AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL IDENTITY OF INDIAN
IMMIGRANTS AFTER 9/11 WTC’S TRAGEDY IN THE U.S.A
THROUGH THE TWO MAIN CAHARCTERS IN FILM MY
NAME IS KHAN BY KARAN JOHAR
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
Strata One Degree
Arranged By:
PATHYA NILAM NIM. 106026001018
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY “SYARIF HIDAYATULAH” JAKARTA
ABSTRACT
Pathya Nilam, An Analysis of Cultural Identity of Indian Immigrants After 9/11WTC’s Tragedy in the U.S.A Through The Two Main Characters in Film “My Name is Khan” by Karan Johar. Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humannities Faculty, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, 2011.
The research is slated for giving a brief description about the cultural identity after 9/11 WTC’s tragedy in the U.S.A which appears in two immigrants characters in
My Name is Khan. This film accurately tells about an extraordinary love journey of
APPROVEMENT
AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL IDENTITY OF INDIAN IMMIGRANTS AFTER 9/11 WTC’S TRAGEDY IN THE U.S.A THROUGH THE TWO MAIN
CHARACTER IN FILM MY NAME IS KHAN BY KARAN JOHAR A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Strata One Degree
By: Pathya Nilam 106026001018
Approved by:
Moh. Supardi, M.Hum. Supervisor
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
LEGALIZATION
Name : Pathya Nilam
NIM : 106026001018
Title : An Analysis of Cultural Identity of Indian Immigrants After 9/11 WTC’s Tragedy in the U.S.A Through the Two Main Characters in Film My Name is Khan by Karan Johar.
The thesis has been defended before the Faculty Letters and Humanities’ Examination Committee on January 27, 2011. It has been accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of strata one.
Jakarta, February 14, 2011
19650919 200003 1 002 (Examiner I)
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my original work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgment has been made in the text.
Jakarta, 17 September 2010
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful
First of all, the writer would like to give many thanks to God the Almighty
who has given His love, affection, and delicious healthy and time in doing and
completing the thesis. All praises be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe and the
creator of human and tribes. Peace and blessing be upon to the greatest prophet who
we all adore; Muhammad SAW and to his family, companion, and his followers.
Secondly, the writer would like to say a huge thanks to her beloved parents,
Mr. Husen and Mrs. Ellya Martini, who have given all support, patience, motivation,
spiritual, material, and prays to the writer in completing the thesis.
Next, the writer also would say thanks to Mr. Moh. Supardi, M.Hum as her
advisor who has spared his time to give advices and patience in guiding the writer to
complete the thesis.
The writer also would like to express her appreciation to:
1. All lecturers of the English Department for their educating during eight
semesters.
2. Her lovely small sister and brother, Paradisa Husnia and Fahmi Akbar.
3. All my family; grand mom, aunties, uncles, and cousins that the writer cannot
mention one by one, for all motivations, support, material, and pray.
4. Her best friends and major-mate, Nurul Khasanah, M. Damanhuri, Lia
Fadhilah, Novita Sari, Pahrully, Jaenal Abidin, Arif Budi Winarto, Indah
Ponika, Rizky Gunawan and etc. All supports, helps and motivations are
really meaning a lot in the writer’s time during she arrange this thesis.
5. All members of UKM PSM UIN JAKARTA, Ginta (thanks for Indian script),
Tutti, Lastnot, Pedal, Arbass, Argio, Sigam, Sinor, Krotic, Ka Tutto, Ka
Merlow, Ka Wenwen, Ka Kromong, Ka Sempre, and etc. Every their
material song, harmony, humor and laughter are the spirit of the writer when
the boredom and fatigue plagued.
6. All of her room-mates Neta, Hilda, Ai, Dienar, Ulin, Esa for all their supports
and kindness.
In the end, the writer realizes the thesis is far from perfection. Therefore, she
needs more critics and suggestions from everyone who will contribute her to make
this paper better
Jakarta, October 2010
1. Character analysis ……….... 24
CHAPTER IV Conclusion and Suggestion ...………..……….………. 53
A. Conclusion ……….. 53
B. Suggestion ………... 55
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
America is known as the country of immigrant. For three centuries, several of
Americans formed from the immigrants who left their own country in order to avoid a
political oppression, limitation of religion, and economic affair. Most of immigrants
consider that America is the country of golden opportunity to be succeeded.
Immigrants such an unfailing packages for America. During their migration to the
new continent, immigrants have to go through acculturation. The United States
changing cultural diffusion does not stop them from the process of adapting to the
mainstream culture of the United States. There are four steps of acculturation:
“euphoria, culture shock, anomie and assimilation or adaptation”. These are the steps
where immigrants are faced with two central issues. They have to opt for which
cultural values of their origin they want to keep and leave behind and which cultural
values of the new culture they want to adopt or not adopt.
especially if the language and customs of the new cultural space are
unfamiliar.”1
The statement above shows that it is one of the factors that encourage people
to change their cultural identity. In fact, the immigrants will get the difficulty to adapt
their new environment. The migration comes in a country like United States must be
followed by any cultural adjustment, there will be a long process including mixing
and matching the immigrant’s original culture with the new culture of a country
where they live. Immigrants, including Indian immigrants have to go through
acculturation. They leave their homeland in order to survive in the other country that
makes them pleasant to work. They want to get a better life in their new place even
they often find difficulties. They have to face the new life, culture, economy, politic,
and social or called it assimilation. In the culture of assimilation, as immigrants, they
have to learn about United States life style. Even though they had to assimilate with
US culture, however most of Indian immigrants still keep their own identity.2
The definition of the culture is something that will influence a level
knowledge and cover the concept which is based on man’s mind until the character of
the culture is being abstract in daily life.3 The phenomenon of immigrant in United
1
Judith N Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama, Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction (New York, MC Graw Hill, 2001), p.142
2
Irma Yuliawati, “Cultural Identity of Bangladeshi Immigrants in England” in novel Brick Land by Monica Ali, Thesis, (Ciputat, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, 2009), p. 5.
3
States often becomes an inspiration for the filmmakers to create a film. For the
example is My Name is Khan which is directed by Karan Johar that told about life of
Indian Immigrant in United States.
Karan Johar took the situation from the aftermath of 9/11 WTC’s tragedy
among the immigrants. All people shocked of this tragic incident when they look
WTC as the America’s pride building dissolved by the terrorists which confess in the
name of religion. This tragedy makes the word begin to claim the war towards
terrorist. After a while, most Americans do some inspection to clean their country
from immigrants who come from the country that considered as the terrorists’
hometown. This condition is impact to the Muslim heritage immigrants who stayed in
America and can be shown in My Name is Khan movie which the two main
characters of immigrants also get the same cruel treatment around Americans since it.
My Name is Khan is a film by Karan Johar as an Indian film director, producer and
TV celebrity and he is one of the most successful young filmmakers in Bollywood.4
This film tells the story of Rizvan Khan played by Shahrukh Khan as a moslem from
4
Johar made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998. The film won eight Filmfare Awards in 1998 including Best Movie, Best Director and all four Best Actor awards for both leading and supporting roles. Johar's second directorial effort was the family drama, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, released in 2001. It was also highly successful and won five Filmfare Awards. His 2003 film, Kal Ho Naa Ho, was directed by Nikhil Advani. His 2005 film, Kaal was directed by Soham Shah, Johar's assistant director from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. In May 2005, after taking a four-year break from directing, Johar began working on his third film as a director and fourth film as writer;
India, moves to San Francisco and lives with his brother and sister in law. Since his
migration, he has to adapt with his new culture. Khan is a man afflicted asparger’s
syndrome.5 However, he has problems understanding complex issues and cannot
express emotions like love or sorrow as normal people can. Khan falls in love with
Mandira played by Kajool Devgan. Despite protests from his family they get married
and start a small business together. They are happy until 11th September 2001 when
attitudes towards Muslims undergo change. When tragedy strikes, Mandira is
devastated since her son death, and they split each other. The film actually tells a lot
about the great struggle and journey of Khan as a Muslim that wants to meet with the
president of United States to extend that he’s not a terrorist and also about Mandira’s
struggle to get a justice from the government on Sameer’s death which caused about
racial crime as one of the 9/11 WTC’s impact of Muslim heritage in America.
Based on the explanation above, in this research, the writer wants to analyze
the characteristics and issues of identity which is represented by Khan and Mandira as
Indian immigrant characters. For an immigrant like them, they have to adapt the
culture in United States. However the aftermath since the tragedy of 9/11 hit in that
country, the racial crime happened on Moslem immigrants. Then, American identity
is not something taking for granted; they must struggle to get it.
5Asparger’s syndrome
Watching My Name is Khan can find so many cultural issues, like cultural
assimilation, foreignness, and multicultural melting pot.6 Many aspects such as
culture, tradition, and belief, which we can dig from the film that can make us
understand more about what the film wants to deliver.
Based on the background, the writer is interested to analyze about the issue of
cultural identity that focused on the condition of the aftermath 9/11. Besides the film
is rich of the cultural issues, the writer also wants to learn more about how the
immigrants accept and negotiate with their new cultural identity. So, the writer would
like to analyze the film in two steps. First, the writer will analyze the two main
characters in the film. They are Rizvan Khan and Mandira. Then, the writer will try to
analyze the concept of character and cultural identity that is presented by both of two
characters in the film.
B. Focus of the Study
This research will focus on My Name is Khan film by Karan Johar and limit
merely on analyzing the characteristic and cultural identity on characters of Rizvan
Khan and Mandira during their lives in the United States.
C. Research Question
Based on the background and focus of the study, the writer would like to
formulate the research question as follows:
6Melting pot –
1. What are the characteristics of Rizvan Khan and Mandira as the main
character in film My Name is Khan by Karan Johar?
2. How does the film My Name is Khan by Karan Johar describe the cultural
identity of Indian immigrants after 9/11 WTC’s tragedy in the U.S.A?
D. Significance of the Research
The research is dedicated as one of the requirements to finish undergraduate
study in English Literary Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities of Syarif
Hidayatullah State Islamic University. The writer also hopes that this research would
be able to help the reader in understanding the concept of cultural identity that are
presented by two main characters in the film My Name is Khan. Furthermore, the
result of this research hopefully can be used as an input in literary world.
E. The Methodology of Research
1. The Objective of the Study
The objective of this study is to know more about how the Indian immigrant
who live in United States behave and socialize with the environment. Besides,
the writer also wants to know the cultural identity that occurs in the two main
2. The Method of Research
The writer conducts the research by using qualitative descriptive method.
This method collects variety of sources based on the study of cultural identity
and character.
3. Data Analysis
In this research, the data are qualitatively analyzed by the relevant theory of
character and cultural identity which focused after 9/11 WTC’s tragedy 2011.
4. The Unit of Analysis
The unit of analysis is the film My Name is Khan by Karan Johar that is
released in February 2010 by Dharma Production.
5. Time and Place
This analysis is accomplished in semester eight, Syarif Hidayatullah State
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Character
Character is one of the intrinsic elements that build the story. William H Gass
defines “characters are those primary substances to which everything else is
attached”.7 For purposes of analysis, character is someone in literary work that has
some sort of identity (it need not be a strong one), an identity which is made up by
appearance, conversation, action, name, and (possibly) thoughts going on in the
head.8 It means, characters are doing some action according on their role in the story
they play.
Hubenka/Garcia in The Design of Drama defines “character as the people
within the play who enact the dramatic action”.9 This definition tries to explain the
characters in drama are the persons presented in works of drama who convey their
personal qualities through dialogue and action by which the audience understands
their thought, feeling, intentions and motives. The personal qualities here may either
be physical and superficial (external) or psychological and spiritual (internal). To
7
Michael J. Hoffman and Patrick D. Murphy, Essential of the Theory of Fiction. (Durham and London: Duke Press University, 1988), p.vii.
8
Christoper Rassel Renske, How to Analyze Drama (New York: Monarch Press, 1996), p.5
9
obtain a well-rounded concept of characters’ personality, analyze both their external
and internal qualities. Characters can possess both types of these personal qualities.
They are:
1. External qualities include the character’s physical appearance, physical nature,
manner of speech and accent, manner of get dressed, social status, class,
education, friends, family, community interest.
2. Internal qualities include of the background of the characters (family,
environment, occupation, and interests), mental characteristics (is the character
intelligent, clever, dull, slow, and/or average?), spiritual or moral qualities
(characters’ ideals, characters’ religion, characters’ belief, characters’ attitude
toward other people and toward life), and emotional characteristics (is the
character confident, outgoing, happy, or poised? What are the characters’ likes and
dislikes? How do the characters respond to other people?)
To apply those qualities to the characters whether external or internal, the
director of the movie or drama usually performs the characters in the different ways.
It can be major or minor, protagonist or antagonist, flat or round, and static or
dynamic.10
10
1. Major and Minor Characters
Major or main character is a character holds an important role, very
dominant, and always appears in each conflict. Whereas the minor character is the
character appears only few times and takes the short portion.
2. Protagonist and Antagonist Characters
The Protagonist is the main character in drama, even if does not always
actively initiate the events, the protagonist is always the focal point of the story. The
protagonist is the one who deals with truth and being conflicted by other characters.
The opponent of protagonist is known as the antagonist or in the event that opposing
force is not person, we speak of the antagonist force.11 The antagonist is character
who always causes problems for the protagonist or protagonist’s opposing force.
Besides, the protagonist character need not be a person. It can be animal, a
superstition, a misconception, fate or any abstraction or force placed in dramatic
conflict with protagonist.
3. Flat and Round Character
According to E.M Foster’s book Aspect of the Novel (1927), he defines “flat
or type or two dimensional character is constructed around single idea or quality, it
11
never surprises”.12 It means, flat character is constructed round single idea or quality
without much individualizing detail from the character.
While round character is a complex individual incapable of being easily
defined because round character’s physical, emotional, and intellectual dimension
change. When a play is performed by round character, the character must change,
both central and subordinate actors are necessary.
4. Static and Dynamic Character
Static character is usually a flat character. It means that character who remain
stable in his attitude throughout a work. While dynamic character is like to be a
round character, because a character undergoes personal development and change
through a gradual process or a crisis.
B. Culture and Identity
Culture is something will influence the level of knowledge and includes the
system idea that contained in man’s mind and applies in man’s life. Culture is a
whole complex which includes of knowledge, belief, arts, morals, laws, and any other
capabilities acquired by man as a member of a society. One of the best ways to
organization, religion, art, and etc. All of it addressed to help a human in order to lead
a societal life.
According to Drs. Supartono W., M.M.’s book, to understand more about the
culture need to know about the cultural element. Because of it presence, the culture
will have a total meaning. In Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia¸ cultural element is the
cultural that can be used as certain unit analysis.
C.Kluckhohn’s opinion tells in his masterpiece Universal Categories of
Culture, there are seven cultural elements; the system of religion, the system of
social organization, the system of science, the system of livelihood, the system of
technology and tools, language, and art.13
In studying culture, many people are interested to analyze the features of the
society. Sometimes anyone is curious to know the custom, social life, and many more
to be distinguished of what kind of identity they are. All of it is because of everybody
lives in different countries in the world, with different cultures, religions,
personalities, and ethnicities. These differences will be their identity. With the
identity, people can represent themselves in society when they interact with another
people. Identity is used to know the social status such a races, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, marital status, etc. Judy Giles and Tim Middleton said in their book
Studying Center, a Practical Introduction that:
13
“Identities are the differences between a private sense of self that includes conscious and unconscious feelings, rational and irrational motivations, personal beliefs and values and those factors that constitute the social context in which we experience those feelings and motivations (for example age, ethnicity and sex), if our deepest desires and our most personal experiences constitute an individual consciousness, then identity is the way we may choose to represent ourselves and act out our thoughts, beliefs and emotion in the social word”.14
Quotation above explained the identity is the way we present ourselves to be
known by world society. Besides, the identity told “the identities that individuals
adopt in order to define themselves are produced, at least in part, from the cultural
and social context in which we find ourselves and from which we draw certain
assumptions about human nature, individuality, and the self”.15
Based on Studying Culture, a Practical Introduction book, the categories of
identity can be divided as follows:
1. Social aspects include sex, age, occupation, ethnicity, sexual orientation.
2. Physical appearance aspects include hair color, eye color, skin color, body shape, physical disabilities, height, kind of clothes worn, etc.
3. Personality aspects include lively, quiet, shy, concerned for others, morose, a loner, gregarious, etc.
4. Nationality aspects include Irish, Chinese, American, Nigerian, Korean, England, Australian, etc.
5. Religion aspects include Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Confucian, etc.
6. Family relationship aspects include mother, father, daughter, son, etc.
14
Judy Giles and Tim Middleton, Studying Culture, a Practical Introduction (Massachusset : Blackwell Publisher, 1999), p. 32.
15
7. Occupation aspects include teacher, waitress, manager, etc.
8. Cultural aspects include interested in music, a film, football-mad, etc.16
These categories of identity above related one to another. However, these
categories are not the only way to know someone’s identity. These categories do not
tell the real of who they really are. Someone who can define the identity properly is
refers to ourselves. Judy Giles and Tim Middleton write in their book Studying
Culture, a Practical Introduction “However we describe ourselves and however
many categories we draw upon (social, personal, biological, cultural etc.) we tend to
and want to believe that there is a ‘real me’ in which resides the essence or core of
our nature.”17
In this book, Frank Parkin also has developed a theory of meaning system.
The theory discusses three potential responses to a media message: dominant, negotiated, or oppositional.
A dominant (or preferred) reading of a text accepts the content of the cultural product without question. A negotiated reading questions parts of the content of the text but does not question the dominant ideology which underlies the production of the text. An oppositional response to a cultural product is one in
16
Judy Giles and Tim Middleton, Studying Culture, a Practical Introduction (Massachusset : Blackwell Publisher, 1999), p. 31.
17
which the recipient of the text understands that the system that produced the text is one with which she/he is fundamentally at odds.18
From this definition, the writer concludes a dominant is disposed to totally accept one of his/her identity. If he/she prefers to be an American, he/she would run
all of activities based on American culture, ethnic, and society. While a negotiated
would not accept whole of two cultures, such Indian or American cultural identities,
but negotiate both. Last, an oppositional is disposed not to respond and reject one of cultural identity he/she has run in which he/she is not comfortable to present the
identity.
C. American Identity
For hundreds of years, people have been immigrating to the United States in
search of freedom, better living and the fulfillment of the American dream. Being an
American means to uphold values of independence, responsibility and freedom.
Patriotism and unity are main agents for a nation's identity. These values have been
forged by forefather and still remain vibrant in the American culture from east
through west. The existing American identity has been influenced by many factors,
such as the frontier, the melting pot and the political thoughts on this nation.
American Identity is also resulted from the culture which consists of beliefs
and values learned through the socialization process. The American Identity can be
18
identified from their characters, educational aspects, foods, fashions, languages, and
traditional American values.
Almost Americans have characters as a material oriented, fashionable,
glamour, and free. They are also as a hard worker to get a good income and economy.
Americans believe that they can really control their future. They are more specific to
plan things. Americans always like to plan things ahead. They think they can/should
control and dominate nature and world around them.
Americans thinking about change is very positive. They
like mobility, migration, movement and change in their life style. They work hard to
maintain their status quo. Americans place great emphasis on
time and its value. They believe "time is money," and try to make every day
productive. They do not like to waste time. They always like to do their work on
time. Americans like privacy and very independent. They believe the individual is
paramount. They do not like to work in groups. They tend to think about themselves
and place their needs above all else. American teenagers, for
example, do not always consider consequences before they act. They just care
about having fun.
From fashion identity, Americans’ fashions are known more informal because
generally consistent with those of other post industrial western nations and have
become largely informal since the mid 20th century.19
From religion aspects, most Americans’ belief in Christian up to 78, 5%.
Moreover, Almost 97% of Americans speak in English. Although the United States
has no official language at the federal level, 30 states have passed legislation making
English the official language and it is widely considered to be the de facto national
language.20 The rests, speak in native language and immigrant language, such Indian,
Korean, Chinese, etc.
D. Indian Identity
America represents the "New World", where immigrants can do things they
had thought beyond their capabilities. That's the reason why we find there the great
mix of backgrounds, and why America has been called the melting pot of cultures.
Just like an Indians, most of them being immigrants in America in order to reach their
success. Then, Indians have to adjust the culture around the American. Even though,
on the other hands, India has its own cultures and values.
Indians identity is resulted from their culture which is famous with their
music, dance, painting, sculptures, and architecture. The identity of Indians can be
defined from their characters, educational aspects, foods, fashions, languages and
family life.
19
Culture of the United States, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia, Accesed on June 25, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/culture_of_the_united_states, p.3.
20
From the characters, Indians, however, believe that everything goes by
God’s will. In working, they make short term plans. They make their goals around
people of the family. They even change their goals sometimes if they do not suit the
needs of their family or family members. From activity aspect, Indian people are
collectivist people. Then, they like to work in groups and always enjoy working as
members of a group.
In family life, Family plays a big role in the Indian culture. India for ages has
had a prevailing tradition of the joint family system. It’s a system under which even
extended members of a family like one’s parents, children, the children’s spouses and
their offspring, etc. live together. The elder-most, usually the male member is the
head in the joint Indian family system who makes all important decisions and rules,
whereas other family members abide by it. 21 Indians believe in long term
relationships. They are more family-oriented and respect human relationships. They
care for their family and always ready to do anything for them.
From educational aspects, Indian youths have excelled in school. In 1990 they
had the lowest dropout rate and the highest mean grade-point average of all the
Asian-American subgroups. With their high degrees of education attainment and
training, Indians have for decades enjoyed the highest rate of employment as
professionals of all Asian Americans. It should be noted that Asian Indians have also
21
put their entrepreneurial spirit to work in America, owning and operating small
businesses, predominantly hotels, motels, convenience stores, and gas stations.22
From fashion identity, most of Indian Immigrants adapt the fashion of
American. The rests, they still keep and use their traditional India’s clothing.
Traditional Indian clothing’s for women are the saris and also Ghaghra Cholis
(Lehengas). For men, traditional clothes are the Dhoti/pancha/veshti or Kurta.
Indian immigrants who stayed in America used English language to make
easier conversation around them. But they also still use India around their
community.
22
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDING
A. Data Description
My Name is Khan is a movie mostly presented about the life of Indian
immigrant in America. Notably two characters the writer wants to analyze, Rizvan
Khan and Mandira. Both characters are representing India’s culture in America. In
analyzing the cultural identity in this film, the writer focuses to analyze the dialogues,
scenes, and any thoughts of the characters which can represent their culture as the
corpus of the research. They are classified into two groups: characters and cultural
identity.
1. List of Rizvan Khan and Mandira Khan’s characters
Character Corpus Characteristics
Rizvan Khan “She was the first to find out....that I had Asperger's Syndrome…The reason for me being so different from everyone was defined in just two words: Asperger’s Syndrome”(00:22:57,281-00:23:37,154)
“Here, the harder you work, the more
“Wow. A salesman, and yet you speak the
truth?” (00:31:29,641 --> 00:31:30,710)
“Mr. Wadia. Trust me. My Rizu is an place or the people. It should depend only on your belief.”(01:36:06,864--> 01:36:09,059)
“Rizwan Khan by the sheer force of his
Mandira Khan She established a salon which is successful enough. She really expert in serving all customers who come to her salon. (Scene 3)
Although Mandira was a hard worker, she does not forget to take care of her son, Sameer, the one and only. She always tried to take a time for gathering with her family. (Scene 2)
When Mandira lost her son, since the event of 9/11, she asked for a justice to the government official. Mandira was fighting for the justice on her son’s death for 6 months, and then she decided to seek the justice of that case by herself.(Scene 4)
Hard worker Mandira, and all Indians he meets around him.
Rizvan feeds Mandira a candied cake
Mandira Khan Mandira wears a Sari (an Indian’s clothes) in her wedding.(Scene 2)
Paint her hand with the kind of hena (skin paint from India) as a sign of new bride anything. She always sings it together with Rizvan.
B. Data Analysis
1. Character Analysis
In this part, the writer would describe both of characters in this film; Rizvan
Khan and Mandira.
a. Rizvan Khan
1.) Asperger’s syndrome
Rizvan Khan is Mandira’s husband since he met in San Francisco, America.
He is a main character, because often appears in the film very dominant, and always
appears in each conflict. He is a Muslim who comes from India and moves to
America to live with his bhai (brother). He was taught by his mother at a young age
that the world consists of good and bad people. Khan considers himself to be one of
the good people. He is the embodiment of innocence, a man with a physical
disability. He was born with Aspergers Syndrome, a mild form of Autism. A
syndrome makes him different with another people. This autism makes him scared of
noisy situation and hatred for yellow color. Although Khan is a highly intelligent
person, he has difficulty understanding people. When people say random things that
they really do not mean, Khan does not understand what they are saying. People think
he is rude, although he does not mean to act in that manner towards them. The fear
(Scene 1)
(Picture 1)
(Picture 2)
Dialogue 1:
Khan : “She was the first to find out....that I had Asperger's Syndrome. My fear of new places. New people. My hatred for the color yellow and sharp sounds. The reason for me being so different from everyone was defined in just two
words: Asperger's Syndrome.” (00:22:57,281-->00:23:37,154)
Khan : “Red, blue, pink, green..these colours look good on you.Yellow, yellow, dirty fellow. (00:40:36,041 --> 00:40:38,509)
Mandira : Okay.
Two pictures above present Khan’s expression when he found the yellow
color and when he was in a crowded noisy place. He looks very scared and tries to
avoid his fear. The dialogue above also can be such corroboration that Khan really
afflicted asperger’s syndrome. Building on the theoretical framework by
Hubenka/Gracia in How to Analyze Drama, this character is including of the internal
2.) A honest hard worker
Afflicted asperger’s syndrome absolutely makes Khan different from another
people. Even though he feels it, he never gives up surviving in America. Since his
migrating to America, his brother Zakir taught him how to work in America. Then,
Khan has to follow what his brother was taught on him. He tries to be a hard worker
in America. Generally, the aim of most immigrants comes to another country is
hoping get a better life from their hard work. It can be assured by this dialogue:
Dialogue 2:
very hard. Now, it's your turn. Okay? Come. These are all our products and
these are the details. You will be given the names and addresses of all the
salons. You will go to every one of them and sell these. Understand?
(00:24:32,121 -->00:25:07,154)
The dialogue “here, the harder you work, the more successful you get”is the representation of immigrant who really wants to rich luck in another country. Zakir,
salon addressed by his brother, Zakir. Before doing his job, he studies carefully what
he has to do next. In doing his job, he is included a hard worker. He works door to
door and salon to salon to offer the beauty product. We can see the way Khan works
hardly in these scenes:
(Scene 1):
(Picture 3)
(Picture 4)
Not only Khan as a hard worker, but also an honest salesperson. In doing his
business, he tries to say what he has to say honesty to every customer he met even
some of them looks a vain behaved in front of him. Khan’s honesty could make the
customers trust on him and his products selling well. This character can be seen from
the dialogue below:
Dialogue 3: (In any salon)
Khan : “Mehnaz Herbal Beauty Products.All of them. Mehnaz Herbal Beauty Products will make you glow like a newly-wed bride.”
Khan : “We have nothing for the newly-divorced. Just a pimple cream won't help.
You need to cleanse your face, and your system.” (00:25:51,841 -->
00:25:54,719)
Customer 2: “I think that maybe I just need a boyfriend.”
Khan : “Oh, no, no. You don't need a boyfriend. You need this. It says that the product will reach you in seven days. We're lying. It will reach you only in ten days.”(showed the products) (00:26:16,001 --> 00:26:18,196)
(In Karma’s salon, Mandira’s office)
Khan : “I'm here to sell Mehnaz Herbal Beauty products. I don't know how to sell. But my brother Zakir tells me that's my job. Mehnaz Herbal Beauty products,
they are good products. I have tried them all on me. That's why my skin glows.
Shinning like a newly-wed bride. Allow me to show you all the Mehnaz Herbal
Beauty products, please.May I?”
Mandira : “Yes, you can.So tell me.Which product will make me beautiful?”
Khan : “No. No product can make you beautiful. Beauty products can only
Mandira : How many products do you have?Give six of each.”
Khan : “Oh no, no, no. No. All our products expire in three months. lt dies. You need only four. The rest will get spoilt.” (00:31:39,601 --> 00:31:42,957)
From some bold dialogues above, the writer takes a conclusion that Khan
really an honest man. Nobody wants to get a lie and disappointed by somebody. The
disappointed with his product he sells. The dialogue “No product can make you beautiful. Beauty products can only enhance the skin. They cannot make you beautiful.”also proves Khan never want to make his customer lose out of their money although he get a profit from his business. He really keeps a trust from his customer.
He doesn’t want to damage his customer at all. Then, he always explains the truth of
the product to his customer in order to convince them and never want to lose their
trust.
3.) Genius
Afflicted aspersger’s syndrome doesn’t impede Khan to get the equality from
another normal people. Even he includes of autism people, he can work normally, and
he can distinguish between good or bad thing. The over plus of Khan is has being so
genius from young. When he was young, he could speak in English well and repair
Mr. Wadia : “That way, you can pass your time too, isn't it?What nonsense!”
Ammi : “Mr. Wadia. Trust me. My Rizu is an intelligent boy. Rizu.. Talk to Mr.
Wadia in English.Speak in English. Come on.
Khan : (explaining Mr.Wadia’s profile in English) “Wadia family is a Parsi family
building dynasty in 1 736. When he obtained a contract from the British East
lndia Company for building docks and ships in Bombay.” (00:14:47,481 -->
00:14:50,791)
(On the way)
Khan : “Cable car. 1873. The first cable car was started in San Francisco in
1873.”(00:41:43,521 --> 00:41:47,309)
Mandira : “you keep recounting the history of San Francisco. l know everything about this city.”
Khan : “Liar. Liar.lt's impossible to know everything about a city.”
Mandira: “…you will shut your encyclopedia. Okay” (00:42:25,521 --> 00:42:26,840)
(Scene 1):
(Picture 4)
(Picture 5)
Both of two pictures scenes above are representing one of the cleverness of
Khan. Look at to the picture 4, the environs of the place fulfilled of water and Khan
tries to solve how he can remove it from that place. Then, he deceives it by paddling a
working like pump water and turn the water out from it place. This character also
includes of internal character.
4.) Religious
Everyone has their own belief in religion. They may choose a religion they
believe. They have an obligatory to worship their God. Even they really getting busy
of their activity, they have to find a worship time to their God. As like Khan, an
Indian Muslim immigrant. Although he lives in America (as we know, Christian is
the majority religion), religiously he always worship to Allah S.W.T as his God. He
always keeps Allah in his mind wherever and whenever he is. He believes for God
only he worships and for God only he asks for help. Since he was young, he always
brought two small stones that are used as like a prayer beads in his hand. Look at the
scene and the dialogue below:
(Scene 3):
Dialogue 5 for picture 6:
Ali : “Prayer time?Now? Here?You should pray depending upon
the place and the people around.”
Khan : “No. No, no. Prayer should never depend upon the place or the people. It
should depend only on your belief.” (01:36:06,864 --> 01:36:09,059)
For Khan, nothing to chase him away for worship otherwise he’s dead. This
case is proved in this film when the happening of 9/11 attack, attitudes towards
Muslims undergo change. This condition really made difficult for all Muslims for
getting a worship time. At that time, all Muslims are accused as a terrorist of WTC’s
destruction. This matter also happens with Khan, in his extraordinary journey to meet
with President of America, many obstacles approach him. But, it never makes him
careless to pray on his God. Let’s look at the picture 6 and the dialogue 5. The picture
above tells when Khan’s trip is getting rest at the rest station; he met with two people
and made a little conversation. In the middle of conversation, Khan prepared himself
dialogue “No. No, no. Prayer should never depend upon the place or the people. It should depend only on your belief.” Shows that khan really obedient of his obligation as a Muslim. Finally, he prays in the squre nearby the rest station even
most people think he’s really weird. A thoushand eyes looked at him cynically while
he was praying, but it doesn’t make him scare and stop his pray, because he knows
that praying is between God and human, not between human to human. In the same
thing, when he is arrested in a prison as a culprit of terorism, he still keeps praying
even just wears a patch of clothes. This religious character represents the internal
quality in the character. The explanation of this paragraph is equipped with two
pictures below.
Scene 3
(Picture 7)
(Picture 8)
5.) Caring about fellow being
Being a great people is desirability of everyone, loving and blessing each
other is the effort in making peacefulness in the word, helping each other without
people around the world. Although the aftermaths of 9/11 WTC’s building undergo
change the attitude of American toward Muslim, but Khan still being a good person
with a good attitude for everyone, no matter what is their religion, race, rich, or poor.
These qualities are present in Khan. Childhood, mother's education affects his
growth. His mother teaches obtaining a good thing and applies her children that every
person in the world there is no difference, which distinguishes the deeds, good or
evil. That's what makes Khan always helps each others. This character can be seen in
one scene in this film, when he passed Wilhelmina and sat down to rest. While he
was resting, he saw a small child falling from his bicycle, and then he helped the
child and brought a child’s bicycle to the child’s home. It inadvertently introduced
khan to a middle-aged woman named Mama Jenny, a mother of children who helped
by Khan. Khan spent a few days in that place.
Dialogue 6:
Joey : “Oh my God, my knee is bleeding.Can you at least help me please?”
Khan : “Oh, yes l can do that.” (01:38:01,704 --> 01:38:04,138)
Joey : “Okay, thanks.”
In another dialogues also explained the care of Khan on another people. It
happens when the hurricane has hit Wilhelmina, Georgia, Khan really worries to hear
that. Finally, he back to Wilhelmina to help the people there. His deed is exposed by
newspaper. His behavior is really touching the American citizens to help the people
in Wilhelmina. This character can be seen from the dialogue below.
Dialogue 7:
(Sound of television, Star News)
News reader : “Hadits says that the Almighty does not judge by color or creed. But by actions and deeds. If that is the truth, then Rizwan Khan by the sheer force of his actions has elevated the entire humanity in the eyes of God. Just recently this man was arrested and tortured for being an enemy combatant of this country. Wonder what the government officials would call this Muslim enemy combatant today? As he selflessly tries to save the remaining lives in Wilhelmina. Just a few days ago this man was called a terrorist and tortured mercilessly. Today we wait for the response of the government officials as he tirelessly strives to save innocent lives. Then they would find it in the grief and debris of Wilhelmina. It's a long journey to change the
half Americans includes the President touching their heart. They begin to open their
mind that not all Muslims is include of Al-Qaeda organization which this
organization is include of diverge Islam organization. They join to donate some foods
b. Mandira Khan
1.) Hard worker
Mandira Khan is a wife of Rizvan Khan, and mother of Sameer, victimizing
children of 9/11 accident. Before marrying khan, she gets a divorced. Mandira is a
hardworking woman. She is also an immigrant who lives in America. She establishes
a salon which is successful enough. She is really expert in serving all customers who
come to her salon. When she gets married with Rizvan Khan, she builds a kind of
Salon Company, named Mandira Khan Salon and she works together with her
husband in it. Look at the picture 9 below.
(Scene 2)
(Picture 9)
The picture above told when Mandira and Rizvan Khan authenticated their
new company. But, since the situation of 9/11 was happen, that accident impacts
Mandira’s profit company. It is getting dead loss, but it doesn’t make Mandira gives
up. Finally, she seeks another job to survive in that country. This Mandira’s character
Dialogue 8:
(In the new office, interviewing a job)
Interviewer : “Alright, Mandira, you'll join us on Monday.”
Mandira : “Thank you so much. I just want to clarify one thing. My last name is
In the dialogue “Thank you so much.I just want to clarify one thing. My last name is Khan, my husband is Muslim.” is representing Mandira as a hard worker and tries to not hide anything from interviewer. Without giving up, she is optimistic
that every problem will get some solution.
2.) Attentive, loving and warm
Being a good mother need a lot of time to give a loving kindness of the
children. Just like Mandira, although she is a hard worker, she does not forget to take
care of her son, Sameer, the one and only. She always tries to accompany his son,
(Scene 2)
(Picture 10)
(Picture 11)
Both of two pictures above are representing how Mandira loves and cares her
son. Picture 10 is a snapshot taken from the scene when Mandira leads Sameer to the
school in the morning before she gets a work in her salon, whereas for the picture 11
is the scene when Mandira gives Sameer a time to get a joke and spends all day long
with him. Mandira also calls her son by “the apple of eye” for Sameer’s favorite nick
name like in the dialogue below:
Dialogue 9:
(On the way to school)
Mandira : (Running) “Okay. Almost there. Almost there. Almost there.”
Sameer : “Thanks God. We are on time. Ok, bye Mom”
Mandira : “Where's my hug? Where's my kiss? Bye! The apple of my eye. Love me till I die.”(00:38:12,481 --> 00:38:15,757)
Sameer : “Bye”
As well as other family, they wish they can spend their time together. When
there is a family gathering, some of families spend their time for relaxing and
gathering in their sweet home. In this movie, Mandira also do the same thing. If she
full of joke and laugh. Mandira makes her family have a warm feeling in the warm
time each other like the picture 12 below.
(Scene 3)
(Picture 12)
3.) Never gives up
Usually, hard workers are never giving up in doing something before
achieving what they want. As like Mandira, when she lost her son, Sameer, who was
become a victim’s death since the event of 9/11, she asks for a justice to the
government official. Since that tragedy, most immigrants, especially for Muslim
heritage didn’t get a fair justice in some condition. For the example is Mandira, she
was really difficult to get a fair justice about the case of her son’s death. The
government official concluded that the case of her son’s death was an accident, not
murdered, but Mandira knows that this case is not an accident and ask the justice to
the government.
Mandira fights for the justice on her son’s death for 6 months, and then she
decides to seek the justice of that case by herself. All kind of effort has been done by
Mandira in order to get some justice from the government. With all the efforts she has
show that Mandira is a figure of a woman who never gives up. To reinforce the
statement above, look at the dialogue and pictures below.
Dialogues 10: (In the house yard)
Mandira : “What do you mean you're shutting the case? Understand it's been six months.”
Police : “Okay, no witnesses, no suspects, no evidence. There's been no movement on this case, Mrs. Khan. Look,I really have no choice.”
Mandira : “I don’t accept that. There has to be an answer. And if you can’t find it, I will” (01:46:18,504 -->01:46:27,416)
(On Mandira’s way to hand out the pamphlet of her son’s death) Mandira : “Hi”
Strangers : “Hi”
Mandira : “l'm looking for any lead on the boys who killed my son. Any information at
all, my number is there. - Okay.” (01:46:51,104 -->01:46:55,178)
(Scene 4)
(Picture 12)
(Picture 13)
The dialogues above are taken from some situation showed that Mandira is
accept that. There has to be an answer. And if you can’t find it, I will” and “l'm looking for any lead on the boys who killed my son. Any information at all, my number is there. - Okay.” are some of her effort to find a justice by herself. Picture 12 and 13 are also illustrate how spirit herself to solve that case. She made a big
billboard labeled “6 months without justice” and also attached Sameer’s image, then
she stands in the middle of square where her son get murdered and seen by many
people.
2. Culture and Identity Analysis
Based on theoretical framework, culture is a complex whole which includes
knowledge, belief, arts, morals, laws, and any other capabilities acquired by man as a
member of a society. One of the best ways to understand culture is to learn something
about how it began and how it grew. To understand more about the culture need to
know about the cultural element. Because of it presence, the culture will have a total
meaning. In Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia¸ cultural element is the cultural that can
be used as certain unit analysis. There are seven cultural elements; the system of
religion, the system of social organization, the system of science, the system of
livelihood, the system of technology and tools, language, and art.23
In this part of analysis, the writer would analyze the culture and identity that
focused after 9/11 WTC’s tragedy which applied in two characters of My Name is
23
Khan movie by classifying it into the categories based on Studying Culture, a
Practical Introduction book24 followed by several theories and explanations. Both of
characters are Indian immigrants who live in America and going to face a new culture
in their daily life.
a. Rizvan Khan
Rizvan Khan is a male from India who lives in San Francisco with his bhai
(brother) since his mother’s death. He often shows his foreign attitude and his
difference to others. Even so, he can adjust himself as an immigrant in America.
Below are some of characters and attitudes that showed Khan little Americanize, but
still keeps his Indian culture and will has the ways of representing of his Indian
culture in America.
How to get dressed someone also the way to recognize someone’s identity.
However, adjusting the way somebody gets dressed also something important for the
people who live in the country where they are the minority of people in that place.
Khan proves it when he stayed in America. It can be shown from the way he gets
dressed in his daily life since he stays in America. If he gets a work, he wears some of
western-style shirt and coat, and if he gets some holiday or gets some leisure time, he
wears some casual dress such a t-shirt and jeans.
24
(Picture 14)
Being an immigrant in America must have an English skill in order to ease in
conversation. As like Khan, he could speak English fluently. This matter is easing
him to make some conversation to another people in America. As a sales promotion
of beauty product, he has to promote some products to his customer in English. His
expertise in speaking English is beneficial in his work.
Dialogue 11
(In karma’s Salon)
Khan : “I'm here to sell Mehnaz Herbal Beauty products. I don't know how to sell. But my brother Zakir tells me that's my job. Mehnaz Herbal Beauty products,
they are good products. I have tried them all on me. That's why my skin glows.
Shinning like a newly-wed bride. Allow me to show you all the Mehnaz Herbal
Beauty products, please.May I?”(00:30:42,081 -->00:31:11,680)
Generally, some people eat some cuisine depends on what they usually eat and
like. Some immigrants who stayed in another country like America seldom to find
some cuisine made by their home town, but many people also like some cuisine from
food from America such salad and chicken mozzarella when he got some dinner with
his neighbor.
Dialogue 12: (In Sarah’s house)
Sarah : “Reese, pass Mr. Khan the salad. Rizwan, how is the chicken? Do you like it?”
Khan : “No, not at all! Don’t make it ever again, the chicken is not good” (Khan
is joking, he is really enjoying the chicken)(01:10:37,841 --> 01:10:39,797)
Although Rizvan Khan is assimilated into some American cultures, he still
keeps his Indian culture in passing life in America. There are few Indian cultures that
he represents when he lives in America.
1.) Speaking Indian’s Language
Rizvan Khan shows Indian culture in America since he comes to America. He
stays in his brother’s house and speaks in India. Even he stays in America; he still
often uses India Language for his daily conversation to all Indian he met there. The
writer takes the scene when Khan he first comes to America with his bhai and meets
with his sister in law Hasina. He already exactly speaks India with her and his bhai.
This is one of the ways he keeps his culture in America
Dialogue 12:
(In front of Bhai’s house, on the way)
Khan : "TV? Hmm. Phir aapko nahi chalo, aur nahi raasose bhilkul dhar nahi
lagega.”(00:23:44,881 --> 00:23:47,600)
The Indian dialogue above is taken from scene 2, when Hasena teaches Khan
to use a handy camera in order to makes Khan such watching a TV will not scared of
crowded place and new people anymore.
2.) Holding a traditional Indian wedding ceremony
Beside, Rizvan Khan also customizes his wedding day with the traditional
Indian wedding when he gets married with Mandira. It shows from the wedding
ceremony, the cuisine provided in that event, the music played, and the clothing they
wear. Some Indian’s traditional food; candied cake is provided in the wedding as the
cuisine of India for feeding to a new bride as a sign of legitimate couple of wedding.
Almost Indian’s music played during the ceremony, and the entire guess dance in
Indian style dance. The clothes they wear also a typical Indian clothes. Khan makes
his wedding day really like in his own country, India. This is one of Khan’s efforts to
(Scene 2)
(Picture 15)
(Picture 16)
3.) Singing an Indian song
Not only Khan keeps the culture from the wedding day he made, but also still
keeps sing an Indian song in his daily life, such :
“hum hongge kaami aap, hum hongge kaami aap eik din, ohoo manme hai wishvaas, poora hai wishvaas, hum hongge kaami aap eik dinn”(Scene 2)
This piece of lyrics is taken from the song he always sings with Mandira, it
means “we shall overcome”. This song is such a motivation song, he always sings it
if he feel bad and get any problem. Those are the culture which showed by Rizvan
Khan.
b. Mandira Khan
Mandira Khan is a woman from India who became an Immigrant in America.
by Khan, she was a widow and doing everything by herself. She works and takes care
of his son by her own self. She works as a hairdresser in beauty salon. Even she just
an immigrant, she could serve her customer very well.
Although Mandira is earlier lived in America than Rizvan, she still keeps her
own culture. Not too much different with Khan, Mandira also often shows his foreign
attitude and his difference to others. Even so, she could adjust herself in America,
such as adjusts the way she gets dress around American and fluently speaks English.
As like as American, most of them wear some casual dress such some t-shirt, jeans,
sweater, and etc. Mandira also wears the same thing. Many scenes in this movie
showed Mandira always wears some casual dress as like America. Look at the picture
17.
(Scene 2)
(Picture 17)
As like as we see, in the scene 2 of the movie, Mandira wears a pink blazer
Just like Rizvan, Mandira also fluently in English. As an Immigrant, then she
muat be able to speak English. However she is a hairdresser in some Salon in
America, she will meets American customers and get some conversations in English,
it will makes her easier to communicate with her customers.
Dialogue 13:
(In Karma’s salon, greeting her guest)
Mandira : “So, you were coming here? I hope you’ve come for a haircut. You’ve got
great hair.”(00:29:48,481 --> 00:29:50,073)
Those are some of Characters showed Mandira assimilated with the American
culture. Even though she is assimilated, she still keeps her own culture; Indian culture
in America. There are some of Indian cultures that she represents during she lives in
America:
1.) Wearing Indian’s wedding dress
The first feature indicates Mandira still reminds her original culture is can be
seen when she gets married and held in Indian traditional wedding ceremony. She
wears an Indian’s wedding dress named sari, one of original Indian’s woman
costume. This feature showed that she proud of her culture even not at her own
country. At least, she doesn’t shy wear it around the American guest. Look at the
Scene 2
(Picture 18)
2.) Keeping Indian’s tradition; paints her skin as a new bride.
Every new bride wants to look beautiful and perfect on her wedding day. One
of India's traditions in the wedding for bride is to paint some beautiful shades over
her hands with a skin ink named henna. Mandira’s hand also painted by henna as a
sign of a happy Indian’s newlyweds. It means she identifies herself that she is Indian
immigrant which still reminds her own culture even she stays in another country. this
culture can be shown at the picture 19.
Scene 2
(Picture 19)
3.) Speaking and Singing Indian’s language
In Mandira’s daily life, she speaks Indian with all Indian’s fellows which all
