Representation of Transcendental Communication through the Symbol of a Letter in the Film Titip Surat untuk Tuhan

Abstract

Film is an audiovisual communication medium that functions not only as entertainment but also as a medium for representing social, cultural, moral, and spiritual messages through the system of signs constructed within its narrative. This study aims to analyze the representation of transcendental communication through the symbol of letters in the film Titip Surat untuk Tuhan using Roland Barthes' semiotic approach. This research employed a qualitative method with a semiotic analysis approach. Data were collected through observations of scenes, dialogues, and visual elements featuring letters as symbolic objects and were analyzed using Barthes' three levels of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth. The findings indicate that the meaning of the letter evolves from a written communication medium into a representation of transcendental communication between humans and God. At the denotative level, the letter functions as a medium for conveying messages. At the connotative level, it represents prayer, hope, and human surrender to God. At the mythological level, the letter constructs the belief that prayers may receive answers through various forms of divine assistance represented in the film. The findings demonstrate that a simple symbol can convey complex spiritual meanings through the film's visual and narrative construction. This study also reinforces Jalaluddin Rakhmat's concept of transcendental communication and confirms that Roland Barthes' semiotic approach is relevant for analyzing the representation of transcendental communication in audiovisual media. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the letter as the primary symbol representing transcendental communication in film.