Representasi Karakter Tokoh Bapak dalam Film Pendek “Bapak” : Analisis Semiotika Roland Barthes

Abstract

Amid the growing production of digital media by state institutions, it becomes increasingly important to examine how ideological messages are constructed through popular cultural narratives. This study analyses the short film “Bapak”, a fictional work produced by the regional government of Yogyakarta, using Roland Barthes’ critical semiotics framework. The primary focus is to investigate how the film represents the figure of the father through a system of signs operating on three levels: denotation, connotation, and myth. The analysis reveals that the character of Bapak is constructed through powerful non-verbal communication, the symbolic weight of economic and educational challenges as the site of conflict, and a narrative of sacrifice as the deepest expression of paternal love. Together, these elements coalesce into a myth of the Javanese father—silent, restrained, yet profoundly caring. In the context of state-sponsored media production, the findings suggest that Bapak contributes to the reproduction of patriarchal family values as natural and noble. Thus, the film serves not merely as a medium of entertainment but also as a subtle vehicle for disseminating cultural ideologies that shape public perception of familial roles and relationships.