MAKNA DESAIN KARAKTER “SI METON” PADA MASKOT PILKADA NTB TAHUN 2018
Authors: Hasbullah Hasbullah , Santosa Hendra , Swandi I Wayan 
Published: August 2020

Abstrak Pilkada NTB tahun 2018, media yang digunakan maskot yang bernama “Si Meton”. “Si Meton” sangat penting diteliti, karena diduga ada makna yang termuat melalui kode visualnya. Akan tetapi, makna dan kode tersebut belum tentu dipahami masyarakat NTB. Permasalahan dalam penelitian ini adalah tentang apa makna di balik kode-kode desain karakter “Si Meton”. Tujuan penelitian ini, untuk menganalisis makna melalui bahasa kode dalam “Si Meton”. Metode yang digunakan penelitian ini adalah kualitatif interpretatif dengan landasan teori kode Rolands Barthes. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Sumber data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara kepada R. Fany Printi Ardi sebagai desainer “Si Meton”, Ahmad Badrul Ula, suku Sasak sekaligus akademisi dalam  bidang seni budaya  dan Supandri, suku Mbojo sekaligus pengamat media. Teknik analisis dilakukan melalui reduksi data, penyajian dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil yang dicapai berupa makna-makna pada desain karakter “Si Meton” dilihat melalui bahasa kode proairetik dan kode budaya. Kesimpulannya, makna dilihat berdasarkan kode proairetik, terlihat tinta biru pada jari kelingking tangan kanan serta tangan kiri karakter “Si Meton”yang memasukkan kertas kedalam kotak suara sebagai makna promosi. Sedangkan dalam kode budaya terdapat pada ikon menjangan dan simbol pakaian adat pria Suku Sasak yang sebagai makna pengendali. Kata Kunci: Desain Karakter, Kode, Makna, Maskot, Pilkada NTB, Si Meton AbstractNTB elections in 2018, the media used by the mascot named Si Meton. Si Meton is very important to research because it suspected that there was a meaning that comes through the visual code. However, the interpretation and code are not necessarily intelligible by the people of NTB. The problem in this research is about what is the meaning behind the "Si Meton" character design codes. The purpose of this study, to analyze the meaning through code language in Si Meton. The method used in this research is interpretative qualitative based on Rolands Barthes code theory. Data collection techniques performed through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data sources collected through interviews with R. Fany Printi Ardi as Si Meton designer, Ahmad Badrul Ula, Sasak tribe as well as academics in the field of arts and culture and Supandri, Mbojo tribe as well as media observers. The analysis technique performed through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results achieved in the form of meanings on the Si Meton character design seen through the language of Proairetic codes and cultural codes. In conclusion, the mean is seen based on the Proairetic code, visible blue ink on the little finger of the right hand and left hand of Meton character who put the paper into the ballot box as a promotional meaning. Whereas in the cultural code contained in the icon and the symbol of traditional clothing on Sasak tribe men as the controller meaning.  Keywords: Character Design, Code, Mascot, Meaning, NTB Election, Si Meton