The Dynamic Interplay Between Agent and Structure in the Film The Shawshank Redemption

A social phenomenon in society as represented in a film can be analyzed from many different perspectives. One of the theories that can be applied to do that is Giddens’ structuration theory. It emphasizes on the duality of structure meaning that agency is inseparable from structure and both affect each other. It consists of three-tiered dimensions, namely the structure of signification, domination, and legitimation, and the interaction that agents carry out in the form of communication, power and sanction mediated by the modality of interpretive scheme, facility, and norm. This paper will analyze the interplay of agency and structure in the film Shawsank Redemption through the characters of Andy, Red, Brooks, Captain Hadley, and Warden Norton. The analysis result shows that the agents in the film indeed can make some changes on the structure, by only reproducing or transforming it

The Absence of Love and Hopes of Shion Uzuki in the Xenosaga Trilogy

Among video games, The Xenosaga Trilogy is widely recognized due to its complex storyline. The psychological struggle of the main character, Shion Uzuki, is one of the aspects that drives the story from the beginning up to its conclusion. Despite her seemingly bright personality, Shion has an absence of love and hopes, as she lives her life monotonously without any set goal. It later leads her to develop a strong attachment to KOS-MOS, an android. As such, in this study, we want to analyze the reasons Shion has the absence of love and hopes in the first place and the ways she struggles to recover from that absence. In order to answer these questions, we use 3 psychological theories, namely Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Transference, and Countertransference. We find out that Shion's absence of love and hopes is apparently caused by her traumatic past and her PTSD. As a unconscious response to this, Shion tries to recover by using transference. This attempt fails, but Shion is finally healed thanks to KOS-MOS' countertransference. In conclusion, Shion fully recovers from her traumatic past and PTSD because of KOS-MOS' countertransference instead of her own transference

Haruki Murakami's Deconstructive Reading of the Myth of Johnnie Walker and Colonel Sanders in Kafka on the Shore

This study aims to analyze how Haruki Murakami reads the real icons of Johnnie Walker and Colonel Sanders in Kafka on the Shore deconstructively. First, we will focus on the signification process of the icon, which are to a great extent molded by advertisements, and then on the deconstruction of their signifieds. For the purpose, we will apply Barthes' idea of myth. We are also interested in revealing how Murakami constructs Johnnie Walker and Colonel Sanders to be characters in the novel. The analysis shows that the construction of the icons through advertisements leads to the creation of their mtyhs, and then Murakami reads them deconstructively to be opposite signifieds

The Inferiority Complex of Homunculus in Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist

This article explores the causes and effects of inferiority complex in a character of a manga created by Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist. Commonly seen as a child's play and underestimated by the society of literature, comic book or manga actually has the same quality as those considered as literary arts and stands equally with them. It embraces issues freely without the restriction of social rules and individual or group and uncontaminated by social, personal, or political influences. One of the issues most people think will not be in a comic book is psychology. Started from comparing himself to humans, the main antagonist, Homunculus, suffers from an inferiority complex caused by several factors such as parental attitude, physical defects, and envy. Furthermore, as the effect of suffering inferiority complex, Homunculus develops psychological defenses to ease his inferiorities: compensation and superiority complex. He tries to compensate his inferior feelings by excelling in another area and covers up the inferiorities by striving for superiority and omnipotence

The Feminism and Femininity of Ann Veronica in H. G. Wells' Ann Veronica

H.G. Well's Ann Veronica structurally seems to be divided into two parts; the first deals with Ann Veronica's struggle to get equality with men and freedom in most aspects of life, such as in politics, economics, education, and sexuality; the second describes much the other side of her individuality which she cannot deny, namely her femininity, such as her crave for love, marriage, maternity, and beauty. H.G. Wells describes vividly the two elements in Ann Veronica, feminism and femininity. As a feminist, Ann Veronica rebelled against her authoritative Victorian father, who regarded women only as men's property to be protected from the harsh world outside. On the other side, Ann could not deny her being a woman after she fell in love with Capes. Her femininity from the second half of the novel then is explored. Although the novel ends with the depiction of the domestic life of Ann Veronica, it does not mean that the feminism is gone altogether. The key point is that the family life Ann chooses as a `submissive' wife and good mother is her choice. It is very different if it is forced on her to do. Thus, this novel depicts both sides of Ann Veronica, her feminism and her femininity

Mort Rainey\u27s Split Personality in Secret Window

Psychological issue is the main issue discussed in David Koepp\u27s Secret Window through its main character, Mort Rainey. Rainey\u27s psychological struggle will be the main theme in this research. This thesis examines Rainey\u27s split personality. Furthermore, in this study, we want to analyze the process of how Mort Rainey\u27s personality splits into two different personalities. To meet the answer of this study, we will use the theory of Dissociative Identity Disorder with a support from Sigmund Freud\u27s psychoanalytic theory about the three psyche agents. In this study, we discover that the process of Mort Rainey\u27s split personality begins with a traumatic experience, then continues with the repression and compartmentalization to create John Shooter. Finally, the split personality that Mort Rainey experiences is useful as a great defense for Mort Rainey to cope with his trauma

The Effect of Cruel Punishments in the Mental Hospital to Susanna's Depression in Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted!

This paper is basically a study of depression. Through the study on Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted!, I intend to analyze the effects of cruel punishment in the mental hospital to Susanna Kaysen, the main character in the novel. In order to fulfill the goal of this thesis, I use psychological theory on depression to analyze the novel. Finally, I conclude that Susanna becomes more depressed after she enters the mental hospital and sees the cruel punishment in there. The cruel punishments can be classified into two groups. They are mental and physical torture. In the novel, Susanna experiences both of them that make her feel more depressed than before she enters the mental hospital. In other words, watching the cruel punishment or torture can make a healthy person becomes depressed and depressed person becomes more depressed. Therefore, a person should avoid watching anything cruel in the television, radio, newspaper, and society so that they will not get depressed or more depressed by i