REPRESENTASI SEKSUALISASI DAN VIKTIMISASI LAKI-LAKI PADA FILM DEAR DAVID (2023)

Abstract

This study explores the representation of male sexualization and victimization in the film Dear David (2023), focusing on the character David. The film presents the male body as both a sexual object and a subject experiencing emotional vulnerability, thereby challenging the construction of hegemonic masculinity. The purpose of this research is to analyze how David’s body is visually and narratively represented as a sexual object, and how his victimization experience reveals the human and vulnerable side of masculinity. This study uses a qualitative method with Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis, supported by standpoint theory, the concept of hegemonic masculinity, and the construction of masculinity. The analysis was conducted through in-depth observation and lexia selection from the film Dear David.

The findings reveal that the boundaries between victim and perpetrator become increasingly blurred. Furthermore, the act of sexualization that begins in private spaces and later spreads to the public sphere results in secondary victimization through social pressure that silences, shames, and questions masculine identity. The film represents a vulnerable form of masculinity and creates space to understand male victims. This study concludes that Dear David (2023) portrays the male body—especially David’s—as a sexual object and as a subject of victimization and emotional fragility. David’s body is constructed through an unconventional lens that challenges normative masculinity, which typically depicts men as strong, dominant, and invulnerable. The sexual visualization of David’s body, through both the spread of erotic content and sexually inappropriate interactions, illustrates a power imbalance that positions him as a victim. By employing standpoint theory and the concept of hegemonic masculinity, this research highlights how David’s experience as a male victim who challenges masculine norms and opens space for a more inclusive, equitable, and comprehensive understanding of masculinity.