Resepsi Mahasiswa terhadap Film Bajakan “Avengers: Endgame” (Studi Resepsi pada Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi Angkatan 2018 Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang)

The widespread consumption of pirated films by university students, including Avengers: Endgame, reflects the social and cultural dynamics of digital media access. This study examines how Communication Science students at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang receive and interpret these pirated films within the context of media reception. The focus of the research is on personal interpretations and audience decoding positions.
This study utilizes Stuart Hall's Reception Theory framework, which maps audience positions in understanding media: dominance, negotiation, and opposition. It also refers to the concept of active audiences and the construction of meaning in digital media-based mass communication, taking into account the students' social context.
This study employed a qualitative approach, a reception study, and used focus group discussions (FGDs) as a data collection technique. The subjects were five Communication Science students from the 2018 intake who had unofficially watched Avengers: Endgame.
The results indicate that student reception falls into three decoding positions, with a tendency toward negotiation. Students are aware of the legal aspects but continue to consume pirated films due to social pressure, limited access, and the need for self-actualization. This study recommends media literacy strategies based on the students' social context.