Unmasking Premanism: Representation of Institutional Violence in Sukatani's Song “Bayar Bayar Bayar” -
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Abstract
This study seeks to examine how premanism (gangsterism) is represented in the song “Bayar Bayar Bayar” by Sukatani, using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework alongside Stuart Hall’s theory of representation. The song was selected due to its explicit critique of illegal levies and informal power exercised by members of the police force—particularly within the realm of public service in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research analyzes the lyrics through denotative, connotative, and mythological readings. The findings suggest that “Bayar Bayar Bayar” functions as a critical commentary on the police as a legal institution whose public trust has been steadily eroding. The study identifies three dominant myths embedded in the lyrics: (1) the police as guardians of the people; (2) the cultivation of premanism through neo-institutional mechanisms; and (3) the illusion of freedom of expression. Ultimately, the song emerges as a vehicle for artistic resistance—communicating socio-political criticism through widely accessible musical platforms and offering a symbolic challenge to injustices sanctioned by the state.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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