American beliefs and values as reflected in the movie national treasure directed by John Turteltaub in 2004

Oleh :
Roko Patria Jati - C0301052 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

ABSTRACT National Treasure was one of American popular film in the end of 2004 and early of 2005 directed by John Turteltaub. It stayed for several weeks in the first level of American box office. The original VCD of National Treasure distributed by PT. Vision Interprima Pictures in 2005 was analyzed and became the source of the main data. It consisted of dialogues, actions, pictures, sounds, setting of time, setting of place, etc in a whole movie. Meanwhile, the supporting data were from other informations from books and websites. The thesis presents a discussion about American beliefs and values as reflected in the movie National Treasure. It is a reflective study; thus the focus of the thesis is directed on the beliefs and values. Concerning the focus, the sociological approach, semiotic approach, and historical approach are used proportionally from their own specific context. Popular culture study leads the thesis to reveal the beliefs and values of the culture but it cannot judge whether they are good or bad. This is not film criticism which can freely do that, but it is the popular culture study which objectively combines the theory of popular culture, film semiotics, sociology, and history. Here, National Treasure is not seen as a film only from its aesthetic point of view, but also as an art which reflects several society’s beliefs and values. There are several beliefs and values which can be revealed in the movie National Treasure, they are: (1) Sometimes action with a high consequence (illegal or criminal) must be faced to continue reaching the final goal, (2) America is a special nation with special government, people, and duty, (3) Technology is needed as a means to do some acts, (4) Individuals have their own freedom to do anything, (5) A belief in process or practice to prove something is more important than the legend or theories, (6) Every individual is actually running for their material success, (7) The happiness will be completely reached after having a family, (8) America has a very much great treasure, (9) Romantic love can happen to anyone in a very unique condition, (10) The success has not completed without living in a house with certain expected condition.