An Analysis of Disciplinary Power Through the Character of Paul Atreides in Dune (2021)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61492/calakan.v4i1.435Keywords:
character development, Film, surveillance, identity formation, disciplinary powerAbstract
This research analyzes how disciplinary power is represented through the character of Paul Atreides in the film Dune (2021) by drawing on Michel Foucault's theory of disciplinary power. As a political science fiction film, Dune (2021) depicts Paul's journey as the heir to House Atreides, who has been under strict supervision, training, and rules since his birth. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method to analyze scenes, dialogue, and visuals that demonstrate disciplinary practices such as surveillance, normalizing judgment, examinations, training of the body, habit formation, and internalization. The results show that power in Dune (2021) does not operate oppressively, but rather subtly through disciplinary mechanisms that shape Paul's behavior, identity, and self-awareness. This process transforms Paul from a young man under surveillance into someone who manages himself and is ready to become a leader. Overall, this research concludes that power in Dune (2021) plays a significant role in shaping Paul Atreides' identity through six mechanisms of disciplinary power.
References
Barasa, M., & Riyanto, F. X. A. (2023). Analisis Teori Kekuasaan Michel Foucault atas Propaganda Media dalam Membangun Diskursus Politik. Journal of Education, Humaniora and Social Sciences (JEHSS), 6(1), 188–195. https://doi.org/10.34007/jehss.v6i1.1785
Benente, M. (2017). Poder disciplinar e capitalismo em Michel Foucault. Revista de Estudios Sociales, 2017(61), 86–97. https://doi.org/10.7440/res61.2017.07
Fatwa, F., & Rahmawati, I. (2025). Structuration of power and symbolic violence in a short story The Poor Relations’ Story by Charles Dickens through Bourdieu’s thought. International Journal of Advances in Educational Research, 2(1), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.62941/ijaer.v2i1.118
Kaharuddin, K. (2020). Kualitatif: Ciri dan Karakter Sebagai Metodologi. Equilibrium: Jurnal Pendidikan, 9(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.26618/equilibrium.v9i1.4489
Liu, H. (2024). Foucault’s Study of Power Theory -- A Textual Study Based on Discipline and Punishment. Communications in Humanities Research, 33(1), 82–87. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7064/33/20240054
Maharani, D. G., & Nirmalawati, W. (2025). Power And Madness: A Foucauldian Analysis of Institutional Control in Shutter Island. Jurnal Basis, 12(1), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.33884/basisupb.v12i1.9805
Nururi, I., Yudianto, A., Abduh, M., & Kurniawan, F. (2025). Power, Resistance, and Religious Values: an Anthropological Study in The Film “Tuhan, Izinkan Aku Berdosa.” Ath-Thariq: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi, 9(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32332/ath-thariq.v9i1/tbv11q23
Rahayu, R. R., Ainusyamsi, F. Y., Mawardi, M., & Zulyatmi, Y. A. (2023). Relasi Kekuasaan Dalam Film Uwais Al-Qarni Karya Akbar Tahvilian (Kajian Hegemoni Foucault). Az-Zahra: Journal of Gender and Family Studies, 3(2), 46–60. https://doi.org/10.15575/azzahra.v3i2.20015
Rahmadi, D., Hilmi, N. D., & Umma, M. A. T. (2025). Wacana Relasi Kuasa Dalam Trailler Film Selepas Tahlil Dalam Perspektif Foucaultian. Relasi: Jurnal Penelitian Komunikasi (e-ISSN: 2807-6818), 5(04), 412–418. https://doi.org/10.69957/relasi.v5i04.2310
Rivai, M. H., & Nafisah, N. (2023). The portrayal of teacher’s domination in Whiplash: (2014) The Movie (Vol. 11, Issue 1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17509/psg.v11i1.56585
Shailja, S., & Pandey, B. D. (2024). Power and Knowledge: Foucault’s Discourse on Regulation and Resistances. Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL) A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Impact Factor, 6, 2321–3108. https://doi.org/10.33329/rjelal.12.3.21
Utama, N. G., & Dinanti, P. A. (2025). The Depiction of Power Relations in Wish (2023) Through Foucauldian Perspective. Language : Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra, 5(3), 188–197. https://doi.org/10.51878/language.v5i3.6526
Varela, D. T. (2024). Artificial Intelligence Law through the Lens of Michel Foucault: Biopower, Surveillance, and the Reconfiguration of Legal Normativity. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12(12), 189–201. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2024.1212012
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Septa Ayu Andini, Irma Rahmawati

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.







