DENJI'S MALE VULNERABILITY IN TATSUKI FUJIMOTO'S CHAINSAW MAN: A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY IN THE BOMB GIRL ARC

FADILLAH ZAYDAN PUTRA, . (2026) DENJI'S MALE VULNERABILITY IN TATSUKI FUJIMOTO'S CHAINSAW MAN: A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY IN THE BOMB GIRL ARC. Sarjana thesis, UNIVERSITAS NEGERI JAKARTA.

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Abstract

This undergraduate thesis is entitled “Denji’s Male Vulnerability in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man: A Semiotic Analysis of Hegemonic Masculinity in the Bomb Girl Arc.” This research aims to analyse how Denji’s male vulnerability is constructed through visual and narrative signs and how this vulnerability shows his negotiation of hegemonic masculinity. The object of this research is Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga Chainsaw Man, specifically the Bomb Girl Arc in Chapters 39–52. To achieve this, the researcher employs Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory to analyse visual and verbal signs in the selected manga panels, Judith Butler’s gender performativity to interpret masculinity as performed through speech, action, body, desire, and emotion, and R. W. Connell’s hegemonic masculinity to explain how Denji’s masculine performance conforms to, challenges, or negotiates dominant masculine expectations. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method with a descriptive-interpretative approach. The data consist of twenty-one selected panels and dialogues that show Denji’s vulnerability through emotional suppression, fear of exposure, romantic desire, betrayal, forgiveness, attempted escape, and institutional control. The findings show that Denji’s vulnerability is constructed through the contrast between his physical strength as Chainsaw Man and his emotional instability as Denji. His tears, exhausted body, hesitation, dependence on Makima’s recognition, desire for Reze’s affection, flowers, backpack, and failed escape become important signs of his unstable masculinity. Denji sometimes follows masculine expectations by hiding weakness, controlling emotion, and using sexual humour, but he also challenges them through care, forgiveness, emotional openness, and the desire to choose his own future. However, his agency remains limited because Makima and Public Safety control the possibilities available to him. Based on these findings, Denji’s male vulnerability is not portrayed as simple weakness, but as a way to reveal the instability of hegemonic masculinity. Through the Bomb Girl Arc, Chainsaw Man presents masculinity as fragile, relational, and constantly negotiated within emotional and institutional power relations. ************************************************************ Skripsi ini berjudul “Denji’s Male Vulnerability in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man: A Semiotic Analysis of Hegemonic Masculinity in the Bomb Girl Arc.” Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bagaimana kerentanan laki-laki Denji dibangun melalui tanda-tanda visual dan naratif, serta bagaimana kerentanan tersebut menunjukkan negosiasi Denji terhadap maskulinitas hegemonik. Objek penelitian ini adalah manga Chainsaw Man karya Tatsuki Fujimoto, khususnya Bomb Girl Arc pada Bab 39–52. Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, penelitian ini menggunakan teori semiotika Roland Barthes untuk menganalisis tanda visual dan verbal dalam panel manga yang dipilih, teori performativitas gender Judith Butler untuk menafsirkan maskulinitas sebagai sesuatu yang ditampilkan melalui ucapan, tindakan, tubuh, hasrat, dan emosi, serta konsep maskulinitas hegemonik R. W. Connell untuk menjelaskan bagaimana performa maskulinitas Denji mengikuti, menantang, atau menegosiasikan harapan maskulin yang dominan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif-interpretatif. Data penelitian terdiri dari dua puluh satu panel dan dialog terpilih yang menunjukkan kerentanan Denji melalui penekanan emosi, ketakutan untuk terlihat lemah, hasrat romantis, pengkhianatan, pengampunan, usaha untuk melarikan diri, dan kontrol institusional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kerentanan Denji dibangun melalui kontras antara kekuatan fisiknya sebagai Chainsaw Man dan ketidakstabilan emosionalnya sebagai Denji. Air mata, tubuh yang lelah, keraguan, ketergantungan pada pengakuan Makima, keinginan terhadap kasih sayang Reze, bunga, ransel, dan kegagalan untuk melarikan diri menjadi tanda penting dari maskulinitas Denji yang tidak stabil. Denji terkadang mengikuti harapan maskulin dengan menyembunyikan kelemahan, mengendalikan emosi, dan menggunakan humor seksual. Namun, ia juga menantang harapan tersebut melalui kepedulian, dan pengampunan. Akan tetapi, agensi Denji tetap terbatas karena Makima dan Public Safety mengontrol kemungkinan yang tersedia baginya. Berdasarkan temuan tersebut, kerentanan laki-laki Denji tidak digambarkan sebagai kelemahan sederhana, melainkan sebagai cara untuk menunjukkan ketidakstabilan maskulinitas hegemonik. Melalui Bomb Girl Arc, Chainsaw Man menghadirkan maskulinitas sebagai sesuatu yang rapuh, relasional, dan terus dinegosiasikan dalam relasi emosional dan kekuasaan institusional.

Item Type: Thesis (Sarjana)
Additional Information: 1). Tesaannisa, S.S., M.Hum. 2). Hasnini Hasra, S.Pd., M.Hum.
Subjects: Ilmu Sosial > Kondisi Sosial,Masalah Sosial,Reformasi Sosial
Ilmu Sosial > Komunitas Sosial, Ras dan Kelompok
Bahasa dan Kesusastraan > Sastra Inggris
Divisions: FBS > S1 Sastra Inggris
Depositing User: Fadillah Zaydan Putra .
Date Deposited: 19 Aug 2026 09:23
Last Modified: 19 Aug 2026 09:23
URI: http://repository.unj.ac.id/id/eprint/72254

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