A Semiotic Analysis on Gender Representation in Seher Film: Does Women Muted In Sasak?

Abstract

This article aims to examine gender representation in the film The Vengeance of SEHER using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework. The film, a local production from East Lombok, presents a story of love, revenge, and black magic (sheer), while embedding symbolic messages about power relations and gender inequality in Sasak culture. The analysis focuses on six key scenes, interpreted through three layers of meaning: denotative, connotative, and mythological. Findingsrevealthat female characters are consistently portrayed as subordinate, burdened with domestic responsibilities, and silenced both verbally and symbolically. The film illustrates that patriarchal norms are not only upheld by men but also reproduced by women through the internalization of cultural values. These findings demonstrate how film can serve as a critical medium for reading gender ideology in local communities