Representasi Perempuan sebagai Agen Kekuasaan dalam Film The Shadow Strays

Abstract

This study aims to examine the representation of women as agents of power in The Shadow Strays through Stuart Hall's theory of representation. The research employed a qualitative approach using Stuart Hall's representation analysis. Six scenes were purposively selected as the units of analysis. Data were collected through observation, documentation, and a literature review, and subsequently analyzed by identifying signs and symbols, examining the construction of meaning through the constructionist approach, and interpreting the findings using Stuart Hall's encoding–decoding model. The findings reveal that the representation of women as agents of power is constructed through the protagonist's professional competence, decision-making capacity, and authority in controlling conflict. This representation is reinforced through visual and narrative elements, including the use of low-angle shots, high-contrast lighting, dark-colored costumes, action choreography, and character development, all of which portray the female protagonist as a subject possessing both agency and moral integrity. Furthermore, the film's representation remains open to multiple audience interpretations, encompassing dominant-hegemonic, negotiated, and oppositional readings. The study demonstrates that the representation of women in The Shadow Strays is a cultural construction produced through the film's visual language and narrative structure. Moreover, it highlights the role of media in shaping public understandings of gender identity and power relations within contemporary popular culture. Keywords:  agents of power, representation, Stuart Hall, The Shadow Strays, women