An analysis of cultural identity of Indian immigrants after 9/11 WTC'S tragedy in the USA through the two main characters in film my name is khan by Karan Johor

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

Rizvan Khan and Mandira in America. The film was studied by using the descriptive qualitative method. In analyzing, the writer explains the character analysis of Rizvan Khan and Mandira Khan and the culture identity analysis which represented by them. From the data analysis, the writer found some of characteristics of two main characters and identity that represent both of them where the writer wants to analyze. Both of them represent different characteristics but they have the same identities of immigrants that are not much different each other. Finally, the writer concludes that the film analysis through the perspectives of character and culture identity show that the two characters in this film are categorized as negotiated immigrant.

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

JAKARTA 2011

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

The Examination Committee

Signature Date

1. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd 19640710 199303 1 006

(Chair Person)

2. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum 19781003 200112 2 002

(Secretary)

3. Muh.Supardi, M.Hum (Advisor)

4. Dr.Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd

19650919 200003 1 002 (Examiner I)

5. Drs.Abdul Hamid, M.Ed (Examiner II) 150 181 922

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. Although they’re rather annoying, but they both have paint her life.

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

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstract ……… i

Approvement ………... ii

Legalization ……….. iii

Declaration ………... iv

Acknowledgment ………. v

Table of Content ……….. vi

Chapter I Introduction ……….……….. 1

A. Background of the Study ………..………… 1

B. Focus of the Study ……… 5

C. Research Question ………... 5

D. Significance of the Research ………... 6

E. The Methodology of the Research ... 6

CHAPTER II Theoretical Framework ……… 8

A. Character .……….. 8

1. Major and minor character .………... 10

2. Protagonist and antagonist character ……… 10

3. Flat and round character ……… 10

4. Static and dynamic character ……….... 11

B. Culture Identity ……….... 11

C. American Identity ……….... 15

D. Indian Identity ………. 17

CHAPTER III Research Finding ……….……… 20

A. Data Description ……….. 20

1. Character analysis ……….... 24

a. Rizvan Khan ………….……….……….. 24

1.) Asperger’s syndrome ……..………. 24

2.) An honest hard worker ………..……… 26

3.) Genius ………..……….... 29

4.) Religious ………..………. 31

5.) Caring about fellow being .….……….……….. 33

b. Mandira Khan ……… 36

1.) Hard Worker ……….………... 36

2.) Attentive, loving and warm ……….……… 37

3.) Never gives up ………..……... 39

2. Culture Identity analysis ………..……….. 41

a. Rizvan Khan ………..……… 42

1.) Speaking Indian language ……….………….. 44

2.) Holding a traditional Indian wedding ceremony ……... 45

3.) Singing an Indian song …….……..………..……... 46

b. Mandira Khan ………..……….…. 46

1.) Wearing Indian wedding dress ……… 48

2.) Keeping Indian tradition ……….……… 49

3.) Speaking and singing Indian language ...……….. 49

4.) Hindu’s traditions ……….…………... 50

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.

“Migration, of course, involves a different kind of change in cultural spaces than travelling. With traveling, the change is temporary and, usually, desirable. It is something people seek out. By contrast, people who migrate do not always seek out this change. Many immigrants leave their homelands simply to survive. But they often find it difficult to adjust to the change,

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

Cultural identity, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. Accessed on March 27, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cultural_Identity, p.1.

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;

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, (Never Say Goodbye). The movie was the highest grossing overseas film of all time. In November 2009, Johar ended shooting for his film My Name Is Khan starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol Devgan. The film released to overwhelmingly positive reviews and strong box office figures 12 February 2010, with a series of premieres in Abu Dhabi and Berlin.

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.

5_{Asparger’s syndrome}

is an autism spectrum disorder, and people with it therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

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:

6_{Melting 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 characters of My Name is Khan film after 9/11 WTC’s tragedy in 2001.

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 Islamic University Jakarta.

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 understand culture is to learn something about how it began and how it grew. Whereas the realization of culture is object created by human cultured, such a behavior and all of the real objects like a language, life equipment, social

12

E. M. Forster, “Flat and Round Characters,” Essential of the Theory of Fiction, ed. Michael Hoffman and Patrick Murphy (Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1988), p.40.

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 they prefer to wear t-shirts and jeans than formal dress. Dress norms in USA are

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

Culture of India, from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, accessed on June 25, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/culture_of_India, p.1.

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

Himilce novas , lan cao, and rosemary silva. Everything You Need To Know About Asian American.(USA: A Plume Book, 2004) p. 257.

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)

Asperger’s syndrome

“Here, the harder you work, the more

successful you get. I have worked 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)

“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

intelligent”(00:14:47,481-00:14:50,791)

“You are pumping water out. That's

amazing. Genius. Genius.”(00:16:25,481

--> 00:16:28,393)

“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)

“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.(02:13:46,144->02:14:43,574)

An honest hard worker

Caring about fellow being

Genius

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

2. List of the cultural identity of Indian immigrants in the U.S.A in My Name is Khan by Karan Johar.

Character Corpus Cultural Identity

Rizvan Khan He still keeps his Indian language. He speaks Indian language with his Bhai, Mandira, and all Indians he meets around him.

Rizvan held his wedding day by a traditional Indian wedding ceremony. In his wedding party, most of his guests use some sari, Indian music played, some of Indian cuisine cooked, and Indian dance (Scene 2)

Indian Language Attentive, loving and

warm

Never gives up

Indian Wedding Ceremony

Rizvan feeds Mandira a candied cake (Indian’s traditional cake) as a sign of a legitimate couple of married.

Rizvan Khan always sings his favorite Indian song if he feels gives up (Scene 2, Scene 3)

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 (Scene 2)

Mandira is active speaks an Indian language in her daily life around her family and her Indian’s friend.

Mandira also likes sing an Indian song. She sings it to motivate herself in doing anything. She always sings it together with Rizvan.

As a Hindu, Mandira still keeps praying depends on her religion. She blesses her son with blowing her son’s face on and gave some blessing cake to her son. (Hindu tradition) (Scene 2)

Indian’s Wedding Dress Indian’s Tradition Indian Language Indian’s Art Song Hindu Tradition Indian’s Tradition Food Indian’s Art Song

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 expression of Khan can be seen in scene and dialogue below:

(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 qualities.

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: (in Zakir’s office)

Zakir : “What did I have when I came to America?”

Khan : “Nothing”

Zakir : “But today? See for yourself. I am the biggest dealer for Mehnaz Herbal

Products.Because this is America.”

Khan : “America”

Zakir : “Here, the harder you work, the more successful you get. I have worked

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, as Khan’s brother taught how to work. The dialogue “You will be given the names and addresses of all the salons. You will go to every one of them and sell these” is proved that Khan is positioned as a sales man to offer some beauty products to the

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 enhance the skin. They cannot make you beautiful.” (00:31:26,761 --> 00:31:28,319)

Mandira : “Wow. A salesman, and yet you speak the truth?” (00:31:29,641 --> 00:31:30,710)

Khan : Always. Always.

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 dialogue “It says that the product will reach you in seven days. We're lying. It will reach you only in ten days” proves Khan doesn’t want to make his customer

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 any broken thing. He also can memorize the inside of any encyclopedia like in this dialogue and scene:

Dialogue 4:

(Professor Wadia’s house)

Ammi : “ Rizu. My Rizu is a sharp boy. So, l thought if you agree to teach him here, in your house”

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 bicycle and plugs the water pipe into it. If Khan paddles the bicycle, the device is

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: (In the rest station)

Ali : “What's your name?”

Khan : “Rizwan Khan. Khan.”

Ali : “I'm lmran and this is Sajida. Where are you off to? It's time for the bus to

leave.”

Khan: “Prayer time.” (01:35:49,504 --> 01:35:51,381)

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 to pray. The bold dialogue “Prayer time? Now? Here? You should pray depending upon the place and the people around” by Ali shows at that time is almost Muslims scare to do their pray. But it is’nt chased Khan away to far from his God. The

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 discriminating any kind of people, are precious deeds if it can be done with all the

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 one of journalist and published to citizens of America through TV station and

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 world. But the first few steps have been taken by Rizwan Khan in Wilhelmina. Isn't it our duty now to take this journey forward? Raj Burman, Star News” (02:13:46,144 -->02:14:43,574)

This action is inspiring many people who know and watch it from the television. They can’t wonder that the man who tries to save the people in Wilhelmina is the man that the government officials call him a terrorist and come from India. In the midst of race crisis of the aftermaths 9/11, Khan deed is made a 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 and medical help to the people in Wilhelmina.

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 also can be proven from the dialogue below.

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 Khan, my husband is Muslim.”(01:07:53,681-->01:08:02,237)

Interviewer : “We'll see you on Monday.”

Mandira : “Thanks.”

(In the outside office)

Mandira : “Khan. l got the job, l got the job.”

Khan : “Okay”

Mandira : “Now, everything will be all right, We’ll do it” (01:08:16,961 --> 01:08:17,996)

Khan : “I know, we shall overcome”

Mandira : “Yes, we shall overcome”

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, although sometimes very busy.

(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 gets a chance for gathering family, she spends it with Sameer and Khan. Her day is

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 done, finally she knows the murderer of his son. Some sequences above suffice to

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 not giving up in solving the case of her son’s death. The bold dialogues “I don’t

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

Judy Giles and Tim Middleton, Studying Culture, a Practical Introduction (Massachusset : Blackwell Publisher, 1999), p. 31.

(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 the country they occupied. Just like Khan, even he is an Indian, he can receive some

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)

Haseena : “(holding camera) Ye leh, aap isne se dheekhongi na? phir aapko lageeka TV deekhenge.”

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 show that he still keeps his culture.

(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. She is married by Rizvan Khan and builds some of business together. Before married

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 mixed with her black boat. It looks like an American style.

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 picture 18.

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 of them also an immigrant like her. As like as Khan do, Mandira still use Indian’s

language although she stays in America. Although English is the majority language that all most of her salon guest is native America, but she often uses Indian’s language whom also come from India around them. Here is one example taken from the dialogue in one scene when she talks with her friend Madam Rita, which showed this representation:

Dialogue 14: (In Karma’s salon)

Mandira : “To yaha aaree hai tum? To he paas meri jaatihu”(talking to madam) (00:29:46,001 --> 00:29:47,514)

Madam : “Thik!”

The dialogues above is happened when Khan comes to Karma’s salon and talks to Madam Rita, then Mandira comes and stops Madam Rita’s joke. Besides speaks in original language, Mandira also likes to sing Indian’s song. Together with Khan, she always sings it to motivate herself in doing anything. With the same lyrics, she repeats it randomly as often as possible if she feels down. The lyric is:

“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)

4.) Hindu’s tradition; keeping pray and worship

Every religion teaches all people in the world to do a good deeds and faithful of their religion. It also can be ascertained each religion has a different way of

worship. As a creature of God, every people should pry and faith to each God they believed in a different way that also has been determined by the respective religion. As like Mandira, she was in an environment where Christian is the majority religion. Although she is a Hindu, (Like Islam, Hindu is the minority religion in America), she still keeps praying on His God in her religion way, Hindu tradition. It can be seen from the scene the writer takes from the movie when Mandira blesses her son with blowing her son’s face on and gave some blessing cake to her son after praying. She uses some of candle light and some myrrh for praying. This representation can be seen from the pictures below.

Scene 2

(Picture 20)

(Picture 21)

From description above, Rizvan Khan and Mandira Khan are two characters in the movie which both of two characters are assimilated. They represent a little American from their costume style, cuisine, and language. They can pass their life in America but still keeps their culture. Based on the theory that has been described in previous chapters, the identity of Indian immigrants are the people who work hard, and often gather with their community. There are several scenes in this film also shows the identity of Indians who became immigrants in America.

young. Besides, he is also a hard worker who never gives up and honest. This character showed when he became a salesman in America and he always tries to speak honestly to his customers. Rizvan Khan also a devout and obedient to his religion. As a Muslim, he always tries to keep the remembrance of Allah in his every step. He also tries to spend his time to pray on time in any condition. He also cares for others;it is proven when he helps people in Wilhelmina who victimized a hurricane. His good deeds touch the people’s heart and make them help the victims.

As like Rizvan Khan, Mandira also an Indian immigrant who stays in America. She is a mother of Sameer. She is a hair stylist and really a hard worker. She tries to be friendly to every guest who comes to her salon. She is also a good mother who always tries to spend her time with her son in the midst of her busy. Eventually, she has married with Rizvan Khan and builds a small business together. She is a struggle woman and never gives up on what she faced.

Besides, the writer also analyzes the culture identity of Indian immigrants who live in America through both characters; Rizvan Khan and Mandira. They live in America and of course they face a new culture in their daily life. According to the research, both of the two characters are assimilated into American culture in order to adjust the culture of America. As Indians, they still keep their culture from their ancestors; Indian culture. They still bring the culture even they don’t stay in their hometown; such still use an Indian language, wear some Indian clothes, eat some Indian traditional cuisine, and organize a traditional Indian wedding ceremony. Those

are the ways they represent their Indian culture in America and included of negotiated as the potential response of identity.

B. Suggestion

From the analysis and the conclusion above, the writer would like to propose the following suggestions:

a. For the researchers who want to understand the story of the film, the writer suggests to watch the film carefully and repeatedly and know the characters, because they are the important elements that can develop a story.

b. For the researchers who is interested in doing the same research, particularly concerning about the culture identity of Indian and American culture, and any literary work to read more various theories to get a wide knowledge and deep analysis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Film:

My Name Is Khan, film by Karan Johar in Dharma Production 2010

Books:

E. M. Forster, “Flat and Round Characters,” Essential of the Theory of Fiction, ed. Michael Hoffman and Patrick Murphy. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1988.

Farkhan, Muhammad. Penulisan Karya Ilmiah. Jakarta: Cella, 2006

Himilce Novas , lan Cao, and Rosemary Silva. Everything You Need To Know About Asian American. USA: A Plume Book, 2004.

Hubenka/Garcia. The Design of Drama. New York : david Mckay Company.

Judith N Martin and Thomas K. Nakayama, Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. New York: MC Graw Hill, 2001

Judy Giles and Tim Middleton. Studying Culture, a Practical Introduction. Massachusset : Blackwell Publisher, 1999.

Michael J. Hoffman and Patrick D. Murphy. Essential of the Theory of Fiction. Durham and London: Duke Press University. 1988.

Renske, Christoper Rassel. How to Analyze Drama. New York: Monarch Press. 1996.

W, Supartono. Ilmu Budaya Dasar. Bogor, Penerbit Ghalia Indonesia, 2004.

Yuliawati, Irma. “Cultural Identity of Bangladeshi Immigrants in England” in novel Brick Land by Monica Ali, Thesis. Ciputat: UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, 2009.

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Cultural identity, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. Accessed on March 27, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cultural_Identity

Culture of the United States, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. Accessed on June 25, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/culture_of_the_united_states

Culture of India, from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Accessed on June 25, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/culture_of_India

The India Encyclopedia. Accessed on June 30, 2010.

http://www.theindianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1 ARTA0009895).

Immigration. Wikipedia. Accessed on July 02, 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wiki/immigration_to_the_United_States

Script of My Name Is Khan. Accessed on July 29, 2010. http://www.TheHack3r.com