CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF URBAN LIFESTYLE IN GOJEK’S ‘GOCAR LUXE’ ADVERTISEMENT (2023)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53806/ijcss.v6i3.1175Keywords:
Semiotics, Cultural Represenattion, Urban LifestyleAbstract
The rise of digital technologies has reshaped urban mobility and consumption patterns, with app-based transport services such as Gojek functioning not only as practical solutions but also as cultural symbols for the urban middle and upper classes. This study employs Roland Barthes’s semiotic framework to examine how the GoCar Luxe (2023) advertisement constructs an urban lifestyle narrative through visual and verbal signs. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the analysis identifies denotative, connotative, and mythical meanings embedded in the advertisement. The findings reveal that symbolic representations reinforce values of comfort, exclusivity, and efficiency as central to contemporary urban discourse. By unpacking these semiotic layers, the study highlights how digital advertising mediates cultural identity and legitimizes lifestyle aspirations, offering insights for communication and advertising studies on the interplay between media texts, cultural representation, and urban consumer values.References
[1] M. I. R. Avisena, “Mogok ojol, perputaran uang Rp188 miliar hilang dalam sehari,” Metro TV News, May 21, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.metrotvnews.com/read/b3JCp9Dd-mogok-ojol-perputaran-uang-rp188-miliar-hilang-dalam-sehari?utm
[2] N. A. Berutu, K. Sebayang, L. Z. Surbakti, R. Diva, and A. Ghalib, “Analisis semiotika Roland Barthes pada iklan Marjan 2025,” Abstrak: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Seni, Media dan Desain, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 67–77, 2025.
[3] S. Bloch, “Policing car space and the legal liminality of the automobile,” Progress in Human Geography, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 136–155, 2021, doi: 10.1177/0309132519901306.
[4] M. Eisend, “The influence of humor in advertising: Explaining the effects of humor in two?sided messages,” Psychology & Marketing, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 227–240, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.1002/mar.21634.
[5] R. Faisal, F. Rahman, S. Efendi, S. Sosrohadi, F. Sachiya, T. P. A. Mochammad, and Mahdori, “Analysis of signs on online ads: Roland Barthes’ perspectives,” International Journal of Arts and Social Science, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 203–213, 2025.
[6] D. G. Gupta, H. Shin, and V. Jain, “Luxury experience and consumer behavior: A literature review,” Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 199–213, 2023, doi: 10.1108/MIP-12-2021-0438.
[7] Good News, “GoCar Luxe 2023,” YouTube, Aug. 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjkNnsdp9Cw
[8] R. Hariman, “Public culture,” in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.32.
[9] S. Heroy, I. Loaiza, A. Pentland, and N. O'Clery, "Are neighbourhood amenities associated with more walking and less driving? Yes, but only for the wealthy," arXiv, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2201.07184.
[10] N. A. Lasido, “Mitos gaya hidup metroseksualitas dalam iklan produk kosmetik Vaseline Men,” Jurnal Komunikasi, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 169–183, 2017, doi: 10.20885/komunikasi.vol10.iss2.art5.
[11] S. K. Lestari and A. I. Saidi, “Semiotika ‘Kampanye Love Myself’ grup penyanyi Korea BTS (Studi kasus: Video comeback trailer ‘Epiphany’),” Jurnal Komunikasi Visual Wimba, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 24–37, 2020.
[12] A. Sobur, Semiotika Komunikasi. Bandung, Indonesia: PT Remaja Rosdakarya, 2003.
[13] Y. Sui and F. Ming, “Reinterpreting some key concepts in Barthes’ theory,” Journal of Media and Communication Studies, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 59–66, 2015, doi: 10.5897/JMCS2014.0412.
[14] T. Teodorovicz, A. L. Kun, R. Sadun, and O. Shaer, “Multitasking while driving: A time use study of commuting knowledge workers to assess current and future uses,” International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, vol. 162, p. 102789, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102789.
[15] L. Everuss, “The new mobilities paradigm and social theory,” in The Routledge Handbook of Social and Cultural Theory, 2nd ed., A. Elliott, Ed. London, UK: Routledge, 2021, pp. 287–305, doi: 10.4324/9781315149714-18.
[16] Y. Yan, “Semiotic oppositions in advertising discourse,” Journal of Media Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 55–70, 2015, doi: 10.1234/jms.2015.120105.
[17] A. Z. Yonatan, “Indonesia jadi pengguna online mobility services tertinggi, proporsinya mencapai 66,7% dari total pengguna internet pada Kuartal IV 2024,” GoodStats.id, May 23, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://goodstats.id/article/indonesia-jadi-pengguna-transportasi-online-terbesar-2024-sn07c
[18] B. K. Sovacool, “Functional, symbolic and societal frames for automobility,” Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, vol. 118, pp. 730 746, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2018.10.016.
[19] L. Kisgyörgy and J. Tóth, “Fuzzy analysis of comfort along travel chains,” Transport, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 203 212, 2020, doi: 10.3846/transport.2020.12183.
[20] A. Madani and J. Ambarwati, “Subkultur anak muda dalam iklan kopi di Indonesia: Kajian semiotika Roland Barthes,” Semiotika Jurnal Ilmu Sastra Dan Linguistik, vol. 24, no. 2, p. 212, 2023, doi: 10.19184/semiotika.v24i2.31091.
[21] F. Aqeel and M. W. Ali, "Deciphering cultural myths: A semiotic analysis of selected advertisements," Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (JALT), vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 1716–1734, 2024.
[22] H. Suheri, S. Sosrohadi, T. Sulastri, R. Adinda, and C. Andini, “Semiotic analysis of signs and symbols in digital instant noodle advertisements: A Marcel Danesi approach,” Int. J. Res. Innov. Appl. Sci. (IJRIAS), vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 545–554, May 8, 2025, doi: 10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.10040045.
[23] I. A. Almaghribi and D. R. Himawati, “A semiotic analysis of IKEA’s visual metaphors: Exploring the symbolic language of advertising,” New Language Dimensions, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 135–147, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.26740/nld.v5n2.p135-147
[24] S. F. Laucereno, “Terkuak! Ini Alasan Ruang ATM Selalu Pakai AC 24 Jam,” detikFinance, Nov. 30, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://finance.detik.com/moneter/d-5275435/terkuak-ini-alasan-ruang-atm-selalu-pakai-ac-24-jam
[25] A. Dibda and H. A. Ahmad, “The role of visual imagery in building brand image and consumer purchase intention in the era of social media: A literature review,” J. Ekonom. Kreatif dan Manaj. Bisnis Digital, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 70–81, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.55047/jekombital.v4i1.981.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Siti Khodijah Lestari, Nurhayani Saragih

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.




