perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id THE COMMODIFIED EMO SUBCULTURE IN AMERICA THROUGH THE USED’S MUSIC VIDEOS THESIS Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of Sarjana Degree Requirement at English Department, Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts, Sebelas Maret University By: RENA APRILIA TANJUNG C 0306045 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF LETTERS AND FINE ARTS SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY SURAKARTA 2011 commit to user i perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id commit to user ii perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id commit to user iii perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id MOTTO: “Through the storm and raging sea, I will never be alone. When my hope seems out of sight, I know You will shine Your light” (True Worshippers Youth) commit to user iv perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id Wholeheartedly dedicated to: My Mom My Dad My Brothers My Sister Me & “Hira” commit to user v perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS While the final product is the text on the pages, the true learning lies in the unseen journey. First and foremost, I would like to thank Lord Jesus Christ, My Redeemer, for the wonderful blessing and love given in my life. Gratefully, I would like to thank Drs. Riyadi Santosa, M.Ed., Ph.D. the Dean of Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts. It is also an honor for me to thank the Head of English Department, Prof. Drs. Djatmika, M.A. for giving me a chance to write the thesis. This thesis would not have been possible unless Dra. Nani Sukarni, M.S., my thesis supervisor, helps me in every session with her patience and knowledge. I attribute the level of my Sarjana degree to her encouragement and effort. Without her helps, this thesis would not have been written or completed. I am grateful to my academic supervisor, Mr. Yuyun Kusdiyanto, S.S, M.A. for the help dealing with all of my academic businesses. I am also indebted to all of English Department lecturers to support me in studying English and the contents within particularly anything related to American Studies which has inspired me to write the thesis up. For my beloved family chiefly my Mom and Dad, thanks for supporting me throughout all my studies in the university and providing a warm home where I can complete my writing up. My lovely little twin brothers, Yong Gi and Jonathan, both of you really enliven me every day. My younger brother Ayub, and my younger sister Devi, thanks for being commit to user vi perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id around me when I am in the progress to finish this thesis. Forgive me it takes so long time for me to graduate that I hope both of you can finish your college study faster than me. I love you all. In my daily work I have been blessed with a friendly and cheerful Nav family, Pak Yoyok, Bu Ari, Dek Ira, Dek Dea Mbak Upik, Mbak Dina, Mas Setyo, Ika, Dewi, Nimas, and those who I can not mention in details, thanks for loving me, helping me, giving me a space to grow up, teaching me how to find a better way in my adolescence phase and lifting me up when I am down. Kiki „Quinn‟, my drummer girl, thanks for sharing a long friendship since we were in the junior high school. The Used is eternally in our heart. For my besties, Letizia and Astri, thanks girls for everything, for unbelievable jokes and silly things we have shared. Letiz, you are very nice to me. I can not forget every good thing you have shared with me. Go girl! I am always behind you. Astri, well, you are still my best „partner in crime‟ in learning „what‟s beyond the normal Asian culture‟. I would like to thank to Yuliana since with her kindness, she has implicitly taught me many things in life. And also for Dheka, my longest classmate from junior high school, thanks for plenty meaningful lessons in the past. Definitely for all of my friends in ED 2006, girls and boys, thank you for the nice support and unforgettable friendship. The 2006 American Studies, thanks for the friendship, knowledge and anything we have been going through together in both sad and happy time commit to user vii perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id in finishing this final project. Risqi, how could I do my thesis without your help? Thanks for the really helpful books, journals, and advices. You are the best counselor. I am very happy for your cum-laude graduation. “Ipin” Arifin, you are the most inspiring and most incredible friend that I know, man! Thanks for trusting me and sharing many stories with me. Keep fighting for everything. Pondra, the only „master of music‟ in ED 2006, thanks for sharing many underrated yet good music with me. Aya and Rini, thanks for encouraging me with your word “Semangat”. Iyum and Wisnu, go guys, you can do it fast and well. For my friend Wulan in a peaceful heaven up there, it has been my pleasure to know you and have a friend like you. We will miss you. I can not accomplish my work without the supports from my friends who stand up for the idealism they choose: those who are previously labeled as Emo Kids, HxC Kids and Straight Edgers. Thanks to Bocud Adit, Neng Ireen, Bang Vivid, Kak Na Marina, both of Mr. Jack Jerk Skellington, Joojo „Joe‟ Wilson, Reno, David Loserkid, Mbak Feri‟s gang and others. Thank you all for giving me lots of colorful memories and inspirations for writing this unusual thesis. I am also obliged to Twitter friends especially Mbak Puspa, thanks for accompanying me in both surreal and real world. Finally, for Bert McCracken, Quinn Allman, Jeph Howard, Branden Steineckert and Dan Whitesides, the members of the most amazing band in this world, The Used, thanks a million for making the best songs, sounding youth‟s pain, inspiring me, connecting me with other eccentric youngsters commit to user viii perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id in various remarkable youth subcultures and opening my eyes for the true identity I should go for. Surakarta, October 12, 2011 Rena Aprilia Tanjung commit to user ix perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id PRONOUNCEMENT Name : Rena Aprilia Tanjung NIM : C0306045 It is hereby pronounced that the thesis entitled The Commodified Emo Subculture in America through The Used’s Music Videos is originally made and written by the researcher. It is neither a plagiarism nor is made by other. The things related to other‟s people work are written in quotation and included in bibliography. If it is proved that this pronouncement is dishonest, the researcher willingly accepts any penalty from English Department of Faculty Letters and Fine Arts, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta. Surakarta, October 12, 2011 The Researcher commit to user x perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id TABLE OF CONTENTS THESIS APPROVAL …………………………………………………….. i PRONOUNCEMENT …………………………………………………... iii MOTTO …………………………………………………………………. iv DEDICATION …………………………………………………………..... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………….… vii ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………….. xi CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION A. Background of Choosing Subject …………………………… 1 B. Problem Statement …………………………………………... 13 C. Objective of Study ……..…………………………………. 13 D. Scope of Study ………………………………………….…… 13 E. Research Significance …………………………………….…... 14 F. Method of Research …………………………………….…… 14 G. Theoretical Approach …………………………………………. 17 H. Thesis Organization …………………………………………… 21 CHAPTER II : LITERATURE REVIEW A. Emo As A Youth Subculture in America …………..………….. 24 1. The History of Emo …………………………………….. 27 2. The Identity of Emocommit …………………………… to user ………….. 34 xi perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id B. The Used‟s Biography …………………………….………… 47 C. Youth Subculture as a Commodity …………………..……… 50 D. American Social and Cultural Condition in 2000s …..……… 55 E. Semiotic of Music Video ……………………………….…… 57 1. Charles Sanders Pierce‟s Semiotic Theory ……………… 57 2. Semiotic of Music Video ………………………………... 60 CHAPTER III : ANALYSIS A. The commodification of Emo Fashion in The Used‟s Music Videos 69 1. Clothing ………………………………………………….. 72 i. Upper Body ……………………………………… 72 ii. Lower Body ……………………………………... 100 2. Hairstyle ………………………………………………….. 107 i. Medium Long Straight Hair ……………………….. 107 ii. Side Bang (Fringe) ………………………………… 111 iii. Gunshot Wound ……………………………………. 113 3. Accessories …………………………………………………. 116 i. Shoes ……………………………………………….. 116 ii. Wristbands …………………………………………. 118 iii. Lips and Ear Piercing ……………………………… 120 iv. Tattoos ……………………………………………… 122 4. Make Up…………………………………………………….. 123 commit to user xii perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id i. Eyeliner ……………………………………………. 123 ii. Black Nail Polish …………………………………... 126 B. The commodification of Emo Behavior in The Used‟s Music Videos 127 1. Youth Rebellion ………………………………………...….. 130 i. Blue and Yellow………………………………….. 132 ii. A Box Full of Sharp Object………………………. 135 iii. I Caught Fire……………………………………… 138 iv. Blood on My Hands ……………………………… 140 2. Youth Anxiety ……………………………………………. 142 i. Buried Myself Alive ……………………………... 144 ii. Taste of Ink ………………………………………. 150 iii. Take It Away ……………………………………… 152 iv. All That I‟ve Got …………………………………. 155 v. The Bird and The Worm …………………………. 158 CHAPTER IV : CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION A. Conclusion …………………………………………………..… 161 B. Recommendation ……………………………………………. 165 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES commit to user xiii perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id ABSTRACT Rena Aprilia Tanjung. C0306045. The Commodified Emo Subculture in America through The Used’s Music Videos. Undergraduate Thesis. 2011. English Department, Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts. Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta. This research is purposively made to analyze the commodified Emo subculture in America found in ten of The Used‟s music videos. With regard to the contested position of American youth, youth subcultures arise from various genre of music to give the alternative space for young people to grow up. The early function of youth subculture is to provide a place for young people to express the ideas which is out of dominant parent culture.