Redefining Superhero:The Construction Of Postmodern Hero In Watchmen
Penulis Utama
:
Muhammad Rizqi Arifuddin
NIM / NIP
:
C0306035
× Watchmen is an interesting movie since it presents its hero characters
different from hero characters in the 80s and 90s Hollywood’s popular action
movies. Yet, although this movie presents heroes that challenge the hero
narratives in American culture, it is considerably a successful movie. Thus, it
means that there is a shifting in how heroes are perceived in contemporary
American society. Since superhero is a popular culture product, it can be analyzed
in its relation to American society. Thus, this research is conducted to explain how
the movie constructs its hero characters and how these hero characters respond to
the American ideals.
This research is a descriptive qualitative research that takes Watchmen the
movie as its source of data. The primary data consists of characters, setting,
costume, dialogue, visual images and other cinematographic elements. It is
supported with secondary data consisted of journal articles, books, movie script,
reviews and other related references.
This research is conducted in American Studies framework. Thus, it
incorporates various disciplines in the forms of theory and approach in analyzing
the movie. It incorporates semiotics film theory, socio-cultural approach and also
postmodernism theory in answering the research question.
After conducting the research, it is found that the two hero characters
analyzed in the movie are constructed as postmodern hero. They are not
constructed following the traditional hero narrative. They challenge the traditional
hero narrative because this concept does not respond to the changing values in
contemporary American society. After September 11 attack happened, American
society is in crisis. The attack produced the notion that ‘everything has changed’.
Thus, the traditional hero concept which features the ‘all good’ and ‘larger than
life’ character does not fit to the contemporary American society. Nowadays,
American society is filled with more complex issues. These complexities can only
be responded by postmodern hero character. The superhero concept is always
changing since as a durable popular culture, superhero must always respond to the
changing in American society.
Keywords: Superhero, popular culture, sociocultural, postmodernism, watchmen.
×
Penulis Utama
:
Muhammad Rizqi Arifuddin
Penulis Tambahan
:
-
NIM / NIP
:
C0306035
Tahun
:
2011
Judul
:
Redefining Superhero:The Construction Of Postmodern Hero In Watchmen
