Representasi Kritik Terhadap Pendidikan Dan Perilaku Masyarakat Indonesia Dalam Stand-Up Comedy Mesakke Bangsaku

Abstract

This paper discusses the representation of criticism toward education and Indonesian society in the stand-up comedy performance Mesakke Bangsaku by Pandji Pragiwaksono. This study aims to explain how criticism toward education and Indonesian society is represented in the performance. The research employed a descriptive qualitative approach using Stuart Hall’s representation theory as the main analytical framework. Primary data were obtained from the Mesakke Bangsaku performance video, while secondary data were collected from books, journals, previous studies, and other supporting sources related to social conditions in Indonesia. Data analysis was conducted by identifying utterances containing social criticism and interpreting the meanings constructed through language and narrative in the performance. The findings show that Indonesian education is represented as a system that still emphasizes memorization, obedience, academic achievement, and the standardization of students’ abilities rather than the development of critical thinking skills. Meanwhile, Indonesian society is represented as having low media literacy, being easily influenced by public opinion, reactive toward social conflicts, and lacking a dialogical communication culture. This study shows that stand-up comedy functions not only as entertainment but also as a medium of social communication that represents various criticisms of social realities in Indonesia.