PROS Rachel Mediana Untung Decoding Communication fulltext

257

l9
DECODING COMMUNICATION SIGN IN PERFORMANCE
RachelMedianaUntung,S.Sos.,
M.A.
Facultyof Performance
Art, SatyaWacanaChristianUniversitySalatiga
mediana.
untung@staff.
uksw.edu
ABASTRACT
The aim of this study is to explore the sign of communication in the performance. This
study is based on the cultural studiesperspective. The subject of the researclt is the audience of
Classic Concert, Musical Theater,and Cultural Cantival in Satya Wacana Christian (Jniversity
Salatiga. The research unit are the behavior of the audience. The audience behavior expresses
before, while and ending the performonce qre conseidered as verbal and non-verbal signs. A
non-verbal sign is the audience geslures that are divided into several categories, namely
proxemic, chronemics, kinestics,phStsicalapperance, haptics, paralanguage and artifacts. The
way of knowing such process of communication is necessaryto decode alt of the verbal and
non-verbal signs.

This study uses a qualitative approach which consistsof three stages: data collection,
data processing, and data analysis. It used in-depth interviews to collect the datafrom s both the
audience and the organizers of Classic Concert, Musical Theater and Cultural Carnival. The
idea of non-verbal communication can be reflected in the form of proxemic , cronemics ,
physical appearance, haptics, paralangguage and artifacts. Procemics. indicate distance that
people have from other people. Chronemics sign indicates appreciation of time. physical
apperancesign showsphysical appearanceand how to dress up. Haptics sign indicates a need in
touch with other people. Paralanguage signs indicate that the performances allow for the
expressionof the human voice to explore emotions while watching the performance. The results
showed that during theperformance, the audience communicatedin a dffirent ways.
Key wordsz performance, communication,sign, verbal, non-verbal

J.Introduction
A performanceis a dialectic processfrom four players; sources,producers,perfonners,
and partakerss(Schechner,2002:215).
A sourceis partiesthat createthe performance.It could be
the writers, composers,choreographers,
and drama scripters.A producer is a personwho has a
task to realize the idea from the sourcers.Marvin Carlson arguesthat "A play cannot speak for
itself; one must conjure its sound from it" (Schechner,216). Carlson's opinion meansthat, an

258
idea or a script or the compositionof danceand music will not "be attentive"when it is not
playedor performed.The perfonnersis the actor itself. It could be the musician,dancer,or the
playerfrom the performance.
The fourth playeris the paratakers,or the audience.The audience
couldbe the peoplewho seethe performance,thejudgeswhentheperformanceis a festival,and
the admirers(or the fans).Paratakers
not only receivethe actionof the show,but sometimeseven
activelyget involvedin the performance.
RichardSchechner's
namefour playersmentionbefore
in a Performance
Quadriloqueas illustratedbelow.

Figure l. The Performance
Quadriloque
( Source: RichardSchechner,
2002:215)
From the illustrationabove,the four playersare connectedeachother.The sourcerhave

an interactionto the producers,performers,and paratakers.This illustratethat the four players
connectin a similar ways. In fact, the player movesin a specificprocess,also the producer.
Schechner
inclinedto choosea modelfor dialogueto four playerstheZ-pathasbelow.

Figure2. TheZ-pathPerformance
Quadriloque
( Source: RichardSchechner,
2002:215)

259
Generally,a performanceshouldbe startedfrom source,for example,the compositionof
music by a particularcomposer.The producersand the theaterproductionteamwill realizethe
particularcompositionof musicalofferingsfrom the sources.The playeror the performersplay
all kinds of play which the producersneed. The performerpresentsthe performancelike a
concertin a public performance. This dialecticmechanismaboveshowsus the relationshipof
communicationbetweenthe players.
Gregory Bateston believes that any kind of art has a special form of communication
(Turino, 2008:3). According Bateston, art has an integrative function becauseof integrating and
uniting the member of social groups.

He explained that when al artist presents their

imagination, sensationand experience,they communicate through their art forms. The audience
or the members of the community will feel a part of the artist world. In this situation, the
audience has a connection with the art forms that the artist has created. In this point, Bateston
suggestedthat music and dance create and communicate emotion and meaning through signs.
Signs in CharlesSandersPierce's view can be anything that is perceivedby an observerwhich
stands for or calls to mind someoneelse and whichch createsan effect in the observer (Buchler,
1955:99).In what casecould a sign be expressedby the audience?In this study, the sign is the
audiencebehavior.
When we learn the study of communication whicli

is about the process of

communication, we will observe the varieties of model of communication. Many models of
communication have been proposed to see how information passesfrom one point to another.
David Berlo proposed a model that emphasizeson how attributes of the four major elements
(source, message,channel, and receiver) affect communication (BurgoonandRuffner,1977:21-22).
In SMCR model, a processof performance is started from the sources.The source is the creator

of the messageand itt could be the writers, composers,choreographers,and drama scripters.The
message is the translation of ideas into a symbolic code such as language and gestures. In
performance,we will recognizethe communicationbehavior of the audiencein a verbal and a
non verbal:ways.The channel is the medium through which the messageis carried. Many kind of
art tbrms in performance that could be recognized as a channel such as concert, recitation,
carnival, dance,drama, and theater.The latest, the receiver, is the person (or a group) who is the
target of communication. Similar with the Marvin Carlson idea above, performance should be

260
:
performedto the people.The peopleor the audienceis the receiverof the eommunication
processor the target.Throughthe model of communicationand in Schechner'performance
we will understand
Quadriloque
thatperformance
is partof thestudiesof communication.
Berlo's modelemphasizes
on the importanceof the needfor encoders
anddecodersin
the communication

process.It shouldbe obviousthat encodingand decoriingrs a continuous
process.The encodingfunctionis'the situationwhen peopleproducea verbaland
non verbal
message.
The decodingfunctionis the situationwhenpeopletranslatea verbalandnon verbal
message.
Sincethis discussion
is aboutthe decodingof communication
signin performanee,
so
thediscussion
will be focusedon theaudiencebehavior.
In a situationof directcommunication
(faceto face)the signis indicatedby the soundof
the voice,looks,physicalappearance,
which is generallyregardedas the verbaland non-verbal
communication.
Verbal communication
is communication
that is symbolizedby ianguages.

A
non-verbalcommunication
is embodiedin the expression.
Therearesevenmodelsof non-verbal
communicationexpression,namely proxemic, chronemics,kinesics,physical appearance,
haptics,paralanguage
andartifacts.Proxemicis how peopleusethearea(spa6e)in everydaylife.
Chronemicsis the way peopleuse time. Kinesicsis the aspectof appearance
(visual)of the
behavior(gesture,facialexpression,
andthe expression
ofthe eyes).physicalappearance
is how
to look attractiveto otherpeople.Hapticsis the useof touchin communication.
paralangulage
is
the use of sound communication.Artifacts is how physical objects around shows
that the
communication
is done.This studywas conductedto revealany sign of communication

both
verbalandnon-verbalas well as the interpretationof the signsof the form of communication
in
theclassicconcert,Musicalrheaterandthe cultural carnival.
This rqsearchernploys a qualitative approach.There are three stage;data collection,
data
processing,and data analysis. The researchinstrument used was in-depth
interviews to both the
audienceand the organizersof ClassicConcert,Musical Theaterand Cultural Carnival.
The scopeanalysisin this research is the behaviorof the audiencebefore,while
and after
the perfonnance' The behavior, both verbal and non-verbal communication is
a sign in this
context. In each prosess(before, while and after) the audiencemay react in a different
kinds of

261.

behavior.All of the reactionis a part of the communicationsign. This study will describethe
varietiesof communication

signs.
II. Communication Sign Before the Performance
Audience may react before the performance begins is a about their preparation. What
kind of preparation is what kind of physical appearance and choosing a friend who will
accompany them. A person who comes in a performance prepares themselves reflect the
motivation of their coming. In a verbal communication, the audience can explain their
preparation from what kind of cloths, the shoes, accessories,and make up they wear. A
photographs could show data of a non-verbal communication. From photographs we could
describe how the physical apparanceofthe audience.It describe that audienceuses neat shirts,
neat trousers, neat dresses,jackets, t-shirts, trunks, sports shoes, sandals,sports bag, soft make
up, simple accessories,and using hat. The informant of the Classic Concert argue that they
prepareein a good physical appearance.A ClassicalConcert usually has a watching etiquette.
When watching a classical concert in a Symphonic Hall Jakarta, for example, all the audience
should obey the watching etiquette. In the watching etiquette, the organizer usually mentions
their policy about the audience duty. For example, the audience should come on time-be 15
minutes before, already have a dinner, could not bring foods or beverages,uses a formal cloths,
and wearing a standard accessories/jewelry. All of the audience should understand that
regulationbeforethe performancebegins.
Since the researchwas conducted in a three differ events,it shows differences in physical
appearance. Audience only uses their daily life cloths when watching the Cultural Carnival.

With no preparation, or no regulation, the people come to the streetwatching the event. Since the
Cultural Carnival held in the aftemoon when many routine ac{ivities is held like schools, offices
and bussinesactivities, many people surprised when the carnival pass them. Some teacher who
uses fheir batiks uniform came out from their cJassesto se€ what happen. Some of the people
who passed by using vehicle just slow down or stopped and watch near their motorcycle or
watch in their car. Since the Musical Theater was held in a hall not like held in a street for
Cultural Carnival, the audiencehas prepared for it. Audience should order a ticket for that show.
With a ticket, the organizer will set the number of chair. From the researchdata, the audience
preparedthemselves.They used appropriatecloths, like a neat t-shirts, shirts, dress,shoes,and

262
using a soft makeup. Although the audiencepreparedthemselvesin a good looking style, but
they felt free to choosea physical appearance.This is different from the audienceof Classic
Concert.The audiencepreparedthemselves,and in addition,they neededto have a dinner betbre.
Since a Classic Concert usually has rules, the qudienceprepare themselvesto obey it. In the
infonnation which mentions in the banner, "uses fonnal cloths" the audience translate that
inforrnation Jo wear neat cloths not sport cloths. Although the audiencemay not notice the
policy, the organizer want to show that watching concerts need a physical appearanceculture. In
a good physical apperancecould expressthe morality, the religion and the politic perspectiveof
the audience.

Beside physical appearance,who accompanywatching the performanceis a part of the
motivation. The researchdata explains that there are varieties of ages (all ages) watching
perfonnance.Childrens,teenagers,adults, and elders€ome for watching. Since the tendencyof
watching performancesis not to watching alone, this expressa sign that social relationship is
needed.This statementis similar with Janet Wolff which mention in her book "The Social
Productionof Art" that art is a collectiveproduct (Wolffl t98l :27).
A minutes before the performance began, the audience pay attention each other. In the
Musical Theater and Classic Concert, the audiencegive a smile or shakehandsto the people they
know. Not only that, they could take a picture or give a gentle kiss in a cheek, and talking each
others before the performance begin. This is part a non-verbal sign as a haptics or use of touch
(Burgoon,1977:l4l-143). Using haptics in every culture couldn't separatewith their contexts.In
this case,haptics as communication sign in performance is used to aware for, sympathize with,
and interestwith (Burgoon,1977:142).Using haptics in a Cultural Carnival is not clear enoughFrom the researchdata, the audience of Cultural Carnival doesn't shake hands or give a gentle
kiss. Mostly the audienceconcentratethemselvesto the performancewhich will passnear them.
They didn't show their interestto other peoplebesidethem.
Being on time or not is neededfor watching an eventwhich held inside a building as like
Classic Concert and Musical Theater.In ClassicConcert,the organizermakesa rule of opening
and closing the door. When the compositianis played,the door should be closedso the audience
who are late should wait outside from the door. After the player finished the composition, the
committee will open the door and the audiencecould come inside the building. The organizeerof

263
Musical Theaterdidn't makerule of this and in actually,peoplewho comelate at any time are
welcometo go insidethe building. This situationis not comfortablefor the audiencewho come
on time and sitting in their chair becausethey saw people mobile in front of their sight. In
Cultural Carnivaliss not being on time or not, but the time dimesionof the event.If someone
wantsto seeit, they shouldcomeand seeit. The carnivalsheld in the streetand peoplecould
comefrom many sideof the city at the durationof the event.Use of time or chronemicsin nonverbal communicationis part of sequencingof activities (Burgooq 1977:135).The timing
messagehave an importantpatternespeciallywhen audiencecouldn't be on time, they express
their unrespectfor theperformancethey seen.
In the Classic Concert,audiencecould choosewhere to seat. Choosingseatsis an
individualdecision.Audiencecould choosein the front line, middle line and in the,backline of
the seatinside the hall. The audiencewho come on time, they will have a free decisionfor
ing seats.But whenthe performancealreadybegins,the audiencehasa limited decisionof
finding the seat.They will sit in a chair that is empty or not sit by someone.A reason choosing a

could be explainedby understanding
the territoriality. Territoriality is a part of nonverbal
ication as a prosemic or use of space (Burgoon, 1977: 130-133).This kind of distance

reflectsus and others.A personwill sit different side or sit in a long distanceto a personwho
islike. Distanceexpressesa sign how people communicate.Choosing"seat,both in Classic
andMusicalTheateris baseon of personalspace.
II. Communication Sign While the Performance
When the performance is start, audience show a differ reaction for the performance. In
Itural Carnival the audiencestandsup or sits down anywhere and waits for the line. Since the
rnival was participate in many of cultural groups, the audienceneed to be patient while watch

I the perfonnance.Differ from the performancein the street,inside the building, audience
ld sit calmly. In this situation,the audienceshouldsit down tight and only react in their
itting. They couldn't walk around inside the building or constantly change places for sitting.
the performancebegan,the audienceshould notice the rules of watching the perforrnance
the committee. Both Classic Concert and Musical Theater announcedto the audienceto be
orderly manner while watching. Since this kind of rules are not in a detail message,the

could interpretivewidely. In the three events,the audienceexpresstheir feeling by
:

showingtheir smile to the performancethey seen,starringto the cultural group,pointing with
their finger for the performancewhich pass,giving an applause,giving commentabout the
performanceto their friendsor spouses,sit calmly, eatingand drinking,leaningtheir headin the
werepart of
chair,hugging,and texting a messagein their phones. Thesevarietiesexpressions
1977:136sign of kinesics.Kinesicsis the visualaspectsof behavior(Burgoon,
communication
andeyebehavior.Kinesics
137).ltcouldbe a movementandposture,gesture,facialexpression
carriesso much informationbecausethereare so many differentreactionsthat canbe varied as
messageelements.Every part if the body can be manipulatedand givesrise to endlesspossible
aremeaningful.Desmond
combinationsof features.Mostly all of the featuresor the expressions
Morris explainedthe varietiesof signalsof humanbehaviorin understandingthe non verbal
(Morris,1977)"Allof behaviorin Morrisperspective
hasa meaning.
communication
Hence talk*rg of kinesics feature, the sound of voice becomeimportant to. White
watchingCulturalCarnivaland TheaterMusical, someof audienceshoutor yelling a nameof a
personthey known. They react is not in a gentle voice but a loud voice. When a hall is
constructedin a good acousticsystem,the gentle voice could be heard,and especiallya loud
voice. Someaudiencereactsin a spontantlyreaction,not only yelling, but making noiseslike
heem...heem....or
ndeso...Peopleuse voice in a differentvolumehas a
..,.siut...suit....or
meaning.With a gently voice, peopledon't want many peoplehear it. How peopleuse their
is not
or useof voice (Burgoon,1977:134-144).Parclanguage
soundvoiceis calledparalinguage
talking aboutthe meaningof the word but talking abouthow peopleuse the voice. From this
paralanguage
sign, audiencein Musical Theatershowsdeeplyinvolved the performancethey
seen.In a ClassicConcertbecomemore calm, not only thereno yelling or loud voice, but the
audienceonly usesapplauseto reactof the compositionthat theplayermade.
IV. CommunicationSignAfter the Performance

:

When a performancehaven't end and the audienceare leaving quickly, there's a
Why they arenot comfortablewill be the organizerhomework.In this study,someone
messages.
leave before ending the show expressa messagethat the audienceis not comfortable.In an
interviewto the audiencewho leaveearlier,they feel unhappyor bore from watchingthe eventThis is part of kinesic communicationsign. Sincethe door was in an open close systems,thc
audienceof ClassicConcertwas in a hury to the door for not makeit closewhen they needto

265
passed.But not only in ClassicConcert,but audiencein Musical Theaterrushesfrom the show
before it end. Hence Cultural Carnival is held in a public spacein a sequencetime, public or
audiencecould be on time or not. So time is not the importantvalue in communicationsign for a
Cultural Carnival.
The audiencestandsfrom their seat and walk through the door. While they walk, they
speakto their friends or nodding or shakehandsor kiss gentle in the cheek.Not only that, they
want to capture this moment in a picture so the audiencetake a photogxaphs.This is part of
kinesics as a communicationsign. This situation could be seenin Classic Concert and Musical
Theater.Ending the Carnival,or ending the line of a group of camivals,it's hard to seethe social
relation reactionsas we seein the ClassicConcertand Musical Theater.
The last nonverbalcode is artifacts.Artifacts are the use of the envirolment and objecrs
within it (Burgoon,1977:144-145).
Using the hall is part of artifacts.In this case.ClassicConcert
and Musical Theateruse a huge hall which has around 1.000seats.As a building. the hall have a
wall eachside. A good lighting and a comfortablechair can be use for the event.Although there
are no air condition, but the air is fresh and circular atmosphere.In theseartifacts.the policy of
organizeris for making the audiencecomfort, as like neat the lining chair or a friendly usher
while the audienceentersthe door. Sincethat, the committeearrangesa rule to be obeyedby the
audience.This is differing to the Cultural Carnival. Since this event is
il'public spaceor in the
street,the artifactsare the streetitself, the sidewalk of the street.and building around the street.
The artifacts have no wall so people from different side of ciry could see the performance.
Hence this situation,the organizerdon't announcea rule of u.atchingcarnival. There is no kind
of regulation for the audienceor public. Peoplecould just standup, or sit in the small bench or
sit on the potter of the plant in the side walk, or sit on their vehicles.Peoplecould come out from
the building and no worries to be late to seethe performance.
V. Conclusion
This study is to explore what kind of verbal and nonverbal communicationbecome a
communicationsign in performance.Since this researchis a qualitative approach,the data of
verbal and nonverbal communication been analysis in a descriptive analysis. As like Berlo

266

suggest,the communicationprocessshould be decodeand interpretivethe communicationto
find the resultof communication.
To understandthe nonverbalcommunication,from the three event showsus a differ
communication.Carnivalbecomea relax event for the audience.Thereis no sign of being on
time or not. Thereis no rule how to preparethe physicalappearance
and no rule for reactingof
the event. The street as the artifact supportsthis situation. Public don't need a rule for
participatingin this kind of event.
The physicalappearance
of audienceshouldstill needfor a Concertand Theater.With
makinga rule of physicalappearance,
the audiencewill respectfor the event.Using hapticsand
kineticsmakethe audiencecomfort while being participating.Hapticsinvolvesthe audienceto
bond and to shareeachother as a part of massaudience.The kinesicsshowshow the audience
react from the messagethat organizercreate.Many sign in kinesicsshowsaudienceawareand
respectof the sh6wanddeeplyenrolledon the show.Paralanguage
showvery clearlyin an event
that don't usestrict rules.Audiencewill be free to expresstheir feelingwithout any worries.The
procemic sign indicate that carnival audienceis not a bound like a string as good social
relationship.Differ for Theaterand ClassicConcertneed a boundingsincethe procemicsign
showit. For the useof time or chronemicssign,showus that an eventthat hasa sequencing
time
and the artifactssupportit, and then use of time is still needed.Peoplewill respectthe eventif
the eventis on andendon time.
This study indicatesthat the communiiationsign was produceby audiencebecauseof
their valueand culture. Throughthis study,this could be usedto studythe importanceof art in
humanlife. Especiallywhen usingthe approachof how to communicatethe performingarts and
give meaningthroughsigns.

Buchler, Justus, 1955.Philosophical Writings of Peirce, New York: Dover Publications
Burgoon,' Michael and Michael Rufkrer, Human Communication, A R:evisionof Approaching
Speech/Communication,New York: Holt Rinehard and Winston, 1977.
Hauser, Arnold. 1982. The Sociologt of Art London and Chicago: The University of Chicago
Press,

"
267

t"r,'t;::Jlg-^190: Thinkmg
An sosiotosica
y.. in rhe sociotostof Art
DavidIngtisdanJohnHughson
seens.
{eor,nampshre
& Newyork:patgrare
Mfcfii 3!
t"tloo;;::l*.
t n77' Manwatching
A FietdGuidetoHumanBehavrbr. york
New
lrarryN.
ttnt"tXl?*H1ff1#06

Perfotmance
studies.an rntroduction.second
Edition, oxon,

Truino,Thomas.2003.Musicas
Social' Life: ThePotitics of Participation'
chicago andLondon:
The university of chicago press
Wolff, Janet.lg.l. Social ploduction
of Art, Ne\ny ork: St.Martil,s press

!

.l

,l