REPRESENTASI ETNIS DALAM PROGRAM TV MASTERCHEF (Analisis Semiotika Program Acara Masterchef Season 11 di Stasiun Televisi RCTI)

Technological advancements have had a significant impact, making television a powerful medium in shaping public opinion, culture, and lifestyle. Various television programs often showcase content that reflects the identity of the individuals involved. One such program is the cooking show MasterChef, which serves as a platform for representing the ethnic diversity of its participants. This study aims to examine the ethnic representation of contestants in MasterChef Indonesia Season 11, aired on RCTI, through a semiotic analysis.
The analysis in this research adopts Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic approach. The study examines three main elements of this theory: sign (representamen), object, and interpretant. Furthermore, the object is classified into three categories: icon, index, and symbol. The analysis focuses on both verbal and non-verbal aspects presented by the contestants, which are then categorized based on Peirce’s semiotic elements.
This research employs a qualitative approach with an interpretative type and content analysis method. Data was collected through documentation techniques by analyzing videos uploaded on @MasterChefIndonesia's YouTube account. The analysis was carried out systematically, starting from episode selection, identification of signs, data recording, data collection, and finally, report compilation.
The findings indicate that ethnic representation in MasterChef Indonesia Season 11 is not solely dependent on the language used by the contestants. Additionally, it was found that clothing, accents, and cultural elements presented do not always reflect the participants' original cultural backgrounds. However, the study also reveals inaccuracies in ethnic representation within the show, both in the selection of cultural symbols and how contestants portray their identities.