Semiotic Analysis of Women’s Representation in the Animated Disney Film Raya and The Last Dragon

Abstract

The stereotype inherent in society is that women are vulnerable, inferior, and frequently depend on men. Similar to what is shown by the media, including films, the plot often discredits women in the public sphere, only focuses on domestic work, and does not highlight their competent side. As the largest entertainment industry company globally, Disney is trying to change the image of the traditional gender concept that has been formed previously. One of the films that represent that statement is Raya and The Last Dragon, which tells the story of a woman warrior and a formidable leader. This study aims to examine the representation of women in the animated films Disney Raya and The Last Dragon. This research was descriptive qualitative research with a documentation technique in screen capture as data collection. The sample of this research was scenes that represented women and used the analysis method of Semiotic Theory by Roland Barthes. There are four categorizations, including: (1) Trust in women as leaders; (2) Emphasizing friendship, not romance; (3) the appearance of a formidable Kingdom; and (4) brave women warriors. The study results show that women are represented as strong, dominant, and independent figures in this film, and the element of feminism is moderately presented. Women are no longer shown as inferiors oppressed by patriarchal culture. The traditional gender concept is gradually being forgotten.