COMPARATIVE SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF SATANIC SYMBOLISM IN LONGLEGS: A STUDY IN HORROR NARRATIVES

Ratih Dwi Pratiwi; Handrini Ardiyanti

doi:10.52423/jikuho.v10i2.1595

Authors

Ratih Dwi Pratiwi Universitas Esa Unggul
Handrini Ardiyanti Universitas Esa Unggul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52423/jikuho.v10i2.1595

Keywords:

Denotative and Connotative Meaning, Film Semiotics, Horror Films, Roland Barthes, Satanic Symbolism

Abstract

Films play a crucial role in shaping societal perspectives and often depict social issues, including controversial themes such as Satanism (Caniago & Hero, 2022). Laminantang (2013) describes films as an effective communication medium that reaches a broad audience through visual and auditory elements. This study examines the representation of Satanic symbolism in the film Longlegs using Roland Barthes' semiotic framework. Symbols such as the number 666, the inverted triangle, and the image of Baphomet are analyzed in both their denotative and connotative meanings. The findings indicate that these symbols not only contribute to the film’s horror aesthetic but also communicate implicit messages related to dark forces and their influence on characters. These results correspond with O’Connor (2015), who argues that the interpretation of Satanic symbols in media evolves based on cultural contexts. Additionally, similarities are observed in classic horror films such as The Exorcist (1973) and Hereditary (2018), which employ comparable symbolic elements to construct narratives (Russell, 2020). This research contributes to semiotic analyses of horror films by providing insights into the application of Satanic symbolism in visual communication.

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