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3. Method of Analyzing Data
The first step of collecting data is comprehensive reading that requires
reading and listening to source of data frequently. The analysis will focus on the lyrics and the music of the songs, considering that lyric and music cannot be
separated in a song. The second, after the main data is analyzed, then the data
shall be correlated to the object of this research. The object here is to know the protest theme that is presented by Conor Oberst through his songs. The last step is
drawing conclusion. The thorough analysis will lead to the conclusion of this research.
G. Theoretical approach
Because this research is under American Studies, then interdisciplinary studies are needed. Interdisciplinary studies require more than just one studies or
point of view to view the problems, so that it will be clear explanation of the research. According to Klein and Newell 1997:
Interdisciplinary studies is a process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a topic that is too broad or complex to be
dealt with adequately by a single discipline or profession . . . and draws on disciplinary perspectives and integrates their insights
through construction of a more comprehensive perspective. pp. 393– 394
It needs more than just one point of view or approach to hold the research and to relate the topic and the data. The use of interdisciplinary approaches is important
to draw logical reason from the source of data so that it can generate suitable and expected conclusion at the end.
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In order to get the deeper meaning of the song, approach that is applied in this research will be semiotic approach, musical basic theory, and socio cultural
approach. Semiotic approach will be used to analyze the lyrics of the songs, musical basic theory will be used to analyze the music elements, and socio cultural
approach will be used to analyze the cultural background of the song. Semiotic is study of sign and symbol. It investigates the sign and symbol to
convey feelings, thoughts, ideas, and ideologies of human being. Ryder, 2004, para. 1 Song lyric is considered as sign and symbol. This approach will help
interpreting the words of the lyric in relation with the singer feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Furthermore, by knowing these things, the researcher will know what
the lyric of the songs are talking about. Then finally the theme of the songs and the ideology contained in the songs can be found.
However, researching the musical elements is important as well, considering that music is the soul of the song. Song cannot be separated from
music, because song combines two musical elements – melody and human voice music and lyric. Machlis, 1955, p. 7 Musical basic theory will cover the
musical instruments played in the songs, and other elements such as melody, tempo, and the way singer sing a song. By knowing both song lyric and musical
elements, then the deeper meaning and understanding of the song can be found Song is the reflection of culture and society. Socio cultural approach is
needed to give the knowledge about the society and culture where the song was writtten. According to John-Steiner and Mahn, socio cultural approaches
emphasize the interdependence between social processes and individual. para. 1
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Because socio-cultural emphasizes the relation between social and individual, thus this approach will be used to give explanation of the society and social condition
where the singer has an interaction with. By knowing the society or the social condition, it can be known as well the reason that makes the singer writes the
song.
H. Thesis Organization
