Memeification of Walid in Indonesian digital space

Reinterpreting Malaysia’s Bidaah through memes

Bibliographic Data

ID20253161
AuthorsSiti Khusnul Khotimah (University of Brawijaya), Siti Ezaleila Mustafa (0000-0003-0010-8807, University of Malaya), Rosana Hariyanti (University of Brawijaya), Sigit Prawoto (University of Brawijaya), Intan Dewi Savitri (0000-0002-2068-6623, University of Brawijaya, corresponding author), Eri Susanto (0000-0003-0163-8172, University of Brawijaya)
Year2026
Volume13
Issue1
Publication date2026-12-31
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCogent Arts and Humanities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2331-1983 • E-ISSN: 2331-1983
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/23311983.2026.2670164
OpenAlexW7161059372
LanguageEN
References cited29

This study explores how Indonesian digital audiences reinterpret the Malaysian television series Bidaah through memes featuring its central character, Walid, a religious leader who embodies patriarchal authority by reframing abuse as a religious duty. While the series represents Walid through sacred symbolism and gender hierarchy, Indonesian netizens recontextualize these images into their own socio-religious discourse and reinterpret them through humorous, yet satirical memes. This research reveals how the humorous memetic reinterpretation of Walid by Indonesian audiences reflects broader cultural negotiations of religious authority, sensitivity, and satire in digital media. Through critical discourse analysis of five high-engagement Instagram memes (March–May 2025), the findings demonstrate how humorous memes redistribute symbolic power operating as a culturally specific form of resistance, enabling public critique of abuse of authority and gendered power relations in religion without direct transgression. This study underscores the significance of meme culture in facilitating cultural dialogue within social media representation

Indonesian · Social media · The Internet · Asian Studies and History · Cultural Identity and Representation · Semiotics and Cultural Interpretation

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Open DOIOpen Access