Analisis Persepsi Penonton Indonesia terhadap Representasi LGBT dalam Drama Thailand Kinn Porsche: Episode 8

This study aims to analyze Indonesian viewers' perceptions of LGBT representation in episode 8 of the Thai drama KinnPorsche. The main focus is on how audiences construct meaning from scenes depicting same-sex relationships, as well as how cultural and religious values influence the decoding process. This study uses a constructivist paradigm and a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collection methods consisting of structured interviews with seven informants aged 17 years and above who have watched the episode. The data were analyzed using the interactive analysis model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, which includes data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion drawing.
The results of the study indicate that viewers' responses to LGBT representation are diverse: ranging from rejection, negotiation, to acceptance, which are greatly influenced by media exposure, cultural background, and religious beliefs. Viewers with high exposure to BL dramas tend to be more open and focus on emotional aspects and character dynamics, while conservative viewers show strong resistance to LGBT content, though some begin to show empathy after witnessing the emotional depth in the story. Episode 8 was chosen because it explicitly depicts the development of Kinn and Porsche's relationship both emotionally and sexually, sparking various reactions and interpretations from viewers. This study confirms that LGBT representation in media is not merely accepted or rejected but actively processed by audiences according to their socio-cultural frameworks. This research is expected to contribute to studies on communication, gender representation, and audience dynamics within global popular culture.