Religion as an Arena of Conflict and Power: An Analysis of Genre, Representation, and Soap Opera Structure in the Series “Bidaah” (Season 1)

  • Fany Nanda Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Ima Khotimatunnisa Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Muhammad Ihsan Mauludin Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Dono Darsono Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
Keywords: Agama, Konflik, Kekuasaan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a textual analysis using coding techniques. This article aims to explain Christine Gledhill's theoretical framework on genre, representation, and soap opera, analyze how these three elements work in the Bidaah series, and discuss the implications of these findings in the context of the relationship between media and religion in contemporary popular culture. The results of this study have shown that the Bidaah Season 1 series is an analytically rich media text to examine how genre, representation, and soap opera structure work in an integrated manner in producing meaning. The findings of this study confirm Gledhill's central argument that popular media does not simply reflect social reality, but actively constructs it through specific mechanisms of genre, representation, and narrative structure. In the context of religious content, this construction has significant implications for how audiences understand and respond to religious issues in their social lives.

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Published
2026-10-13
How to Cite
Nanda, F., Khotimatunnisa, I., Mauludin, M., & Darsono, D. (2026). Religion as an Arena of Conflict and Power: An Analysis of Genre, Representation, and Soap Opera Structure in the Series “Bidaah” (Season 1). Al-Mada: Jurnal Agama, Sosial, Dan Budaya, 9(3), 674-689. https://doi.org/10.31538/almada.v9i3.10701