Representation of Social Inequality in the Film Jakarta Vs Everybody
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35870/jtik.v8i4.3100Keywords:
Social Inequality, Urbanization, Semiotic AnalysisAbstract
Urbanization in major cities such as Jakarta frequently results in heightened social inequality and economic segregation, further widening the gap between different societal groups. Jakarta vs Everybody portrays these urban challenges by depicting the harsh realities of city life through characters ensnared in crime and economic hardship. This study adopts a qualitative methodology, employing semiotic and discourse analysis to examine how the film represents social inequality in the context of urbanization. The findings reveal that the film effectively illustrates marginalization, social injustice, and economic segregation present in Jakarta. Specifically, it highlights disparities in access to opportunities and resources among various social groups, which drive the main characters toward a life of crime as a shortcut to survival. These results bolster existing theories of social and economic segregation in urbanized settings, demonstrating that inequality in large cities extends beyond economic factors and shapes broader social and cultural dynamics. The implications of this research underscore the need to address uneven urbanization, which exacerbates inequality and crime in big cities. The film serves not only as a medium for raising social awareness but also as a platform for provoking deeper discussions on spatial policies and social justice in urban environments. Consequently, this study contributes to the literature on the interaction between popular media and social issue representation in urban society.
Downloads
References
Vinogradova, Y., Gurieva, S., Pochebut, L., & Chiker, V. (2021). Social aspects of resources management through the process of understanding the social representations. E3S Web of Conferences, 244. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/2021244110
Litton, I. (1985). Some problems underlying the theory of social representations. British Journal of Social Psychology, 24(2), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1985.tb00664.x
Martikainen, J., & Hakoköngäs, E. (2023). Drawing as a method of researching social representations. Qualitative Research, 23(4), 981–999. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941211065165
Wagner, W. (2021). Groups in contact: Meta-representations, interobjectivity, and cultural incompatibilities. Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, 51(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/jtsb.12259
Huber, R. A., Anderson, B., & Bernauer, T. (2018). Can social norm interventions promote voluntary pro-environmental action? Environmental Science and Policy, 89, 231–246.
Gonzalez-Lesser, E., Hall, R., & Hughey, M. W. (2020). Production, distribution, and consumption: Extending studies of racialized media beyond racial representations. Humanity & Society, 44(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0160597619850228
Smith, J. M., & Huber, C. (2018). Colombian criminals, moral whites: Reproducing and resonating hierarchy in US film. Sociological Inquiry, 88(1), 106–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12182
Jauza, M. H., & Walisyah, T. (2024). Semiotic analysis of the preaching message in the film Air Mata Di Ujung Sajadah 2023 by Ronny Irawan. UHO Communication Science Journal: Research Journal of Social and Information Sciences, 9(3), 574–589. http://repository.radenfatah.ac.id/21163/3/3.pdf
Kumara, R. G., & Maulianza, M. (2024). Argopuro 1, 3(2).
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
Fereday, J., & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(1), 80–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690600500107
Barthes, R. (1972). Critical Essays. Northwestern University Press.
Hasanah, H. (2017). Observation techniques: An alternative method for collecting qualitative data in the social sciences. At-Taqaddum, 8(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.21580/at.v8i1.1163
Thaha, A. N., Mus, F. B., & Saputra, M. H. (2024). Semiotic analysis of cultural communication: Bugis perspective in the film Sinking of the Van Der Wijck Ship, 2(3).
Saputra, F. A., & Albab, C. U. (2024). Representation of masculinity in the character Dom (Semiotic analysis of Roland Barthes in the film Jakarta Vs Everybody). PIKMA: Media and Cinema Communication Science Publication Journal, 6(2), 261–277.
Connell, R. W. (2005). Masculinities. University of California Press.
Butler, J. (1991). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Feminist Review, 38(1), 113–114. https://doi.org/10.1057/fr.1991.33
Johnson, M. P., & Hearn, J. (2001). The violences of men: How men talk about and how agencies respond to men's violence against women. Contemporary Sociology, 30(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.2307/2654326
Wirth, L. (2012). Urbanism as a way of life (2nd ed.). American Journal of Sociology (1938).
Boeke, J. H. (1978). Economics and economic policy of dual societies as exemplified by Indonesia (1st AMS ed.). AMS Press.
Bourdieu, P. (2006). Distinction: A social critique of the judgment of taste (1st ed.).
Gracia, P., & Delclós, C. (2012). Review of Wilson (1987) The Truly Disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Athenea Digital: Revista de Pensamiento e Investigación Social, 12(1), 247. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/athenead/v12n1.1012
Wldemina, Y. T., & Wenno, V. K. (2020). Interpreting public forgiveness in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 using intercontextual methods. Indonesian Journal of Theology, 11(63), 50145.
Salim, A., Manubey, J., & Kuswandi, D. (2023). Neoliberalism and commercialization of education in Indonesia: A reflection. Journal of Education, 24(2), 97–115.
Diningrat, R. (2015). Large-scale housing spatial segregation: Case study of the New Town Kota Harapan Indah (KHI) Bekasi. Journal of Regional and Urban Planning, 26(2), 111–129. https://doi.org/10.5614/jpwk.2015.26.2.4
Fitra, H. A., & Pradoto, W. (2014). The influence of social behavior to the emergence residential segregation in Sleman Regency, DI Yogyakarta. Journal of Regional & Urban Development, 10(3), 235. https://doi.org/10.14710/pwk.v10i3.7782
Manley, D. (2021). Segregation in London: A city of choices or structures? In Urban book series. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64569-4_16
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Alfian Bagus Fitrianto, Iman Sumarlan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1. Copyright Retention and Open Access License
Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal non-exclusive right of first publication under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This license allows unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
2. Rights Granted Under CC BY 4.0
Under this license, readers are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use
- No additional restrictions — the licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as license terms are followed
3. Attribution Requirements
All uses must include:
- Proper citation of the original work
- Link to the Creative Commons license
- Indication if changes were made to the original work
- No suggestion that the licensor endorses the user or their use
4. Additional Distribution Rights
Authors may:
- Deposit the published version in institutional repositories
- Share through academic social networks
- Include in books, monographs, or other publications
- Post on personal or institutional websites
Requirement: All additional distributions must maintain the CC BY 4.0 license and proper attribution.
5. Self-Archiving and Pre-Print Sharing
Authors are encouraged to:
- Share pre-prints and post-prints online
- Deposit in subject-specific repositories (e.g., arXiv, bioRxiv)
- Engage in scholarly communication throughout the publication process
6. Open Access Commitment
This journal provides immediate open access to all content, supporting the global exchange of knowledge without financial, legal, or technical barriers.
