The Representamen of Psychological Awareness in The Main Character of The Film “A Man Called Otto”

Authors

  • Angga Armando Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu
  • Sri Narti Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu
  • Dilmai Putra Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu

Keywords:

Psychology, Main Character, Symbols, Film, Semiotics, Otto

Abstract

Film is a powerful form of mass communication that conveys not only entertainment but also deep psychological and social messages. This study explores the representamen of psychological awareness in the main character, Otto, from the film “A Man Called Otto,” using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic theory. The research applies a qualitative descriptive method by analyzing scenes and visual symbols that reflect Otto’s emotional journey from grief and isolation to social reconnection and healing. Otto’s character transformation is examined through Peirce’s triadic model: sign, object, and interpretant. The findings reveal that Otto’s psychological struggle—stemming from the trauma of losing his wife—manifests through defensive behavior, emotional detachment, and resistance to social bonds. However, through continuous interaction with neighbors and the support of his new social environment, Otto gradually regains emotional openness and self-awareness. The film employs visual metaphors, symbolic cues, and narrative structure to portray the healing process, emphasizing the role of social support and human connection in overcoming emotional pain. This study contributes to the intersection of film studies and communication psychology by showcasing how cinematic storytelling can represent and shape psychological experiences in a relatable and impactful way

References

Ahyar, D. B. (2022). Analisis teks dalam penelitian kebahasaan: Sebuah teori dan aplikatif.

Asri, R. (2020). Membaca film sebagai sebuah teks: Analisis isi film “Nanti Kita Cerita Tentang Hari Ini (NKCTHI)”. Jurnal Al Azhar Indonesia Seri Ilmu Sosial, 1(2), 74. https://doi.org/10.36722/jaiss.v1i2.462

Backman, F. (2014). A man called Ove. New York: Atria Books.

Bazin, A. (2021). What is cinema? Volume 1. University of California Press.

Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2022). Film art: An introduction (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Budiman, A. (2011). Semiotika. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Andi.

Bungin, B. (2021). Metode penelitian komunikasi: Paradigma kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Kencana Media.

Chion, M. (2022). Audio-vision: Sound on screen (2nd ed.). Columbia University Press.

Creswell, J. W. (2021). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2023). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Danesi, M. (2010). Understanding media semiotics. Bloomsbury.

Danesi, M. (2020). The semiotics of everyday life. Indiana University Press.

Dayu, B. S. A., & Syadli, M. R. (2023). Memahami konsep semiotika Ferdinand de Saussure dalam komunikasi. LANTERA: Jurnal Komunikasi dan Penyiaran Islam, 1(2), 152–164. https://doi.org/10.30999/lantera.v1i2.2774

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2011). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Eco, U. (2022). A theory of semiotics. Indiana University Press.

Fadli, M. R. (2021). Memahami desain metode penelitian kualitatif. Humanika: Kajian Ilmiah Mata Kuliah Umum, 21(1), 33–54.

Firmansyah, S. (2022). Pemikiran filsafat semiotika dalam pemahaman Charles Sanders Peirce dan contohnya. Al-Kauniyah: Jurnal Ilmu Alquran dan Tafsir, 3(2), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.56874/alkauniyah.v3i2.877

Fiske, J. (2021). Understanding popular culture. Routledge.

Freud, S. (1920). Beyond the pleasure principle. Liveright Publishing.

Freud, S. (2016). The ego and the id (J. Riviere, Trans.). Dover Publications.

Genette, G. (2020). Drama and its forms: A narrative theory of drama. Cambridge University Press.

Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. University of Edinburgh Press.

James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. Holt.

Karnedi, & Hikmah, N. (Eds.). (2022). Analisis teks dalam penerjemahan. Perpusnas.

Kirk, J., & Miller, M. L. (2021). Reliability and validity in qualitative research. SAGE Publications.

Koch, C. (2021). The feeling of life itself: Why consciousness is widespread but can't be computed. MIT Press.

Kumar, R. (2020). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Moleong, L. J. (2021). Metodologi penelitian kualitatif (Ed. Revisi). Remaja Rosdakarya.

Nöth, W. (2021). Handbook of semiotics. Mouton de Gruyter.

Suryani, L. (2021). Panduan penulisan skripsi dan tesis: Teori dan praktik penelitian. Penerbit Andi.

Widdowson, H. G. (2022). Discourse analysis: A critical introduction (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Downloads

Published

2025-06-25

How to Cite

Angga Armando, Sri Narti, & Dilmai Putra. (2025). The Representamen of Psychological Awareness in The Main Character of The Film “A Man Called Otto”. International Journal of Human Capital and Innovative Management, 2(2), 119–126. Retrieved from https://pubjournals.com/ijhcim/article/view/145

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.