A Discourse on Sexuality and Power in Two Indonesian Contemporary Movies

The restrictive discourse of sexuality; which is the result of the construction of knowledge and power regarding norms in Indonesian society, has made parents discipline the body/sexuality of their children. Sexuality is regulated by parents because it is feared that it can cause physical and moral damage to children. However, sex education in the family becomes problematic because discussions about sexuality are seen as taboo and inappropriate. This article aims to dismantle how sexuality is discussed, understood, and constructed in two Indonesian contemporary movies titled Dua Garis Biru (2019) and Keluarga Cemara (2019). These two films were analyzed by using Foucault’s critical discourse analysis method which includes the discursive formation of power, knowledge, and discourse using the principle of mise en scene. The findings in this study indicate that the parents in the films exercise their power by carrying out disciplinary mechanisms such as prohibition and punishment as their ways to avoid talking about sexuality with their children. As a consequence, discourse about the taboo on sexuality raises a dilemma in the family. On the one hand, parents are expected to be the controller of children’s sexuality, but on the other hand sexuality cannot be discussed in family institutions.