xviii many people and Americans themselves. The creator succeeds in depicting
American myths, beliefs and values. In dealing with global issues, America often shows paradox, between defending global peace and preserving their own
interests, especially in the world of military and espionage. Weapons of mass destruction and terrorism are the main issues brought to surface in this game. In
handling the problems of the issues, in this game, America shows paradoxes.
B. Scope of Study
There are many American myths, beliefs, and values reflected in this game. Since this research will be focused on the revelation of myth of American
paradox in the game entitled Metal Gear Solid, any other myths will not be discussed in detail in order to avoid deviation.
C. Research Questions
1. How do the characters in Metal Gear Solid reflect the myth of American paradox?
2. Why do the characters in Metal Gear Solid perform the paradox?
D. Objectives of the Study
1. To explain how the characters in Metal Gear Solid reflect the myth of American paradox.
2. To explain why the characters in Metal Gear Solid perform the paradox.
xix
E. Benefits of the Study
This research is hopefully beneficial to: 1. The students of English Department
a. To deepen the understanding toward the myth of American paradox.
b. To give view to the readers about the new media that could be used as a medium to conduct a research, home entertainment video
game. 2. Other researchers
To give contribution for other researchers who want to conduct a research on the related field.
F. Theoretical Approach
The researcher applies popular culture theory, semiotic film theory, historical, and sociopolitical approaches to conduct the research.
Popular means accepted or acknowledged by large number of people. Since game is a product of culture, in this case popular culture, the researcher uses
popular culture theory. This research will try to reveal the myth of American Paradox reflected by the product of popular culture, game and specifically MGS,
thus the researcher uses beliefs and values theory and myth theory found in Popular Culture theory:
Popular culture theory deals with popular culture that can provide the reflection necessary to expose and highlight cultural beliefs and
values. Popular culture reflects and molds beliefs and values that are so deeply embedded that their truth is assumed rather than
proven. The study of popular culture brings this assumed-to-be true beliefs and values to the surface and into the light of day—
xx reflected in our mirrors, refracted through our lenses Nachbar and
Lause, 1992:9.
Myth means beliefs or values which are accepted, held by people or group of people, and long lasting. “Myth” says nothing about “truth” or “falsity” of any
belief or value; it says that the belief andvalue is significant and long lasting— vital to mindset of the culture, which holds it—and that is widely accepted as
being true Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 84. This game, in the house of popular culture, belongs to the room of poplar
arts in the event floor. Popular arts are the visible aspects artifacts and events of a culture which are expressions of the invisible parts cultural mindset in the
basement, bedrock beliefs myth and values. In other words, the meaning and significance of the contents of popular arts are determined and highly influenced
by the beliefs and values hidden from view in the basement. Beliefs and values are those unseen convictions about the world, which form a culture’s mindset and
thus mold and color the way that culture sees and interprets reality Nachbar and Lause, 1992: 82.
Semiotic approach deals with the deeper understanding toward something as system of signs to reveal the deeper meaning and connotative meaning to
achieve the hidden messages. Dalam semiotik makna didefinisikan secara erat dengan tanda, tetapi hubungan antara makna dan tanda dikonseptualisasikan
Masinambun and Hidayat, 2001:1. Semiotic film theory, thus, deals with deeper understanding toward anything found in the film which is considered as system of
signs. This approach will be applied since besides MGS is like film, it contains
xxi and conveys many signs and hidden messages reflecting the myth of American
paradox. Sociological point of view is needed since it concerns with social aspects,
development of society, and social behavior. Through this point of view, the relationship of Metal Gear Solid with the social life and phenomena will be
revealed. The American myth, including its beliefs and values, reflected by Metal Gear Solid cannot be separated from the social life of American society since it
talks about America and is popular in America. Sociology is concerned with every aspect of the self relationships with others and every aspect of the social world
that affects a person’s thoughts or actions Eshelman, Chasion, and Bastrico, 1993:6.
This game talks about military and government including their effort to acquire and exercise their power, thus it cannot be separated from politics since
politic deals with the matters of acquiring and exercising power. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the word politics means matters
concerned with acquiring or exercising power within a group or an organization Hornby, 1995:894. Social life and politics influences one another and cannot be
separated since in many aspects of social life politics do exist and in doing politics social life does count.
…struktur politik dapat dibagi kedalam dua klasifikasi umum, yaitu struktur fisik alami dan struktur sosial. Dengan struktur
fisik terutama dimaksudkannya geografi dan demografi, sedangkan struktur sosial terutama menyangkut ketrampilan teknologi,
lembaga dan kebudayaan Duverger, 1993: 36.
xxii With the consideration above, this research will employ sociopolitical
approach which, according to Roucek and Waren in Isjwara’s Pengantar Ilmu Politik, means
“…branch of sociology which analyses political processes within a sociological frame of reference, orienting its attention particularly
to the dynamics of political behaviour, as it is effected by various social processes, such as corruption, competition, conflicts, etc”
Roucek and Waren in Isjwara, 1982:82.
When talking about sociology and politics, one of the critical aspects in this field cannot be ignored, that is historical approach. As historical approach deals with
the historical and social conditions of certain people in certain times, his research will be used to trace back the ideas, myths, dreams, hopes, facts, and history of
American society in order to get evidence of the long lasting of myth of American paradox.
G. Research Methodology
