THE MYTH OF PURSUING HAPPINESS IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

Riza Rahayu Muludi; Ida Rochani Adi

doi:10.22146/rubikon.v11i2.100668

THE MYTH OF PURSUING HAPPINESS IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

https://doi.org/10.22146/rubikon.v11i2.100668

Riza Rahayu Muludi^(1*), Ida Rochani Adi⁽²⁾

(1) Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati
(2) Universitas Gadjah Mada
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

This research aims to examine how to pursue happiness constructs Americans in the film The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Pursuing happiness is included in one of the American Dreams which means that everyone in America deserves their happiness. To investigate the analyses, this study uses Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis to find out the happiness in Americans. The results show that pursuing happiness is categorized as one of the American myths and the American characteristics. The characteristics of freedom, happiness, and success describe the American character in pursuing happiness as the myth. In addition, pursuing happiness illustrates the similarity of the narrative when compared to the myth. It analyses in social and cultural of Americans' lives.

Keywords

Americans; American Dreams; myth; semiotic; happiness

Full Text:

PDF

References

Adams, J. T. (2001). The Epic of America. Simon Publication.

Adhitya, G. N. & Hapsari, A. (2022). American Dream in the Eye of Asian Immigrants: A Genetic Structuralism Analysis of Kevin Kwan’s Rich People Problems. International Journal of Humanities Studies, 6(1), 122-138. https://doi.org/10.24071/ijhs.v6i1.5197.

Adi, I. R. (2016). Fiksi Populer: Teori & Metode Kajian. Pustaka Pelajar.

Assiddiqi, H. (2011). American Individualism in Adventure Stories: an Analysis of Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. Yogyakarta: Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Ausband, Stephen C. (1983). Myth and Meaning, Myth and Order. Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press.

Barthes, R. (1968). Elements of semiology.1st ed. Hill and Wang.

Barthes, R. (1991). Mythologies, ed. 25th. The Noonday Press.

Bellah, R. N., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., Tipton, S. M., & Madsen, R. (1985). Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life. University of California Press.

Darnton, R. (1995). The Pursuit of Happiness. The Wilson Quarterly. 19(4), 42-52. doi:https://www.jstor.org/stable/40259050

Fiske, J. (2004). Cultural and Communication Studies: Sebuah Pengantar Paling Komprehensif. Alih Bahasa: Tosal Iriantara dan Idi Subandi Ibrahim. Jalasutra

Fossum, R. H., & Roth, J. K. (1981). The American Dream. British Association for American Studies.

Frey, W. H. (2020). The nation is diversifying even faster than predicted, according to new census data. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/new-census-data-shows-the-nation-is-diversifying-even-faster-than-predicted/#:~:text=In%201980%2C%20white%20residents%20comprised,Hispanic%20members%20of%20those%20groups.).

Friedman. H. S., Schustack, M. W. (2008). Kepribadian: Teori Klasik dan Riset Modern. (Widyasinta, Benedictine, Trans.). Erlangga.

Griggs, T. D. (2020, July 17). Family And The American Dream. NC Family Policy Council. https://www.ncfamily.org/family-and-the-american-dream/.

Hudgins, E. (2010). What Unites America? Unity in Individualism! The Atlas Society. http://www.atlassociety.org/what-unites-america-unity-individualism.

IMDb. (2006). The Pursuit of Happyness Awards. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454921/awards/

Jackson, K. M. (1986). Images of Children in American Film: A Sociocultural Analysis. Metuchen. The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Jefferson, T. (1973). “The Declaration of Independence” Adventures in American Literature. Ed. James Early. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Kearney, E. N. et al. (1984). The American Way: An Introduction to American Culture. Prentince-Hall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs.

Marx, L. (1964). The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America. Oxford University Press.

Muccino, G. (Director). (2006). The Pursuit of Happyness [Motion Picture].

Paludan, P. S. (1978). Issues Past and Present. An American History Source BookDC. Heath Company.

Pamungkas. (2017). Koloni-Koloni Eropa di Amerika. Kompasiana: https://www.kompasiana.com/setyaripamungkas/551ff77281331198019dfbdd/kolonikoloni-eropa-di-amerika.

Remini, R. V. (2014). A Short History of the United States. HarperCollins.

Robertson, J. O. (1980). American Myth, American Reality. McGraw-Hill Ryeson Ltd.

Spiller, R. E. (1956). The Cycle of American Literature. The New American Literary.

Traber, D. S. (2007). Whiteness, Otherness, and the Individual Paradox from Huck to Punk. Palgrave MacMillan.

Yingli, L., Rui, G., & Xuewei, L. (2017). A Study on American Individualistic Values from the Movie the Pursuit of Happiness. 2nd International Conference on Education, Sports, Arts, and Management Engineering (ICESAME 2017), 473-477.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/rubikon.v11i2.100668