Representation of The Democratic Crisis in The Visual Posters of The “Indonesia Gelap” Demonstration

Abstract

Demonstrations are one of the main pillars of a democratic state because they serve as a platform for the public to express opinions, voice aspirations, and oversee government policies. In any protest, the posters carried by demonstrators inevitably attract attention from both the media and the public. Several mass media outlets in Indonesia captured these posters to be published as photo news. From the various posters that appeared as photo news related to the “Indonesia Gelap” demonstration, this study aims to analyze the representation of democratic meaning conveyed visually. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis method, which focuses on how cultural signs possess not only denotative meanings but also connotative ones. In his analysis, Barthes emphasizes the concept of myth as a second-order sign system that shapes and disseminates ideology. The results show that the “Indonesia Gelap” demonstration posters highlight public protest against government policies perceived as not prioritizing the welfare of the people. They also reflect a sense of pessimism toward the performance of the newly established leadership, which is still overshadowed by the previous administration. In today’s digital era, posters carried by demonstrators attract attention not only on the ground but also across social media and mass media. Therefore, crafting messages by linking them to popular culture increases their visibility and makes them easier for the wider public to understand. This approach also offers a new way to address youth apathy in expressing or voicing their political views.