KONSTRUKSI MAKNA KRITIK POLITIK PADA KOMIK STRIP DIGITAL DI INSTAGRAM SI JUKI MELALUI PENDEKATAN SEMIOTIKA PEIRCE

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of icons, indices, and symbols and uncover the construction of meaning in political criticism in the digital comic strip Si Juki on the Instagram account @jukihoki throughout 2025. The method used is descriptive qualitative with a semiotic approach by Charles Sanders Peirce. The research subjects included 15 politically themed comic strips selected using documentation techniques. The results show that the meaning of political criticism is constructed holistically through the integration of visual and verbal sign elements. Icons function to represent political actors, situations, and events through visual similarities. Indices demonstrate the causal relationship between government policies and the real social impacts felt by the public. Meanwhile, symbols convey criticism through specific terms, expressions, and visual attributes understood based on Indonesian socio-political conventions. This study successfully identified five categories of political criticism: criticism of power (5 items), criticism of the state (4 items), criticism of decision-making (2 items), criticism of general policy (2 items), and criticism of budget allocation (2 items). Overall, the Si Juki comic strip utilizes satirical satire and cynicism as an effective means of social control in evaluating the dynamics of government administration and all public policies in Indonesia.