REPRESENTASI FATHERLESS DAN DAMPAKNYA TERHADAP PERKEMBANGAN ANAK DALAM FILM "AYAH, INI ARAHNYA KE MANA, YA?"

Abstract

This study examines the representation of fatherless conditions and their impact on
child development as depicted in the Indonesian film "Ayah, Ini Arahnya ke Mana,
Ya?" The research employs a qualitative descriptive approach with a semiotic
analysis method based on Roland Barthes's theory of signification. The data
sources consist of selected scenes, character dialogues, and visual codes in the
film that reflect the absence of a father figure. The results reveal that the film
constructs three layers of meaning related to the fatherless condition, namely the
denotative level showing physical absence, the connotative level depicting
emotional dysfunction, and the mythological level reinforcing patriarchal social
narratives. In terms of child development impacts, the film represents emotional
instability, declining academic motivation, identity-seeking behavior, and disruption
of social attachment in child characters. This study also identifies how the language
used by characters functions as a medium for expressing and negotiating grief due
to paternal loss. The findings contribute to the discourse of Indonesian language
and literature education, particularly in the analysis of film narratives as a means of
understanding social phenomena that influence children's language and
psychological development.