THE CONSTRUCTION OF VIOLENT IDENTITY OF BLACK PEOPLE IN INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD OF AMERICA IN 2000s
AS REPRESENTED IN 50 CENT SONGS
THESIS
Submitted as
a Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Sarjana Degree in English Department Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts Sebelas Maret University
By: KUSMARNI
C1310008
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND FINE ARTS SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY
MOTTOS
It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
–
Anthony Robbins
–
Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe,
It can achieve.
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to present my gratitude to Allah for the entire guidance, gracious
mercy and great opportunity. Then, I would like to express my deep gratitude to:
1. Drs. Riyadi Santosa, M. Ed., Ph. D as the Dean of Faculty of Letters and Fine
Arts, Sebelas Maret University.
2. Drs. Sugiyarto Budi Waskito, M. Pd as the Head of the English Non Regular
Program and the Academic Advisor.
3. Karunia Purna Kusciati, S.S., M.Si as the thesis supervisor. Thank you for your
guidance, patience and attention during the process of making this thesis.
4. All of the lecturers in the English Department. Thank you for the valuable
knowledge and experience you have shared.
5. My parents and my little brother. Thank you for your love, support and pray.
6. My superman. Thank you for always be by my side, in my rise and fall.
7. My friends at English Department: Rifka, Fika, Nanik, Virgin, Astrid, Meti,
Permita, Dwi, Puspita, Diandra, Putri, Abi, Erik, Wika, Suryo and all of my
friends of American Studies class of 2008 that I can not mention one by one.
8. My friends: Ida Frismawati and Harma Fatmawati.
Surakarta, November 2013
PRONOUNCEMENT
Name : Kusmarni
NIM : C1310008
States wholeheartedly that the thesis entitled The Construction of Violent Identity
of Black People in Inner City Neighborhood of America in 2000s as Represented
in 50 Cent Songs is originally made by the researcher. It is neither a plagiarism nor
made by others. The things related to other people’s works are written in quotation
and included in bibliography.
If it is later discovered and proven that this pronouncement is prevaricating, the researcher is ready to take on any consequences from English Department of Sebelas Maret University, including the withdrawal of the Degree.
Surakarta, November 2013
The Construction of Violent Identity of Black People in Inner City
Neighborhood of America in 2000
sas Represented in
50 Cent
Songs.
Kusmarni1
Karunia Purna Kusciati, S.S., M. Si2
ABSTRACT
2013. Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts. Sebelas Maret University.
This research aims to explain how 50 Cent constructs the violent identity as
social control and how he constructs the negative images of violence through the
lyrics of 50 Cent’s songs. It is also conducted to reveal how the violent lyrics of 50
Cent portray the social control.
This research is descriptive qualitative research taking three 50 Cent songs
included Many Men, The Invitation and Heat as the sources of data. The primary data
are words and phrases that are supported by secondary data included books, articles
in a website, news and biographical video of 50 Cent. This research is conducted
under American Studies framework. As consequences, it employs interdisciplinary study which needs several theories and approaches such as semiotic theory, cultural and sociological approach to answer the research question.
It is found that 50 Cent constructs the violent identity of Black people living
in inner city neighborhood of America as social control through the images as a wild or crazy persona, his violent behavior, his belonging such as gun and his position as
the one having the highest status in the street. 50 Cent also delivers message toward
other Black people to be united and have a sense of belonging among Black people in order to be more powerful to fight against inequality and discrimination by Whites in
authority. 50 Cent also constructs the negative images of violence through his
involvement in drug trafficking which is always correlated with violent activities. In
constructing the images of Black people of being violent, 50 Cent tries to show that
Black people are strong, tough and powerful that is unable to be defeated. The violent
lyrics of 50 Cent songs portray social control as a result of the absence of police who
should control the condition of society to perform justice. Black people living in inner city neighborhood look for their own justice by giving punishment to people who disrespect others.
Keyword: 50 Cent, Gangsta Rap, Violence, Social Identity, Black Community. ___________________________
1
Mahasiswa Jurusan Sastra Inggris dengan NIM C1310008
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE ………...i
THE APPROVAL OF CONSULTANT ………..ii
THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS ...………..iii
MOTTO ……....…….……….iv
DEDICATION ………v
G. Theoretical Approach ………..9
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Biography of 50 Cent ……….13
B. Gangsta Rap ………21
C. Social Condition of Black People in America in Early Decade of 2000s .…..…30
D. Semiotic Theory ……….36
E. Related Works ……….40
CHAPTER III: ANALYSIS
A. The Establishment of Violent Identity of Black American in Inner Cities ...…..42
B. The Construction of the Negative Images of Violence ………...………...68
C. The Representation of Violence as Social Control ………..………84
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
A. Conclusion ………106
B. Recommendation ………..107
REFERENCES
