Semiotic Study of Cyberbullying in the Film Budi Pekerti by Wregas Bhanuteja: An Andragogical Perspective

Abstract

This study examines cases of bullying. Bullying is a continuous act of harming someone without compassion that occurs within society. Forms of bullying can be physical or verbal. Physical bullying includes actions such as pushing, hitting, kicking, or damaging another person’s belongings. Verbal bullying includes spreading slander, mocking, insulting, threatening, intimidating, and similar behaviors. The impacts of bullying can include trauma, mental disorders, and self-harm, as well as mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. In addition, bullying victims may experience a decline in academic performance and social isolation. Bullying can occur anywhere—in the family environment, neighborhood, workplace, or school. This study aims to (1) represent the bullying phenomena depicted in the film Budi Pekerti, and (2) analyze the denotative meaning, connotative meaning, and social myths constructed within the film’s narrative using Roland Barthes’ semiotic approach through a qualitative descriptive method. The data were obtained from the film Budi Pekerti by Wregas Bhanuteja. The findings show that the most prominent forms of bullying are verbal bullying and cyberbullying, including Flaming (7 instances), Harassment (6 instances), Denigration (4 instances), and Outing (2 instances). The bullying experienced by the protagonist and their family results from misunderstandings that force the character to resign from their job and move house with their family.