THE STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF SIGNIFIED AND SIGNIFIER IN THE SUMATRA FLOOD MEMES

Abstrak

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the signifier and signified in Sumatra flood memes circulating on social media. The source of the data in this study is the Sumatra flood memes that were taken from Instagram and TikTok platforms, with the criteria of a high level of interaction. This study uses Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotic theory to uncover the implicit meanings contained in the visual and verbal elements of the memes. The method used is a qualitative descriptive method. The results of this study showed that memes function not only as entertainment but also as a medium for social criticism and representation of public disaster management. First, memes represented the suffering flood victims through visuals of environmental degradation and symbols of the loss of community safe spaces. Second, memes presented public figures and government officials as objects of criticism through the use of irony, satire, and parody, which indicated an imbalance between policy discourse and reality on the ground. Third, the relationship between signifier and signified in memes created collective meanings that reflect distrust, disappointment, and demands for social responsibility toward the government. As the final part of this research, the researcher found that memes can be understood as a form of semiotic communication that represents the voice in responding to environmental and social crises in the digital era.

Kata kunci

• Flood
• Memes
• Signified
• Signifier
• Sumatera
• literature
• stylistic