EXPRESSION OF LOSS AND THE PROCESS OF SINCERITY: THE MEANING OF TIKTOK USERS IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THE SONG “SESI POTRET” BY EŃAU ft. ARI LESMANA

This study examines how TikTok users express the meanings of "loss" and "sincerity" in the song "Sesi Potret" by Eńau and Ari Lesmana. Using qualitative research, this study employs Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis to analyze the denotative and connotative meanings of the song's lyrics, and Stuart Hall's Reception Analysis to examine TikTok users' interpretations of the lyrics of "Sesi Potret," which are often used as background music for videos, implying loss and the difficult process of acceptance. Using semiotic theory, the authors found that the song serves as a reminder and expression of the loss of a loved one and the difficult process of acceptance for those experiencing loss. TikTok users' interpretations of the song are divided into dominant readings and negotiated readings, depending on the events currently or previously experienced by the users. This study contributes to an understanding of how the meanings of "loss" and "sincerity" are produced, represented, and internalized in each individual's life.