Stand-Up Comedy as Social Criticism: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Mens Rea by Pandji Pragiwaksono

This study examines the construction and communication of social criticism in Pandji Pragiwaksono’s stand-up comedy performance, Mens Rea. Stand-up comedy now functions as a prominent medium for public communication. Comedians frequently use humor, satire, and irony to engage with political and social issues. Despite this shift, research on the discursive construction of social criticism and its connection to ideology and power remains limited. To address this gap, this study analyzes Mens Rea using Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) alongside Michel Foucault's concept of power relations. This qualitative research collected data from selected verbal texts within the performance. We applied Fairclough's three-dimensional framework, which includes textual analysis, discursive practice, and social practice. The analysis shows that Pragiwaksono uses specific lexical choices, metaphors, repetition, satire, and irony. These linguistic tools successfully transform public issues into critical discourse. Furthermore, the performance highlights ideological struggles concerning democracy, public policy, and social inequality. It frames humor as a symbolic resistance against dominant power structures. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that stand-up comedy acts as a discursive arena that fosters critical reflection in democratic communication.