Exploring the Microinsult Strategy (Assumption of Criminal Status) in 12 Years a Slave Through the Judgment System

Abstract

Assumption of criminal status is a microinsult subcategory within racial microaggressions, explored in this study through the appraisal system of judgment to analyze its depiction in the movie 12 Years a Slave. The research focuses on utterances containing judgment evaluations, extracted from narrative stages, including Orientation, Complication, and Resolution. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with linguistic experts and analyzed using Spradley’s (2016) framework, modified by Santosa (2021), encompassing domain, taxonomy, and componential analyses. Findings indicate the prevalence of microinsults across the film's narrative stages, with specific judgments categorized into social esteem (SOC)—normality, capacity, tenacity—and social sanction (SAC)—veracity and propriety. In the Orientation stage, microinsults were minimal, with evaluations highlighting normality and propriety. The Complication stage showed significant intensification, with 27 instances, including capacity (10), tenacity (3), veracity (7), and propriety (7), reflecting heightened racial bias and prejudice. In the Resolution stage, microinsults persisted with 16 evaluations, predominantly propriety (15), suggesting moral judgment remained a focal point. Overall, 45 judgment evaluations were recorded: 2 in normality, 10 in capacity, 3 in tenacity, 7 in veracity, and 23 in propriety. These findings underscore how the assumption of criminal status is systematically embedded and reinforced through various evaluative dimensions, aligning with the narrative's portrayal of racial microaggressions. This study contributes to understanding racial microinsults in media, emphasizing how cinematic narratives perpetuate social biases through evaluative judgments.