Representasi Makna Perjuangan Diri dalam Film Kpop Demon Hunters

Abstract

Abstract. The South Korean creative industry frequently incorporates social and psychological issues into cinematic media, including the animated film K-pop Demon Hunters (2025). This study aims to describe the representation of self-struggle meaning within the film. The researcher employed a descriptive qualitative method utilizing Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis as the framework. Primary data were obtained through the purposive sampling of scenes containing elements of self-struggle, combined with in-depth interviews with a clinical psychologist. The results indicate that denotatively, self-struggle is represented through the esclation of suppressed physical expressions, leading to a total visual liberation on stage. Connotatively, this struggle manifests as barriers in intrapersonal communication, emotional repression, and masked depression driven by external pressures. At the level of myth, the study deconstructs the rigid myth of idol perfectionism (toxic professionalism) into a new myth of authenticity, emphasizing that embracing vulnerability enhances psychological resilience. This article concludes that the film serves as a critical social commentary on the modern entertainment industry.

Abstrak. Industri kreatif Korea Selatan banyak mengusung isu sosial dan psikologis melalui media film, salah satunya film animasi Kpop Demon Hunters (2025). Tokoh utama, Rumi, mengalami tekanan batin dan perjuangan diri akibat krisis identitas. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengungkap representasi makna perjuangan diri (self-struggle) dalam film tersebut. Menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif dengan pisau bedah semiotika Roland Barthes berparadigma konstruktivisme. Data diperoleh melalui pemilihan adegan secara purposive, dikombinasikan dengan wawancara mendalam bersama psikolog klinis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara denotatif, perjuangan diri direpresentasikan melalui eskalasi ekspresi fisik yang tertekan hingga terjadinya pembalikan visual yang ekspresif di atas panggung. Secara konotatif, pergulatan tersebut bermanifestasi sebagai hambatan komunikasi intrapersonal, represi emosi, dan masked depression. Pada tingkat mitos, penelitian ini berhasil mendekonstruksi mitos kesempurnaan idola (toxic professionalism) menjadi mitos baru mengenai keautentikan diri (authenticity). Artikel ilmiah ini menyimpulkan bahwa kegigihan emosional terbukti klinis mampu meningkatkan ketahanan mental.