Cyberbullying Codes in Short Films A Semiological Approach to the Film "Are You Okay?" A Case Study

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the codes of cyberbullying in short films, uncover their connotative dimensions, and analyze their iconic and linguistic messages (sound, image, movement). The selected film, "Are You Okay?", was subjected to a semiological analysis employing a textual analysis approach. The objective was to deconstruct the symbolic codes and reveal the underlying messages that the director utilized to convey specific ideas to the audience regarding the phenomenon of cyberbullying.

The study concluded that a diversity of iconic and linguistic codes were used to embody cyberbullying in the film. It also highlighted the depth of their inherent semantic dimensions, which reveal deliberate and circulated abuse towards the victims of this behavior, an impact amplified by its association with social media platforms. The film relied on a coding system that produced meaning through these codes and conveyed a message of awareness that calls for solidarity and empathy.