Representasi Maskulinitas Subordinat Pada Tokoh Utama Agus Dalam Film Pendek Sanubari Jakarta Episode “Malam Ini Aku Cantik” (2012)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the representation of subordinate masculinity in the main character, Agus, in the short film Sanubari Jakarta episode “Malam Ini Aku Cantik” (2012). This research is motivated by the limited number of studies examining subordinate masculinity in Indonesian short films, particularly those portraying the experiences of gender minorities within a patriarchal social context. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using representation analysis. Data were collected through film observation, documentation in the form of screenshots, and literature review. The analysis is conducted using Stuart Hall’s representation theory, R.W. Connell’s concept of masculinity, and Judith Butler’s queer perspective. In addition, elements of mise-en-scene such as lighting, costume, makeup, setting, and body gestures are analyzed to identify how meaning is constructed visually and narratively. The findings reveal that Agus is represented as a figure embodying subordinate masculinity, characterized by a weak social position, vulnerable emotional expression, and limited control over situations. This form of masculinity is fluid and contextual, reflected in the dual roles he performs as a breadwinner for his family and as a sex worker in public spaces. Furthermore, this representation highlights unequal power relations in aspects of selfpresentation, public space, sexual relations, and economic relations. Agus’s identity is not fixed but continuously negotiated as a survival strategy amidst social, economic, and heteronormative pressures. Therefore, this study emphasizes that masculinity is not singular, but diverse, dynamic, and shaped by surrounding social structures.