN'S CHARACTER EDUCATION IN NUSSA ANIMATED FILM

Seeing the high number of children's YouTube viewers, but there is not much YouTube content that contains character education, so that children are influenced by content that does not provide character values and causes children to experience a character crisis. One of the contents that can in still character values in children is the Nussa animated film that is broadcast on YouTube. The purpose of the study was to examine the values of character education in the Nussa animated film. This research is a qualitative descriptive study and is included in the type of library research. Data collection techniques were carried out through documentation. Data analysis used the content analysis method and used Roland Barthes' semiotic theory. Data validity checks were carried out by extending observations, increasing perseverance, and triangulation techniques. The findings of this study are nine characters values in the five episodes of the Nussa animated film, namely: religious, honesty, tolerance, creativity, curiosity, national spirit, friendly/communicative, caring for the environment, and responsibility.

Externalization of the mind in the meaning-making process: An integrated semiotic and cognitive science perspective

Abstract This article seeks to outline the effective integration of semiotic methods, particularly the Peircean approach, with research on human creative cognition. The aim is to elucidate the involvement of the mind and neurological mechanisms in the process of semiosis. By examining how the mind externalizes thoughts and ideas, the article offers a fresh perspective on how external models and representations serve as essential anchors of meaning. Furthermore, this integrated approach provides a deeper understanding of how meaning is constructed and communicated, highlighting the importance of considering both internal cognitive processes and external manifestations in the study of semiotics.

Representasi Perlindungan Data Pribadi pada Iklan Apple Versi ‘Privacy on Iphone – Data Auction’ di Youtube

In this research, a semiotic analysis of the Apple commercial version of "Privacy on iPhone - Data Auction" is carried out using the Roland Barthes model. Also this research uses descriptive qualitative methods with data collection techniques of interviews and documentation studies. The purpose of this research is to find out the representation of personal data protection in the advertisement by analyzing the meaning of denotation, connotation and myth. The results of the analysis show that this advertisement clearly illustrates the risks that will occur to the personal data of smartphone owners and users if the data can be accessed easily by irresponsible parties. This commercial also proves the truth of the myth widely circulated in society that Apple devices are more secure than other brands. Apple wants to emphasize that they attach great importance to and care about the confidentiality and security of the personal data of Apple users. Therefore, Apple strives to provide security guarantees and personal data protection on its products so that Apple customers feel comfortable and confident that their data is safe.

Pathways to motivation and learning in English language education: a case of two youths engaging in multiliteracies

Purpose This study investigates the effect of digital multimodal composing (DMC) on student motivation and literacy in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. It explores how students engaged in creating digital animations to respond to literary texts and the implications for integrating DMC into traditional literacy practices. Grounded in social semiotic theory and Self-Determination Theory, this study aims to understand how digital composing influences student engagement, motivation and literacy development. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were gathered over a six-month period using a combination of student surveys, semi-structured interviews, reflection logs and student-produced scripts/animations. This study focused on two university students who engaged in multimodal projects as part of their extracurricular EFL activities, examining their processes and reflections. Findings Students demonstrated strong intrinsic motivation during DMC processes, largely due to the social affordances provided by digital multimodal composing. By combining traditional literacy skills with digital practices, students experienced enhanced creative expression, enhanced meaning-making and a deeper understanding of literary texts through the production and sharing of animated videos. This process promoted both emotional and cognitive engagement, emphasizing the importance of teacher guidance and digital tools in creating a more dynamic and supportive learning environment. Practical implications This study outlines a practical approach to DMC through a structured process: selecting and reading a book, proposing a change as if requesting it from the author, creating and sharing a video on YouTube to explain the change and reflecting on the experience. This approach can guide educators in designing activities that deepen student engagement, enhance critical thinking and integrate digital tools with traditional learning methods. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of how digital technologies can transform traditional literacy practices, offering insights into the benefits of multimodal composition for language learning and motivation in EFL contexts. It provides practical examples of how students and teachers can leverage digital tools to enhance literacy education and prepare students for 21st-century challenges.

Digital artifacts in mathematics education: how can we study the learning processes they promote?

AbstractThis contribution is an elaboration of what was presented by the first author at her invited conference "Digital Artifacts in Mathematics Education" held in September 2023 at the XXII Congress of the Italian Mathematical Union. The aim of the paper is to present to those who are less familiar with qualitative research in Mathematics Education fundamental aspects to consider when studying mathematics learning mediated by digital artifacts. Three examples are presented that show glimpses of mathematical learning mediated by digital artifacts; we discuss how such student learning processes can be captured through adaptations of the Theory of Semiotic Mediation. In the discussion of the three examples, we also highlight the fundamental role played by task design and by the educator in promoting the students’ mathematics learning.

Semiotically deconstructing parental and adolescent failed communication: It’s not what they’re saying, it’s their words

Language change and creativity among adolescent language use, is nothing new. However, teachers in schools and parents in homes continue to feel left out of the linguistic figured world of the youth that they teach or raise, often leading to either perceived or real failed communication. In this study I offer a thoughtful and perhaps unique social semiotic analysis of the process and motivation for youth creation of new words or the resemanticization of existing words. Understanding the need for youth to create their own linguistic worlds for acceptance into social worlds has less to do with creating a barrier between them and their parents or teachers and more to do with positive identity development, could be the key for unlocking positive communication with the adults in their lives. Within, I put forth the idea that there exist purposeful in-groups and out-groups, of which the out-groups can be further divided into desirable and un-desirable out-groups. It is important to uncover the different affordances of existing terms and to create inventories of new terms and their synchronic meanings and possible diachronic evolution, in order for parents to understand the motive and need for youth creativity with language. Accepting the possibility, that youth are simply constructing and describing the world around them, changes the paradigm of parental-adolescent communication from a gulf or abyss to a potential bridge or a passageway connecting the two worlds.

Symbolism and meaning in city monuments: a semiotic study

Symbolism and meaning in city monuments: a semiotic study

A Semiotic Analysis of Body Language in Trump’s Attacks

A Semiotic Analysis of Body Language in Trump’s Attacks

Representation of Women's Loyalty Values in the Film Pilgrimage by Bw Purba Negara (Semiotic Analysis of Roland Barthes)

In the 2017 Asean International Film Festival and Award, Ziarah received four awards, including Best Screenplay (BW Purba Negara), Best Actress (Ponco Sutiyem), Best Director (BW Purba Negara) and Best Film. The film is a drama genre that tells the story of a character named Mbah Sri, a 95-year-old woman who is looking for her husband (Prawiro Said) because he never came home and never even heard from him after saying goodbye to the Second Military Aggression war in 1984. The storyline is entirely based on Mbah Sri as the heir to the memory of the historical events experienced by her husband. This study uses a qualitative approach using Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis. Semiotic analysis is a way or method to analyze and give meanings to symbols that contain a package of symbols, symbols, messages or textsThis research uses a qualitative approach using Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis. In conclusion, the representation of women's loyalty values in the film Ziarah by BW Purba Negara is depicted through the actions and characteristics of couples who are still loyal even though their partners have no news. Mbah Sri still thinks about her partner and tries to find her again at all costs. He did not give up on the search process until he finally rediscovered his true love in his old age.

Makna Simbolik Appabbajikang Bunting Pada Prosesi Pernikahan Adat Makassar di Desa Pattallikang Kabupaten Gowa

This research is entitled The Symbolic Meaning of Appabbajikang bunting in the Makassar Traditional Wedding Procession in Pattallikang Village, Gowa Regency. This research aims to describe the icons, indices and symbols contained in the process of implementing appabbajikang bunting in Pattallikang village, Gowa Regency in terms of Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic theory. This type of research is qualitative with a qualitative descriptive research design. The methods used in collecting data for this research were observation, interviews and documentation. The results of this research show that in the process of implementing the appabbajikang bunting tradition in Pattallikang village, Gowa Regency it has the meaning of (1) icons, namely tai bani and doek. (2) the meaning of the index, namely dupa, nipaasori lipak, and nisioi na sisioi kanrejawa. (3) the meaning of the symbols, namely jajjakkang, umba-umba, tai bani, doek, kanrejawa lapisik, lawarak kadea, kanrejawa sirikaya, songkolok palopok, jeknek inung, lekok kalomping, lipak. In general, the meaning contained in the tradition of the appabbajikang bunting procession in Pattallikang village, Gowa Regency is to unite the bride and groom, obtain abundant fortune, and have a prosperous household life.

PANCA SATYA OF HANUMAN CHARACTER IN THE RAMAYANA

Various sources of yoga literature that are still relevant today are used by yoga practitioners and academics in developing this realm of logical and practical thinking, such as: Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Siva Samhita, Yoga Vasista, Goraksasatakam, Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Sutra Patanjali, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabrata and various Balinese local wisdom belonging to the Sivaistik lontars. These sources of yoga literature make yoga not only traceable through its practical aspects but also allow for a search of the philosophical aspects of yoga implied in these literary sources so that yoga academics and practitioners can increase their knowledge and understanding of the scope of yoga teachings. This study aims to analyze the depth of the philosophy and practice of yoga contained in the Siva Samhita. The theories used are the theory of philosophy and semiotic theory. This study uses the method of collecting documents and literature. The data analysis technique was carried out qualitatively by describing it descriptively. The results of this study indicate that: (1) the study of yoga metaphysics contained in the Siva Samhita script is a study of God, maya, the soul, the microcosm of the body, and the nature of karma; (2) the study of the epistemology of yoga in the Siva Samhita script covers the nature of knowledge, the importance of the role teacher and the nature of liberation.

YOGA PHILOSOPHY IN SIVA SAMHITA SCRIPT

Various sources of yoga literature that are still relevant today are used by yoga practitioners and academics in developing this realm of logical and practical thinking, such as: Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Siva Samhita, Yoga Vasista, Goraksasatakam, Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Sutra Patanjali, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabrata and various Balinese local wisdom belonging to the Sivaistik lontars. These sources of yoga literature make yoga not only traceable through its practical aspects but also allow for a search of the philosophical aspects of yoga implied in these literary sources so that yoga academics and practitioners can increase their knowledge and understanding of the scope of yoga teachings. This study aims to analyze the depth of the philosophy and practice of yoga contained in the Siva Samhita. The theories used are the theory of philosophy and semiotic theory. This study uses the method of collecting documents and literature. The data analysis technique was carried out qualitatively by describing it descriptively. The results of this study indicate that: (1) the study of yoga metaphysics contained in the Siva Samhita script is a study of God, maya, the soul, the microcosm of the body, and the nature of karma; (2) the study of the epistemology of yoga in the Siva Samhita script covers the nature of knowledge, the importance of the role teacher and the nature of liberation.