The Construction Of Children's Gender Identity In The Film Monster (2023): Socio-Cultural Representation And Its Implications For Gender Orientation Formation

Kirani Al Zahra

Authors

Kirani Al Zahra Islamic Plus Adzkia High School, Medan

Keywords:

Gender, Homonormativity, Patriarchy, Islamic Perspective.

Abstract

The development of the film industry in the digital era serves not only as a means of entertainment but also as an ideological medium that plays a role in shaping society's views on gender construction. This includes issues of homonormativity due to the absence of a father figure, social pressure, and experiences of bullying. This phenomenon is relevant to Hirokazu Kore-eda's film Monster (2023). The film depicts how identity confusion, loneliness, and inner conflict in children arise due to societal stigma and stereotypes. This study aims to analyze the representation of children's gender identity in Monster (2023) through John Fiske's semiotic approach, which encompasses three levels of analysis: reality, representation, and ideology. In the Islamic context, the freedom of identity as depicted in the film needs to be directed toward a balance between self-expression and the preservation of human nature. Islam emphasizes that true identity is formed through self-awareness based on the values of monotheism, morality, and social responsibility, not solely through unlimited freedom.

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