Reading Depression Through Urban Symbols: A Semiotic Analysis of Bestiary

Mass Communication Program, Faculty of Digital Communication and Hotel & Tourism, BINUS University, Indonesia

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Abstract

Depression remains a significant public health concern in Indonesia, particularly among men, where cultural norms often stigmatize emotional vulnerability. Environmental conditions, especially chronic exposure to air pollution, are increasingly recognized as contributing factors to depressive symptoms. This study examines how Bestiary, an Indonesian independent film, symbolically represents depression in relation to environmental degradation, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. as well as Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). Using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework and Andrik Purwasito’s nine validity tests, six scenes were analyzed to explore the symbolic meaning of visual elements. The findings reveal that Bestiary employs symbols such as dimly lit rooms, polluted urban skylines, and emotional outbursts in enclosed spaces to portray internal psychological turmoil. These scenes demonstrate how invisible environmental threats like air pollution can parallel hidden emotional suffering. The use of semiotic layers denotation, connotation, and myth highlights how Bestiary connects depressive states to environmental conditions. The study concludes that the film effectively represents depression through an environmental lens and exemplifies the role of independent cinema in advocating for mental health awareness.