A Semiotics Analysis of Visual Vow and Meaning in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Movie

Abstract

This study analyzed he visual vow symbols and their meanings in the movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets ofDumbledore using Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. The research aimed to identify the visual vow elements and examine how they represent meaning through three levels of signification: denotation, connotation, and myth. A qualitative descriptive method was applied, with data collected from selected scenes in the movie that visually portray symbols of promise, loyalty, and moral conflict. The findings showedthat the movie has many symbols, especially the blood pact pendant and the Qilin, which are central to the visual vows. These symbols are more than just a way to tell a story; they also carry important feelings, beliefs, and cultural messages. The blood pact represents emotions like not giving in to them, being loyal, and being tricked. The Qilin stands for being good, being honest, and choosing the right person to lead. At the myth level, these visual elements contribute to broader cultural narratives about destiny, moral integrity, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. This study uses Barthes' semiotic ideas to show that the visual vow symbols in the movie have deeper meanings. These meanings are more than what they seem at first. They show how characters change and the different ideas that conflict in the movie. The research adds understanding of movie semiotics (the study of how film or movie use symbols) by looking at how visual symbols are used in fantasy movies to create stories and express cultural values.