Semiotic Analysis on The Podcast "How to Build Muscle" on Huberman Lab Clips YouTube Channel

Fadhlan Halim Hasan; Mahi A Hikmat; R. Myra Nur Sakinah

doi:10.31764/leltj.v13i1.31867

Semiotic Analysis on The Podcast "How to Build Muscle" on Huberman Lab Clips YouTube Channel

Fadhlan Halim Hasan, Mahi A Hikmat, R. Myra Nur Sakinah

Abstract

Nowadays, fitness podcasts are becoming popular, they now influence the public’s perception of science and the body. This study analyzes how Huberman Lab podcast episode “How to Build Muscle” explains scientific knowledge about muscle hypertrophy and is understood in different cultures. The most important part is to uncover the various meanings in the podcast’s words using Roland Barthes’ theory. A research design using qualitative methods. Data from the official podcast video and text were used, which were then studied through a model with three steps: reducing data, presenting it, and coming to conclusions. Barthes’ theory was used to find out the denotative, connotative, and myth meanings in certain chosen excerpts. It is found that scientific explanations in the podcast help transmit facts, yet also back up cultural views on having an ‘ideal body’, male/female differences, and the power of science. It is clear from the results that modern fitness discussion combines facts about biology with different ideologies. By exploring this area, the study helps readers gain a new way to view the role of scientific communication in popular media on people’s views of identity, health, and the body.

Keywords

Semiotics; Muscle Hypertrophy; Roland Barthes Theory; Podcast Communication

Full Text:

PDF

References

R. Lavircana, M. Herman, and M. A. Humaidi, “Penggunaan Podcast Sebagai Media Hiburan dan Informasi di Banjarmasin,” 2020, [Online]. Available: http://eprints.uniska-bjm.ac.id/3500/

E. E. Mertz, “Theory in Social and Cultural Anthropology: An Encyclopedia,” SAGE Publications, Inc., 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks California 91320 United States, 2013. doi: 10.4135/9781452276311.

I. R. A. Lintanganom, “Analisis Semiotika Makna Kesedihan pada Transcript Podcast Rintik Sedu Episode Jalan Pulang,” Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, 2022.

I. Aditya and I. F. Deni, “Analisis Semiotika Roland Barthes Pesan Dakwah Habib Husein Ja’far Al Hadar dalam Youtube Has Creative,” Ideas J. Pendidikan, Sos. dan Budaya, vol. 10, no. 3, p. 549, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.32884/ideas.v10i3.1844.

R. W. U. Martianto and A. Toni, “Analisis Semiotika Gaya Komunikasi Milenial Bambang Soesatyo melalui Youtube Podcast,” EKSPRESI DAN PERSEPSI J. ILMU Komun., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 13–28, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.33822/jep.v4i1.2351.

J. W. Creswell and J. D. Creswell, Research Design : Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 2018. doi: 10.4324/9780429469237-3.

N. S. Sukmadinata, Metode Penelitian Pendidikan. Bandung: Remaja Rosdakarya, 2017.

S. Arikunto, Prosedur Penelitian : Suatu Pendekatan Praktik. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta, 2010.

M. Miles and M. Huberman, An Expanded Sourcebook: Qualitative Data Analysis. London: Sage Publications, 1994.

A. Fitriani, “Environmental Awareness Message in The Posts of The Instagram Account ‘Systogreen.Id’ (A Study Of Roland Barthes’ Semiotic Analysis),” Pros. Int. Conf. Soc. Polit., pp. 1–22, 2025.

H. Ozaki, T. Abe, A. E. Mikesky, A. Sakamoto, S. Machida, and H. Naito, “Physiological Stimuli Necessary for Muscle Hypertrophy,” J. Phys. Fit. Sport. Med., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 43–51, 2015, doi: 10.7600/jpfsm.4.43.

O. A. Oktaviana and M. P. Aprilia, “Maskulinitas dalam Film Indonesia (Analisis Isi Kuantitatif Maskulinitas pada Film Aksi Indonesia Produksi 2011-2021),” J. Ilmu Komun. Andalan), vol. 5, no. 1, p. 22, 2019, [Online]. Available: https://vik.kompas.com/gelora-film-laga-

EBSCO, “Mythologies by Roland Barthes.” Accessed: May 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/mythologies-roland-barthes#:~:text=He introduces the concept of,version of complex social dynamics.

S. H. Jadou and I. M. M. M. Al Ghabra, “Barthes’ Semiotic Theory and Interpretation of Signs,” Int. J. Res. Soc. Sci. Humanit., vol. 11, no. 3, 2021, doi: 10.37648/ijrssh.v11i03.027.

L. Barbierik, M. Bacikova-Sleskova, and V. Petrovova, “The Role of Social Appearance Comparison in Body Dissatisfaction of Adolescent Boys and Girls,” Eur. J. Psychol., vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 244–258, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.5964/ejop.6443.

T. Johansson, “Gendered Spaces: the Gym Culture and the Construction of Gender,” YOUNG, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 32–47, Sep. 1996, doi: 10.1177/110330889600400303.

Y. Sui and M. Fan, “Reinterpreting Some Key Concepts in Barthes Theory,” J. Media Commun. Stud., vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 59–66, 2015, doi: 10.5897/jmcs2014.0412.

K. Madej, “Motivational Bodybuilding Videos As a Component of Discourse Influencing Perceptions of Masculinities,” Soc. Regist., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 117–134, 2021, doi: 10.14746/sr.2021.5.1.06.

R. Barthes, Mythologies: the Complete Edition, in a New Translation. New York: Hill and Wang, 2012.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31764/leltj.v13i1.31867