Social Stigma of COVID-19: A Semiotic Analysis of WHO Campaign Posters

COVID-19 has been reported to be risen in numbers of infected cases and deaths. The massive report by media social network which focus on the spreading infection may affect not only physical health but also individual’s general population’s mental health, isolation stigma. To eradicate COVID-19-related stigma discrimination perpetuated both individual group people, WHO exhibits some anti-stigma campaign posters. This study employs qualitative method acquire deep investigation meaning involve context. Thus, using Roland Barthes’s semiotic approach, analyzing signifiers signifieds, this was aimed unmask denotative connotative meanings embed within six posters Southeast Asia WHO. analysis focused verbal sign (linguistic text), its relation their visual (imagery messages). From two systems posters, result shows that connote acts discriminatory behaviours, stigmatization, stereotype blaming. Through propagates people work together fight bring out best humanity, have better awareness positive attitudes appeals governments, citizens, media, key influencers communities a role preventing stop surrounding South-Asia specifically Indonesia becomes target poster viewers during pandemic. Those messages are connoted through different font colors sizes illustration each poster.