The Representation of Beauty Through Linguistics Expression in the Film the Ugly Stepsister

Abstract

This study examines the representation of beauty through linguistic expressions in the film The Ugly Stepsister (2025), directed by Emilie Blichfeldt. Beauty is considered a social and cultural construct influenced by societal values, media, and prevailing norms. In films, language functions as a medium for expressing attitudes, judgments, and perceptions of beauty. Therefore, this study aims to identify the linguistic expressions used to represent beauty and analyze how the characters use language to describe and evaluate beauty in the film. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a sociolinguistic approach. The data source consists of dialogues from The Ugly Stepsister that contain expressions related to beauty and physical appearance. The data were collected through watching the film, selecting relevant utterances, and transcribing the dialogues. The collected data were then analyzed using sociolinguistic theories to reveal the social meanings embedded in language use. The findings are expected to show that beauty is represented through various linguistic expressions, such as compliments, descriptions, comparisons, and evaluative judgments concerning physical appearance. These expressions reflect how beauty standards are socially constructed and communicated through language. The study is expected to contribute to the field of sociolinguistics, particularly in understanding the relationship between language, society, and the representation of beauty in media. Furthermore, the findings may serve as a reference for future researchers interested in language use and social representation in films.