THE PORTRAYAL OF PANDEMIC IN AMERICAN MOVIES

FIRMAN AROFATI ZALUKHU, KEVIN SUSANTO MANURUNG (2021) THE PORTRAYAL OF PANDEMIC IN AMERICAN MOVIES , SKRIPSI, UNIVERSITAS PRIMA INDONESIA

ABSTRAK

This library research examines American films with a pandemic theme to find out the reason for using this theme in films and to identify the symbol of pandemic shown in the films. By observing the dialogs and scenes in Outbreak (1995),  I am Legend (2007), Carriers (2009), Contagion (2011), and The World War Z (2013) as the sources of data, this textual analysis study utilizes a semiotic approach with the theory of representation to interpret the pandemic in the films. The results of the study show that the pandemic issue can be considered a promising theme because the concept of the theme includes interesting scenes such as the emergence of infectious disease, rapid virus transmission, high mortality rates, and challenges in overcoming pandemic. These scene form a pattern – confusion, panic, emergency, survival, and treatment that can be the hallmark of a pandemic-themed film. In addition, the results of the study also suggest that films about pandemics can symbolize the reality of human’s life which is reflected through the portraits of greed, heroism, and hope.

JURNAL