American youth rebellion in 1980s as presented through minor threat’s songs

Oleh :
Lucas Christianta Umar Surya Putra - C1305522 - Sekolah Pascasarjana

ABSTRACT This research is conducted to find out the presentation of the American Youth Rebellion in the 1980s by analyzing some songs written and performed by one of 1980s American hardcore bands called Minor Threat. As a 1980s American youth band, Minor Threat’s song lyrics combined with hardcore music present 1980s American youth rebellion. Youth age as the transitional period between childhood and adulthood becomes a period where youth refuses to stay in childhood values but also refuses to enter adult world and its values. In this transition period, the youth rebellion emerges as the resistance of the social values. During Minor Threat’s existence in 1980s, the United States of America was in a great recession period when the country experienced transitions in many sectors. Some American youth speak up their disappointment toward the condition and express their rebellion through hardcore music. The objective of this research is to find out how American youth rebellion in 1980s is presented through Minor Threat’s songs. The source of data used in this research is Minor Threat’s songs in its EPs (Extended Play/Mini Album). The main data are eight Minor Threat’s songs which are taken from its EPs entitled Minor Threat (released in 1981 by Dischord Records) and In My Eyes (released in 1981 by Dischord Records). These songs are chosen as they are related to the topic of research. The supporting data are taken from books, articles, interviews and websites. This research applies library research in the form of analytic qualitative research. Since this research is carried out within American Studies discipline, it employs interdisciplinary approaches which bring the consequences of applying some theories and approaches. They are semiotic theory, music theory, sociological approach and biographical approach. These approaches and theories are related each other to get the meaning of Minor Threat’s songs as the presentation of American youth rebellion in 1980s. From the analysis, it can be concluded that Minor Threat’s songs present American youth rebellion in 1980s through their song lyrics and music. The subject matter of Minor Threat’s song lyrics are rebellion towards 1980s American negative youth lifestyle and rebellion towards 1980s American social values. The song lyrics are straight forward and use some sarcastic terms. These song lyrics are combined with hardcore music which is aggressive; the music is played in fast beat, while the singer sings the song lyrics in a scream and shouted vocal style. All of these elements are bound up into Minor Threat’s songs that present American youth rebellion in 1980s.