Summary: | Power in social reality, not only spins on a rigid structural circuit in political
institutions. However, the power is everywhere as proposed by Michel Foucault. This
study stressed that contemporary power uses new tactics and �powerful� through media
as its instrument both print and electronic, particularly this paper emphasizes on
television. Television uses text and discourse in constructing and perpetuating �power�.
One of the blossoming site of a discourse instrument is an infotainment program on
television, which is shown in its discourse on pornography involved Ariel and Luna
Maya. This study uses the CDA methods (Critical Discourse Analysis) proposed by
Norman Fairclough, which in this analysis the data obtained from the text in the
infotainment and in-depth interview with media managers and audience. The theory used
is Michel Foucault�s discourse and Antonio Gramsci�s hegemony. Discourse is seen as a
�weapon� of conquest and hegemony is seen as a method of conquering the people
(audience).
Text or discourse in the infotainment program, which aired through television is
part of the discourse that shocked the people in 2010. Ariel Peterpan and Luna Maya, two
of the top and most popular artists at the time, were fragile to be made news in
infotainment programs. At the very period, three consecutive days (6-8 June 2010) the
infotainment rating rose up 25 percent. This means that with the news that display
pornography in the infotainment, the program not only presents information or
knowledge, let alone education. However, infotainment became the entertainment
program that puts sensational news to attract audience to win the market.
Two of infotainment programs, Silet and I Gosip Pagi, and the above
pornography discourse, was an entrance as well as representation to track and
understanding what is actually constructed in infotainment. In accordance with a critical
discourse analysis, text is the first instrument for understanding the phenomenon. Then
proceed with the discourse practice and socio-cultural practices. This research finds some
important things. Starting from the result of the first analysis, text, it was found that the
text in the narrative (scripwriter) infotainment was full of sensational words and
language, metaphors and exaggeration of the news. Second, discourse practice, the
manager of infotainment (producer/reporter) explained that the infotainment put more
priority on attractive news for pursuing profit. Third, socio-cultural practice, it was found
that infotainment more as an program is entertaining. This means the infotainment have
been able to construct a false consciousness in the life of the people wrapped with
entertainment containing any kind of life-style. Of the three steps, it can be understood
that the infotainment was mainly designed for profit, market, and interests of politicaleconomic
of media which was very capitalistic.
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