Representing Honesty through Signs: A Semiotic Analysis of Ipar Adalah Maut

Abstract

This study examines the representation of honesty in the Indonesian film Ipar Adalah Maut using Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. It aims to identify verbal and non-verbal signs that signify honesty and interpret their denotative and connotative meanings, highlighting which meaning dominates audience perception. The study applied a qualitative descriptive method. Data were collected through repeated viewing, dialogue transcription, scene selection, screenshot documentation, and systematic coding of signs. The results show that honesty is expressed not only through dialogue but also through gestures, facial expressions, camera angles, and settings. Denotatively, honesty appears in scenes of confession and truth-telling; connotatively, it represents sincerity, emotional conflict, betrayal, and moral responsibility. The connotative meanings dominate the representation, showing how honesty operates as a moral and cultural value within Indonesian society.