SATANISM AND ANTI-CHRISTIANITY IN BLACK METAL
(SEMIOTICS ON A LIVE CONCERT VIDEO OF BLACK
METAL BAND GORGOROTH, IN BLACK MASS EVENT
AT KRAKOW, POLAND 2004)
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Getting Bachelor Degree of Education in Communication Science Department
Proposed by:
MUHAMMAD FERRI SETIAWAN
L100102010
COMMUNICATION SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATICS SCIENCE FACULTY
MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF SURAKARTA
2014
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ABSTRACT
Muhammad Ferri Setiawan. L100102010. Satanism and Anti-Christianity in Black Metal (Semiotics on A Live Concert Video of Black Metal Band Gorgoroth, in Black Mass Event at Krakow, Poland 2004). Thesis. Communication Science Department. Communication and Informatics Science Faculty. Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. 2014.
Black Metal is a quite popular music genre among teenagers. They like the music as well as the style that the band brings. However, most of them do not aware what the attributes that the band wears convey. Based on that phenomenon, this study focuses on the semantic meaning that is contented in the Black Metal attributes. Specifically, this study analyzes the Satanism and Anti-Christianity symbols in a Black Metal video that is performed by Gorgogoth. Applying a qualitative descriptive method, the symbols found in the video are then analyzed using semiotic theories. The results show that there are 5 symbols belong to Satanism and 3 symbols are identical to Anti-Christianity. Based on the findings, symbols are created intentionally to deliver certain messages and they are used to declare war against Christianity by the Scandinavian Black metal musicians.
Keywords: Satanism, Anti-Christianity, Black Metal, Gorgoroth, Semiotic
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DEDICATION
to my beloved parents and to my only best sister.
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MOTTO
Nothing you can see that you can’t do;
Just move on, you’ll find the way through.
(Heru Setiawan ~ Sri Wahyuningsih: My beloved parents)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Alhamdulillahirrobbil’alamin. Thanks to Allah for having this study finished. I would like to acknowledge my first gratitude to both of my supervisors, Rinasari Kusuma, M.I.Kom., and Fajar Junaedi, S.Sos., M.Si. for the inspiring and invaluable experiences. I learn many things from every story told during the meetings. Tough this writing absorbs lots of energy; I do find another thing to discover. My gratitude to The Dean of Communication and Informatics Science Faculty of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Husni Tamrin, Ph.D. as without his approval and permission this study will never exist. My sincere gratitude is also extended to The Head of Communication Science Department of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta, Palupi, MA. for any debt in my study during these semesters. I also gratefully thank to the Gorgoroth Band that became the object study of the research paper. To my parents and my sister, thank you for every support you give. Thank you for loving me that much. To my closest, thank you for every sweet warm smile you bring. Finally, my best regard to those who supported me during this completion and again, words will never enough to replace all what I have got.
September 2014
Muhammad Ferri Setiawan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER ……………………………………………………………...... i APPROVAL …………………………………………………………... ii LEGITIMATION FROM THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS ………... iii PRONOUNCEMENT …………………………………………………. iv ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………….... v DEDICATION ………………………………………………………… vi MOTTO ………………………………………………………………… vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT …………………………………………….. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………… ix LIST OF TABLES …………………………………………………….. x LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………… xi
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ……………………………………… 1 A. The Background of Study …………………………………...... 1 B. Research Question ……………………………………………... 7 C. Object of The Study …………………………………………… 8 D. Significance of The Study …………………………………...... 8 E. Literature Review …………………………...………………..... 8 1. Literature Review ………………………………………….. 8 a. Communication ………………………………………… 8 b. Semiotics Approach in Communication Studies ………. 10 1) Communication Semiotic ………………………….. 10 2) Visual Semiotic ……………………………………. 12 2. Music in Cultural Studies ………………………………….. 14 3. Satanism ……………………………………………………. 16 4. Anti-Christianity …………………………………………… 18 5. Black Metal Music …………………………………………. 20 6. Research Framework ………………………………………. 25 F. Research Method ………………………………………………. 26
CHAPTER II DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH OBJECT …………… 29 A. Profile of Gorgoroth Band ……………………………………… 29 1. History of Gorgoroth Band …………………………………. 29 2. Joining Nuclear Blast Records (1997-2004) ………………… 31 3. Controversy of Gorgoroth’s Satanism ………………………. 32
CHAPTER III DATA PRESENTATION ……………………………… 34
CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ………………………… 40 A. Symbols Representing Satanism and Anti-Christianity in Live Concert Video of Gorgoroth Black Metal Band at Krakow in 2004 …………………………………………………………… 40 B. Meaning Representing Satanism in Live Concert Video of Gorgoroth Black Metal Band at Krakow in 2004 ……………….. 41
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1. Goat’s Head ………………………………………………... 41 2. Pentagram …………………………………………………... 42 3. Corna ……………………………………………………….. 48 4. Red Lights ………………………………………………….. 50 5. Corpse-Paint ………………………………………………… 53 C. Meaning Representing Anti-Christianity in Live Concert Video of Gorgoroth Black Metal Band in Krakow in 2004 ……………. 58 1. Naked-Crucified Human …………………………………….. 58 2. Inverted Cross ……………………………………………….. 62 3. Spikes ………………………………………………………… 64 D. Black Metal, Satanism, Anti-Christianity, and Gorgoroth ………. 67
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION …………………. 71 A. Conclusion ……………………………………………………….. 71 B. Suggestion ……………………………………………………….. 74
BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………. 76
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Roland Barthes’s Map of Signs …………………………… 12
Table 2. Satanism and Anti-Christianity Symbols in Live Concert Video of Gorgoroth Metal Band ……………………………………… 40
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Gorgoroth Black Metal Band’s Personnel ………………….. 3
Figure 2. Goat’s Head in The Concert of Gorgoroth …………………. 4
Figure 3. Roland Gerald Barthes ……………………………………… 11
Figure 4. Varg ‘Count Grishnackh’ Vikernes …………………………. 20
Figure 5. The Personnel of Venom Band ……………………………... 21
Figure 6. Discography of Gorgoroth from 1994 to 2014 …………….. 30
Figure 7. DVD of Live Concert Gorgoroth at Black Mass …………… 32
Figure 8. Gorgoroth’s performance at Black Mass ………………….. 33
Figure 9. Illustration of Lucifer ……………………………………….. 42
Figure 10. Logo of Hitam Putih Show at Trans 7 …………………….. 43
Figure 11. Logo of Alcoholic Beverage Product ……………………… 43
Figure 12. National Flag ………………………………………………. 43
Figure 13. Communism Red Star Symbol ……………………………. 44
Figure 14. The Pattern in Constructing Star Symbol …………………. 45
Figure 15. The Transformation of Pentagram ………………………... 46
Figure 16. Illustration of Baphomet …………………………………... 47
Figure 17. Symbol of Corna by Presidents ……………………………. 48
Figure 18. Negative Meaning of Corna Symbol ……………………… 49
Figure 19. Ronnie James Dio ………………………………………….. 50
Figure 20. Red Lights on a Stage ……………………………………… 51
Figure 21. Blood Moon ………………………………………………... 52
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Figure 22. Mallevs Maleficarvm Book ………………………………. 53
Figure 23. Corpse-Paint ……………………………………………….. 54
Figure 24. Make-up of Corpse-Paint in Late of 1980s ………………. 56
Figure 25. Per “Dead” Ohlin …………………………………………… 57
Figure 26. Per “Dead” Ohlin …………………………………………… 57
Figure 27. Jesus on Cross Symbol ……………………………………... 59
Figure 28. Naked-Crucified Man ……………………………………… 61
Figure 29. Inverted Cross Earring ……………………………………… 62
Figure 30. Inverted Cross Necklace ……………………………………. 62
Figure 31. Altar of Anton Szandon LaVey ……………………………. 63
Figure 32. Neronic Cross Illustration …………………………………… 64
Figure 33. Spikes ………………………………………………………… 64
Figure 34. Christian Louboutin ………………………………………… 65
Figure 35. The Demonstrants of Punk-Sub Culture …………………… 66
Figure 36. Ihsahn ……………………………………………………….. 68
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