Shoping behavior as the reflection of the hierarchy of human needs on the main character in the film confessions of a shopaholic
SHOPPING BEHAVIOR AS THE REFLECTION OF THE HIERARCHY
OF HUMAN NEEDS ON THE MAIN CHARACTER IN THE FILM
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC
A Thesis
Submitted to Faculty of Adab and Humanities
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Strata 1 (S1)
By:
ERLINA PRANISTIASARI
205026000539
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2011
ABSTRACT
Erlina Pranistiasari, “Shopping Behavior as the Reflection of the Hierarchy of
Human Needs on the Main Character in the Film Confessions of A Shopaholic”.
Thesis: English Letters Departement. Faculty of Adab and Humanities, State
Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2011.
This research that uses descriptive qualitative method is aimed to find
how the character of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character and her shopping
behavior in the film Confessions of A Shopaholic reflects the needs based on The
Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham Maslow’s theory. The writer identifies
the character’s characteristics and her shopping behavior because they influence
the main character’s attitude in fulfilling her needs. The needs of the main
character is analyzed based on Maslow’s theory from the lowest to the highest
stage of Maslow’s theory to identify the stage of needs related to shopping
behavior of the main character.
The writer reveals the needs of the main character based on the
Abraham Maslow’s theory which is classified into five levels, they are;
Psychological Needs, Safety Needs, Love and Belongingness needs, Esteem
Needs, and Self Actualization Needs. The writer then finds that the main character
can fulfill all of the five level of needs and the shopping behavior on the main
character reflects the needs of Esteem and Self actualization needs.
i
vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All praise be to Allah SWT, the almighty and the lord af the universe, who
has given the writer guidence and strength to achieve and make this thesis
possible. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet
Muhammad SAW, and his families, relatives, and all of his followers. Ameen
This thesis would not have been possible without the guidance and the
help of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended
their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study.
On this very special occasion, The writer would like to express the very
best gratitude to her family especially to my beloved parents, Mr. Yasaruddin BE
and Mrs. Endang Rusmiati, who always give the me their prayer, love, affection,
support, and advices all the times. This thesis will not accomplish without their
contribution in the writer’s life.
The writer also wishes to express her warm and sincere thanks to her thesis
advisor Moh. Supardi, SS.,M.Hum, who has supported and given many useful
suggestions and inputs throughout my thesis with his patience and knowledge.
May Allah SWT, always bless him and his family.
The writer would like to express my sincere gratitude to the following
people for their remarkable contribution:
1.
Dr. H Abdul Wahid Hasyim, M. Ag, the Dean of Adab and Humanities
Faculty.
v
vii
2.
Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, the vice of the dean of Adab and
Humanities Faculty.
3.
Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M. Pd, the head of English Letters Departement.
4.
Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum, the secretary of the English Letters Departement.
5.
Inayatul Chusna, M.Hum and Maria Ulfa, MA., M.Hum as the thesis
examiners.
6.
All lecturers in English Letters Departement who have been sincerely
transferred their knowledge to the writer during her study.
7.
The officials of main library of State Islamic University of Syarif
Hidayatullah Jakarta and the staffs of the office and library of Adab and
Humanities Faculty who have been kind of helping the writer to collect the
data required.
8.
My beloved brother and sister: Evi Ratnasari, Yanto Kusdiantono, Meilani
Trianasari, Muhammad Rizky Adinugraha, who give their best motivation to
the writer.
9.
My beloved sweetheart, Muhammad Ikbal, S.Sos who always accompanies
me in any condition and gives his love, affection, supports, and spirits. He
contributes in many ways to make this thesis possible.
10. My classmates of English Letters Departement, the year of 2005: Febry Indah
Sari, Haenudin, Deny Effendy, Munazaruddin, Milawati, Famela, Fitri,
Suzanti Laima, Robiatul Adawiah, Dedy Effendy, Laila Fadhilah, Firdaus
Ismakhun, Qaid Zulhilmi, Andhina Noor Ichsani and everyone who has great
contribution that the writer cannot mention them one after another.
vi
vii
Last but not least, the writer also hopes that this paper will be useful for some
literary study in advance and give a lot of benefits to the students of English
Letters Departement particularly who wants to have a further research. Therefore,
it is really a pleasure for her to have any constructive suggestions and critics. May
Allah SWT bless us. Ameen.
Ciputat, December 2011
Erlina Pranistiasari
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ i
APPROVEMENT ............................................................................................... ii
LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION ................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 1
A. Background of the study ..................................................................... 1
B. Focus of the study ............................................................................... 4
C. Research question................................................................................ 4
D. Objective of the study ......................................................................... 4
E. Significance of the study ..................................................................... 5
F. Research methodology. ....................................................................... 5
1. Method of Research ...................................................................... 5
2. Data Analysis ................................................................................ 6
3. Unit of analysis ............................................................................. 6
4. Instruments of Research ................................................................ 6
G. TIME AND PLACE .......................................................................... 7
CHAPTER II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .......................................... 7
A. The Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham
Maslow ............................................................................................... 8
viii
1. Psychological needs ..................................................................... 11
2. Safety needs ................................................................................. 12
3. Love and belongingness needs ..................................................... 13
4. Esteem needs ................................................................................ 13
5. Self actualization needs ................................................................ 14
B. Consumer behavior ............................................................................ 16
C. Character and characterization ........................................................... 17
1. Character ...................................................................................... 17
2. Characterization ........................................................................... 19
CHAPTER III. RESEARCH FINDINGS ......................................................... 23
A. Data description.................................................................................. 23
B. Data analysis ...................................................................................... 37
1. Character analysis of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main
character in the film Confession of A Shopaholic ..................... 37
2. The Hierarchy of Needs on Rebecca Bloomwood as the main
character in the film Confession of A Shopaholic ..................... 43
CHAPTER IV. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ................................... 74
A. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 74
B. Suggestion ........................................................................................... 76
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................... 77
APPENDIXES ..................................................................................................... 79
ix
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
The rapid development of technology today provides many options for
many people to be able to choose their way to entertain themselves, such as
reading books, listening music, or watching movies. Among those types of
entertainments, many of them choose to watch films, because it offers a
combination of sounds (audio) and pictures (visual) simultaneously. In its
development, the film itself has made a lot of progress both in terms of sounds
and visuals of the display.
Film is a work result of a number professionals from various field (such as
writer of scenario, film maker, actress, lighting/electric expert, etc). Generally,
every film workers are considered to have contribution in the film that they
made.1Films are cultural artifacts created by specific cultures, which reflect those
cultures, and, in turn, affect them. Film is considered to be an important art form,
a source of popular entertainment and a powerful method for educating - or
indoctrinating - citizens. The visual elements of cinema give motion pictures a
universal power of communication. Some films have become popular worldwide
attractions by using dubbing or subtitles that translate the dialogue.2
Films are made up of a series of individual images called frames. When
these images are shown rapidly in succession, a viewer has the illusion that
1
Anggadewi Moesono, Psikoanalisis dan Sastra (Depok: Pusat Penelitian Kemasyarakatan dan
Budaya Lembaga Penelitian Universitas Indonesia, 2003), p. 61.
2
http://www.eicar-international.com/definition-film.html. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
1
2
motion is occurring. The viewer cannot see the flickering between frames due to
an effect known as persistence of vision, whereby the eye retains a visual image
for a fraction of a second after the source has been removed. Viewers perceive
motion due to a psychological effect called beta movement.3
Film does not only become something that can entertains, but it can also
inspire viewers if it is presented attractively. There are many things that can be
summed up in a film, such as the problems of life, love, friendship, or the
psychological motivation of the characters in the film, about what and why they
do things and what makes them encourage to do so.
In film, the roles of character are very important. Without character, the
story can be very difficult to be built. With character, audiences can understand
the plot of the story better.
Based on the explanation above, the writer would like to analyze a film
with the title Confessions of A Shopaholic (This is a 2009 American film
adaptation of the Shopaholic series of novels written by Sophie Kinsella. The film
is Directed by P. J. Hogan, with the star Isla Fisher as the shopaholic journalist
and Hugh Dancy as her boss.)4 by Sophie Kinsella (Madeleine Wickham was born
in London on December 12th 1969. She wrote The Secret Dreamworld of a
Shopaholic, Shopaholic & Baby, Chick Lit and Twenties Girl. Wickham
graduated from New College, Oxford. She has worked as an author.)5. The film
tells about a young woman named Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher). She is
3
http://www.pooler-georgia-homepage.com/movie-focused-sites.html. Accessed on August 10th,
2011
4
http://www.worldofkj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49241. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
5
http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/biography_of_madeleine_wickham. Accessed on August 10th,
2011
3
a shopping addict who has a problem due to his debts and she lives with her best
friend Suze (Krysten Ritter). She works as a journalist for a gardening magazine
but dreams to join the fashion magazine Alette, because she thinks that she can get
high salary and continually fill her desire in shopping if she can work in Alette,
then she tries to get a job there. In the way to realize her dream to work in Alette,
she first works in the money magazine Successfull Savings. She becomes a
financial advisor though she doesn’t really love this job, and gradually she
becomes very famous with her financial article in that magazine with her author
name “The girl in the green scarf”.
In her popularity, she slowly falls in love with her boss, Luke Brandon
(Hugh Dancy). But she still has her personal problem about her debts due to her
impulsive shopping habbits she spends more than $.900 for shopping, and it
makes her to be pursued by her debt collector Dereck Smith (Robert Stanton). She
keeps her secret about her debts and lies to her boss that her debt collector is her
ex-boyfriend who stalks her over. Her carrier in Successful Savings gradually
makes her popular and it makes her to be invited in one of a financial TV
program, but unfortunately her debt collector Dereck Smith proves all secret about
her debts in front of her boss and the viewers of the live TV program. She then
loses her friend and the love from her boss.
Finally she realizes that all of her problems comes from her impulsive
shopping habbits and she decides to sell all her items she bought to pay all her
debts. She also refuses the offer to work in Allete, though it was her dream to
work there. She then realizes that all she needs are the love and the supports from
4
all people that she loves. From the summary of the movie above, the writer is
interested in analyzing about the hierarchy needs of the main character that is
reflected from her consumer behaviour in her impulsive shopping habbits.
According to the writer, the consumer behavior of the main character is the way
to satisfy her desire in shopping to reveal her needs that she must fulfill and it
can be analyzed by using the concept Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H.
Maslow’s theory.
B. Focus of the Study
According to the background of studies above, this research will be
concentrated only on how to understand the needs that must be fulfilled by
Rebecca Bloomwood from the consumer behavior that she has in satisfying her
shopping desire by using Hierarchy of Human Needs Theory of Abraham
H.Maslow.
C. Research Question
Based on the focus of the study, there are two questions in this study, as follows:
1. What are the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character
in Confessions of A Shopaholic’s movie?
2. How does this characteristics influence consumer behavior on Rebecca
Bloomwod?
3. In what stage does Rebecca Bloomwod’s consumer behavior fulfill the
hierarchy of human needs by Abraham Maslow?
D. Objective of The study
The objectives of this study are described as follows:
5
1. To describe the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main
character in Confessions of A Shopaholic movie
2. To describe how the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood influence her
consumer behavior.
3. To reveal in what stage does consumer behavior take place as the needs
that reflects the hierarchy of needs that must be fulfilled by the main
character.
E. Significance of the Study
The benefits of this research are to increase the knowledge and the
comprehension about the hierarchy of needs that reflects from the main
character’s consumer behaviour. The writer also hopes that this research can also
be benefits for readers who want to understand more about hierarchy of needs
from the point of view Abraham H. Maslow’s theory.
F. Research Methodology
This research methodology comprises by many aspects, such as, method of
research, technique of data analysis, instruments of research, and unit of analysis.
1. Method of Research
Based on the research questions and the significance of the study above,
the writer applies descriptive qualitative method6, by analyzing the relation
among words or sentences that produce particular meaning.
6
Muhammad Farkhan, Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra (Jakarta: Cella Jakarta, 2007), pp. 2 & 4
(Metode deskriptif kualitatif yaitu metode penelitian yang disunakan untuk mendeskripsikan
fenomena-fenomena alam yang terjadi dan kaitan antara satu peristiwa dengan peristiwa lainnya
dengan menggunakan data verbal dan non-numeric sebagai dasar analisis dan pemecahan masalah
yang sedang dikaji)
6
2. Data Analysis
The writer will explain the data qualitatively. The writer uses Hierarchy of
Human Needs of Abraham Maslow’s approach based on critical study
and sharp analysis to the qualitative data. First, the writer watches the
movie carefully for several times. This is aimed to learn the contents of the
movie intensively, so it can prevent misunderstanding in the analysis.
Then, the writer underlines the scripts of the movie, captures particular
scene from the film, and identifies Confessions of A Shopaholic’s film
carefully. Finally, the writer analyzes the related data collected according
to human needs theory and how consumer behaviour reveals those needs.
3. Unit of Analysis
The unit of analysis that is used in this research is the film Confessions of
A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella which was released in February 13, 2009
and distributed by Touchstone Pictures.
4. Instruments of Research
The research instrument of this qualitative research is the writer herself.
The writer analyzes it by watching the film carefully. Then, the writer
marks the characteristics of the main character to find out the evidences of
the fulfillment hierarchy of needs from her consumer behavior viewed
from the theory of Abraham H. Maslow in Confessions of A Shopaholic
film.
7
H. Place and Time
This research is conducted in Jakarta, in the faculty of Adab and
Humanities UIN Jakarta from march 2009 to September 2011.
8
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A.
The Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow is a humanistic psychologist. Humanistic psychology
was instead focused on each individual's potential and stressed the importance of
growth and self-actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology is
that people are innately good and that mental and social problems result from
deviations from this natural tendency7. Humanistic Psychology is so named due to
its core belief in the basic goodness present in and respect for humanity. Its core is
founded upon existential psychology, or the realization and understanding of
one's existence and social responsibility8.
Abraham Maslow developed a theory of personality that has influenced a
number of different fields, including education. This theory accurately describes
many realities of personal experiences.
The cornerstone of Abraham Maslow’s understanding of motivation is the
proposition that human being posses urges or basic needs at organism level. These
basic needs, however, are weak needs, quiet biological urges that are often
confused and easy overlooked in day to day affairs.9 It means that the individual
seek to satisfy successively the higher needs that occupy a set of hierarchy.
7
http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/a/hist_humanistic.htm. Accessed on
December 12th, 2011
8
http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Humanistic-Psychology.asp. Accessed on
December 12th, 2011
9
John Marshall Reeve, Understanding Motivation and Emotion (New York: Harcourt Brace
Collage Publisher, 2004), p. 311
8
9
Maslow had little interest in compiling a list of how many needs human
beings possess. Rather, Maslow side-stepped the numbers issue and proposed that
one master need, the tendency toward growth, governs and organizes all other
needs. The growth/actualizing need organizes all others into a hierarchy featuring
five clusters based needs. The arrangement of these needs, Maslow felt, was best
represented visually by a hierarchy. The first need in Maslow’s hierarchy contains
the set of physiological needs necessary for body homeostasis, quiescence, and
survival. All the other needs in the hierarchy (safety and security, love and
belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization) are psychological in nature of
human needs.10
Maslow argued that any comprehensive theory of Human motivation must
take into account the individual as a whole. One cannot hope to understand the
complexities of the human condition by reducing behavior to specific responses in
specific situations. The wholeness of behavior can also serve several motive states
at once.11 Thus for example, sexual behavior may serve physiological as well as
psychological needs of belonging and esteem.
Maslow argued that one must seek to understand the ultimate goals of
behavior rather than the superficial or apparent goals, because the apparent goal
for any observed behavior may be quite different from the ultimate goal. 12
Maslow argued that human motivation can best be studied by observing
human rather than animal behavior. His observations led him to the conclusion
10
Ibid
Herbert L. Petri, Motivation: Theory and Research (California: Wadsworth Publishing Company,
2003), p.289
12
Ibid
11
10
that human needs can be understood in terms of hierarchy of needs. Needs lower
on the hierarchy are propotent (i.e., stronger) and must be satisfied before needs
higher on the hierarchy will be triangle. Maslow did not, however, regard the
hierarchy as totally rigid: one can partially satisfy lower needs, thus allowing
higher needs to become partially active. Maslow regarded the satisfaction of needs
on the hierarchy in a probabilistic manner. If a lower need is being satisfied most
of the time (e.g., 85%), that need will have little influence on behavior.13 The
following diagram shows Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, represented as a pyramid
below:
Figure 1. Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs14
13
Ibid
King, Bank 2.0: How Customer Behavior and Technology Will Change the Future of
Financial Services (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Reference, 2010), p. 26
14Brett
11
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often described as a pyramid consisting
of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as being associated
with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs, associated
with psychological needs. Deficiency needs must be met first, once these are met,
seeking to satisfy growth needs drives personal growths.15
According to Maslow, once an individual has moved upward to the next
level, needs in the lower level will no longer be prioritized. If a lower set of needs
is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily reprioritize those needs by
focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs, but will not permanently regress to the
lower level.16Maslow’s basic needs are as follow:
1.
Physiological Needs
The first level of the hierarchy consists of physiological needs. If needs
such as hunger or thirst are not adequately being met, the needs above them on the
hierarchy are pushed into the background in terms of controlling behavior. The
individual is in an emergency situation and his or her whole being is dominated by
need.17 Physiological needs consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, and a
relatively constant body temperature. Maslow felt that physiological needs are
adequately met for most people in our society. When these needs are met, the next
need on the hierarchy emerges as a dominant force in controlling and directing
behavior.18
15
Lawrence A. Tomei, Lexicon of Online and Distance Learning (United States of America:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009), p. 148
16
Lawrence A. Tomei (2009), op. cit. p. 148
17
Herbert L. Petri (2003), op.cit. p. 290
18
Ibid
12
2.
Safety Needs
When all physiological needs are satisfied and are no longer controlling
thoughts and behaviors, the needs for security can become active.19 These needs
represent a need for safety or security in our environment. Like the physiological
needs, safety needs are primarily triggered in emergency situations. Higher needs
become unimportant when one’s life is endangered, and our behavior reflects our
attempts to remain secure. An example of his recently occurred when the
remnants of a hurricane caused extensive flooding in my neighborhood. Some of
my neighbors sustained thousands of dollars of damage to their homes; yet, at the
time of the flood, their material loss was unimportant to them because escaping
the flood was all that mattered.20
Safety needs dominate our behavior primarily in times of emergency.
Maslow, however, felt that working of the safety needs can also be seen in
people’s preference for familiar surroundings, secure jobs, savings account, and
insurance. Safety needs are most evident in your children, as shown when an
infant cries if it is dropped suddenly, is startled by a loud sound, or a stranger
enters the room.21
Maslow believed that the safety needs of most adults in our society are
adequately met. One reason for the clearer appearance of the threat or danger
reaction in infants is that individuals do not inhibit this reaction at all, whereas
19
C. George Boree, Personality Theories. http://www.ship.edu/-cgboeree/maslow.html.
Accessed on August 10th, 2011
20
Herbert L. Petri (2003), loc.cit
21
Ibid
13
individuals in our society have been taught to inhibit it at all costs.22
3.
Love or Belonging Needs
If both the physiological and the safety needs are fairly well gratified,
there will emerge have love and affection and belongingness needs, and the whole
cycle already described will repeat itself with this new center. 23 Then, they
become unimportant in the direction of behavior, and the love or belongingness
needs emerge. These needs involve a hunger for affectionate relationship with
others, a need to feel part a group, or a feeling that one “belong”. The love needs
are not equivalent to sexual needs (which are physiological), though sexual
intimacy can serve to satisfy one’s need to belong. 24 Maslow argued that
individuals seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation. This involves
both giving and receiving love, affection and the sense of belonging.
4.
Esteem Needs
If the love need have been adequately met, they too slip into the
background in relation to guiding behavior, and the esteem needs become
dominant. These are need for a positive, high evaluation of oneself. This
evaluation can be broken down into two subcategories – a need for self esteem
and a need for esteem from other.25
The need for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for
achievement, strenght, confidence, independence, and freedom. The related need
of esteem from others involves a desire for reputation, status, recognition, appre-
22
http://www.xenodochy.org/ex/lists/maslow.html. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
C. Goerge Boeree (2006), loc.cit
24
Herbert L. Petri (2003), loc.cit
25
Ibid
23
14
ciation by others of one’s abilities, and a feeling of importance.26
5.
Self-Actualization Needs
When one has satisfied the first four level of need, the final level of
development, which Maslow termed self-actualization, can be reached. At the
self-actualization level, the person’s behavior is motivated by different conditions
than at the lower levels.27 It means, at this level, the individual differences are
greatest.
The self-actualized individual has satisfied all the deprivation needs of the
first four levels of the hierarchy. The behavior of the self-actualized person is, as a
result, motivated by new set of needs, which Maslow termed the being needs (Bmotivation, or metamotivation). These B-motives are values such as truth,
honesty, beauty, and goodness, and they provide meaning to the life of the selfactualized individual.28 The clear emergence of these needs usually rest upon
some prior satisfaction of the physiological, safety, love, and esteem needs.29
The picture Maslow gives us of the self-actualized person is a very
positive one. The self-actualized individual is no longer motivated by deficiencies
but is motivated to grow and become all that he or she is capable of becoming.
Self-actualization constantly stimulates people to test their abilities and expand
their horizons.30
26
Ibid, p. 291
Ibid
28
Ibid
29
C. George Boeree(2006), loc cit
30
Ibid
27
15
5.1 Characteristics of Self-Actualized People
In addition to describing what is meant by self-actualization in histheory,
Maslow also identified some of the key characteristics of self-actualized people:
Acceptance and Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions of
themselves, others and the world around them. Problem-centering: Selfactualized individuals are concerned with solving problems outside of themselves,
including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the external world.
These people are often motivated by a sense of personal responsibility and ethics.
Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal thoughts
and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations,
they also tend to be open and unconventional. Autonomy and Solitude: Another
characteristics of self-actualized people is the need for independence and privacy.
While they enjoy the company of others, these individuals need time to focus on
developing
their
own
individual
potential.
Continued
Freshness
of
Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view the world with a continual
sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a
source of inspiration and pleasure. Peak Experiences: Individuals who are selfactualized often have what Maslow termedpeak experiences, or moments of
intense joy, wonder, awe and ecstasy. After these experiences, people feel
inspired, strengthened, renewed or transformed.31
Based on the theory above, the significance of this research are to
increase the knowledge and the comprehension about the hierarchy of needs ref31
Kendra Cherry, Characteristics of Self-Actualized People
http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/tp/self-actualized-characteristic.htm.
Accessed on August 10th, 2011
16
lects from the main character’s consumer behaviour.
B.
Consumer Behavior
Consumer Behavior is defined as the acts of individuals directly involved
in obtaining and using economic goods and services, including the decision
processes that precede and determine those acts.32 Consumer behavior may be
defined as decision process and physical activity individuals engage in when
evaluating, acquiring, using or disposing of goods and services.33 Consumer
behavior are acts, process and social relationship exhibited by individuals, groups
and organizations in the obtainment, use of, and consequent experience with
products, services and other resources.34 Consumer behavior consists of the
actions that consumers take in regard to making decisions about purchasing
various goods and services. A study of this phenomenon will often focus on the
psychological and other factors that motivate people to either buy a product or
reject it in favor of some other option.35
In analyzing her thesis, it is important to know the psychological of the
main character in the film Confessions of A Shopaholic about what and why she
does the shopping. It reflects her consumer behavior and the theory about
consumer behavior can help the writer to analyze her research.
32
James F.Engel, David T. Kollat and Roger D. Blackwell, Consumer Behavior (New York: Holt,
Rinehart andWinston, 1968), p.5
33
David L. Louden and Albert J. Della Bitta, Consumer Behavior: Concept and Applications (The
United States of America: By McGraw Hill Inc, 1984), p. 22
34
Ibid
35
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-consumer-behavior.htm. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
17
C.
Character and Characterization
1. Character
In a film, character is an important element that will develop the story
because character is a person who carries out the events of film and then those
events become a story. A character, then, is presumably an imagined person who
inhabits a story-although that simple definition may admit to a few exceptions. A
character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that exists in a work of art.
Along with plot, setting, theme, and style, character is considered one of the
fundamental components of fiction.36
Character development is essential to a good story. Character should enter
the story as dimensional, non-stereotypical character, and become more
dimensional as the story and other characters act upon them. To say that someone
is a character suggests that he or she has a strange or eccentric personality. To say
something about a person’s character involves a discussion of his or her personal
values and behavior.37
For analyzing film characters utilizes three different types of pairing: stock
character and stereotypes, static versus dynamic character, and flat versus round
characters.
Stock character and stereotype. It is not essential or even desirable for
every character in a film to have a unique or memorable personality. Stock
characters are minor character whose actions are completely predictable or typical
or their job or profession. They are in the film simply because the situation
36
X.J. Kennedy, An Introduction to Fiction, (Boston: Little, Bown, 1983), p.4
http://www.writing-world.com/screen/film3.shtml. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
37
18
demands their presence. They serve as a natural part of the setting, much as stage
properties like a lamp or a chair might function in a play.38 A stereotyped
character represents a category of people. The word stereotype comes from
printing and refers to a metal mold used to mass produce duplicates of printing
type. Stereotypes, however, are characters of somewhat greater importance to the
film. They fit into preconceived patterns of behavior common to or representative
of a large number of people, at least a large number of fictional people.39
Static versus dynamic characters. It is often useful to determine whether
the most important characters in a film are static or dynamic characters. Dynamic
characters deeply affected by the action of the plot and undergo some important
change in personality, attitude, or outlook on life as a result of the action of the
story. The change they undergo is an important, permanent one, not just a
whimsical shift in attitude that will change back again tomorrow. The character
will somehow never be the same person he or she was when the action of the film
began.40
The change can be of any type but is significant to the total makeup of the
individual undergoing the change. Developing characters become sadder or wiser,
or happier and more self-confident. They might gain some new awareness of life,
become more nature or more responsible, or become more moral or less so. They
may become simply more aware and knowing and less innocent or naïve.41
38
Joseph M.Boggs and Dennis W.Petrie, The Art of Watching Film, 5th ed (London:Mayfield
Publishing Company, 2000), p.57
39
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner, Fiction, (California:McGraw Hill, 1999), p.97.
40
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) loc.cit.p.58
41
Ibid.p.59
19
Static characters remain essentially the same throughout the film. The
action does not have an important effect on their lives. Or they are insensitive to
the meaning of the action and thus are not capable of growth or change. Statics
characters, however, remain unchanged; their character is the same at the end of
the story as at the beginning.42
Another important distinction is made between the characters and round
characters. Flat characters are two-dimensional, predictable characters who lack
the complexity and unique qualities associated with psychological depth. They
often tend to be representative character types rather than real flesh-and-blood
human beings. Unique, individualistic characters who have some degree of
complexity and ambiguity and who cannot easily be categorized are called round
characters.43
Round character is a three-dimensional character complex enough to be
able to surprise the reader without losing credibility. Round characters are not
inherently superior to static characters. The terms merely imply how different
characters function within the framework of a story. Round characters are
characters
who
are complex
and
realistic;
they
represent
a depth of
personality which is imitative of life.44
2. Characterization
The characterization means how the writer tells the reader about the
physical and non physical characteristics of the person told in the story. It might
be done by giving description in words or by being shown in actions or through
42
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner (1999) op.cit.p.97
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) loc.cit.p.60
44
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner (1999) loc.cit.p.95
43
20
the comments given by other character. Character creation is the art of
characterization-what the author does to bring a character to life, to provide the
reader with a sense of that character’s personality, to make that character unique.45
Characterization can involve developing a variety of aspects of a character such as
appearance, dialogue, external action, internal action, or reactions of other
characters.
a)
Characterization through appearance
Because most of film actors project certain qualities of character the
minute they appear on the screen, characterization in film has a great deal to do
with casting a major aspect of film characterization is revealed visually and
instantaneously.46 The minute we see most actor on the screen, we make certain
assumptions about them because of their facial features, dress, physical build, and
mannerisms and the way they move. Our first visual impression may be proven
erroneous as the story progresses, but it is certainly an important means of
establishing character.47
b)
Characterization through dialogue
Characters in a fictional film naturally reveal a great deal about themselves
by what they say. But a great deal is also revealed by how they say it. Their true
thoughts, attitudes, and emotions can be revealed in subtle ways through word
choice and through the stress, pitch, and pause patterns of their speech. Actor use
of grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and particular dialects (if any) reveals
a great deal about their characters’ social and economic level, educational
45
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner (1999) op.cit.p.98
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) op.cit.p.50
47
Ibid
46
21
background and mental processes.48 Therefore, we must develop a keen ear,
attuned to the faintest and most subtle nuances of meaning revealed through the
human voice, listening carefully not only to what is said but also to how it is said.
c)
Characterization through external action
Although appearance is an important measure of a character’s personality,
appearances are often misleading. Perhaps the best reflections of character are a
person’s actions. Some actions are more important in revealing character than
others.49 Even the most ordinary choice can be revealing, for some kind of choice
is involved in almost everything we do. Sometimes the most effective
characterization is achieved not by the large actions in the film but by the small,
seemingly insignificant ones. For example, a fireman may demonstrate his
courage by saving a child from a burning building, yet such an act may be only a
performance of duty rather than a reflection of a choice.
d)
Characterization through internal action
Internal action is character’s minds and emotions which consist of secrets,
unspoken thoughts, daydreams, aspirations, memories, fears, and fantasies. People
hopes, dreams, and aspirations can be as important to an understanding of their
character as any real achievement, and their fears and insecurities can be more
terrible to them than any real catastrophic failure.
e)
Characterization through reaction of other characters
The way characters view a person often serves as an excellent means of
characterization. Sometimes a great deal of information about a character
48
49
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) op.cit.p.52
Ibid.p.53
22
is already provided through such means before the character first appears
on the screen.50
50
Ibid.p.53
23
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In this chapter the writer discusses about the data description and analysis
about Rebecca Bloomwood in the film of Confession of A Shopaholic. The data
presented in this chapter are based on the scripts of the film combined with the
particular film’s scenes related to the research. The data are analyzed by the
theory of Abraham Maslow about the hierarchy of human needs as the main
theory to analyze this research. The general data description will be presented in
the data description while the analysis will be discussed in the data analysis as
mentioned below:
A.
Data Description
In this part, the writer describes the character’s characteristics of Rebecca
Bloomwood and her shopping behavior, then the writer describes the needs that
she tries to fullfill from the lower to the highest stage (phsycological needs, safety
needs, esteem needs, love and belongingness needs, and self actualization needs)
based on Abraham Maslow’s theory about hierarchy of human needs. Last, the
writer identifies in what stage of Abraham Maslow’s theory does consumer
behavior take place as a part of the needs that Rebecca Bloomwood tries to
fullfill. The data descriptions are showed from the table below:
23
24
Data description of character’s characteristics and shopping behavior of the
main character in the movie “Confessions of A Shopaholic”
No.
1.
CharacteCorpus
Time
ristic
Shopping “...But when I looked 00:00:55
addict
into shop windows, I saw
another world. A dreamy
world full of perfect
things. A world where
grown-up girls got what
they wanted. They were
beautiful. Like fairies or
princesses. They didn't
even need any money,
they had magic cards. I
wanted one.”
“...A store can awaken a 00:02:08
lust for things you never
even knew you needed.
And when your fingers
grasp those shiny, new
bags...Oh, yes! Oh, yes!”
Rebecca:”Because when 01:16:39
I shop, the world gets
better. The world is
better. And then it's not
anymore. And I need to
do it again.”
2.
Impulsive “Oh, no... I spent $900.”
3.
Immature Rebecca:”Give me the 00.53.44
boots and no one gets
hurt”
00:02:50
Scene
25
Rebecca:”...Here! All I 00:53:49
have to do first is buy a
new dress.”
Suze:”Bex,no! Absolute
ly not. You've 10,000
dresses already.”
4.
Shallow
5.
Vivacious Luke:”Rebecca
Bloomwood was
most vivacious...”
6.
Has an
amazing
sense of
style
7.
Liar
01:19:07
the
“Rebecca Bloomwood. 00:01:31
Occupation: Journalist.
Jacket: Visa. Dress:
AMEX.
Belt:
MasterCard. It's vintage.
And I got one percent
cash back. Bag: Gucci!
And worth every penny.”
Derek Smeath:”Hello! 00:13:51
Hi! Ms. Bloomwood?”
Suze:”Hello. I'm sorry.
It's actually not..She's
still
recovering
from...You know... OK.
I'll have her call you as
soon as...”
Derek Smeath:”Yes?”
Suze:”As soon as she's
come
back
from...
From...”
Rebecca:”Finland!”
Suze:”Finland!”
Tarkie:”Why do so
many of your excuses
involve Finland?”
Rebecca:”Cause no one
checks up on Finland,
Tarkie.
Rebecca:”...I lied to the 01:28:12
man I love...”
26
Data description of the main character’s hierarchy of human needs in the
movie “Confessions of A Shopaholic”
Num Hierarchy
Corpus
Time
of Needs
1. Phsycologi
cal needs
a. Hunger Luke:” ”Drank a lot of 00.49.28
and
majitos, I drank a lot of
thirst majitos. It wasn’t always
work and no play”
Rebecca:”Gracias”
Luke:”Gracias”
Rebecca:”Cheers!”
Luke:”Mmm.”
Luke:”Right, uh, ladies 01.02.14
and gentlemen,tonight
we will be serving...the,
uh, brook trout and wild
smoked salmon.”
Rebecca:”Thanks.”
The
bartender:”Pleasure”
b. Sex
00.41.38
Rebecca:”I thought she 01.03.42
was your girlfriend.”
Luke:”No. She's not my
girlfriend. She's not you.
Luke:” It's a desperately
important scarf.”
01.38.53
Scene
27
2.
Safety
needs
a. Security Derek Smeath:”Hello! 00.13.51
Hi! Ms. Bloomwood?”
Suze:”Hello. I'm sorry.
It's actually not.”
Tarkie:”Why do so 00.14.13
many of your excuses
involve Finland?”
Rebecca:”'Cause no one
checks up on Finland,
Tarkie.”
Rebecca:”Derek
Smeath. Oh! No!”
00.35.52
Luke:”Exactly how long 00.35.59
has this ex-boyfriend
been stalking you?”
Rebbeca:”Ever since the
relationship ended. He's
been
following
me
around
pretending to be a debt
collector.”
Hayley:”I was once
stalked...by a dog.
Luke:”OK. Look, take
the rest of the day and
block all future calls
from Derek Smeath.”
Hayley:”Yes, sir.”
Rebecca:”You
are 00.45.15
getting
your
own
ringtone. Do not answer
this call, it's Derek
Smeath.”
28
Luke:”I've had enough 01.07.01
of this clown. I'll see
him.”
Rebecca:”Whoa! Luke!
No! I never want you to
meet him, ever.”
Hayley:”Don't
worry.
I've
already
called
security.”
Rebecca:”See?
She
called security.”
3.
Love and
belonging
ness needs
a. Friends Suze:”OK, Bex, the most 00.13.24
important thing is not to
panic.”
Suze:“How are you 00.15.50
going to pay off sixteen
thousand twelve hundred
and 62 dollars and 70
cents with no job?”
Rebecca:“I could win
the lottery”
Suze:”
Maybe
you
should have a backup
plan. Oh! Backup plan, I
got it, I got it, Back up
plan.”
Suze:”I just found a 00.23.44
perfect book for you”
00.17.29
b. Family Mom:”Doesn’t this just
cheer you up?”
Rebecca:”It’s
not
working, Mom.”
Mom:”Come on, you’ll
get another job”
29
Dad:”Spend it wisely, 00.36.36
huh?”
Dad:”Nothing
defines 01.22.30
me, except you and your
mother”
c. Lover Luke:”No. She's not my 01.03.30
girlfriend. She's not
you.”
Rebecca: The bidder on 01.38.39
the phone was you. But
you lost!
Luke:”Both
bidders
were me”
Luke:”It’s a desperately
important scarf”
01.38.40
Rebecca:”And instead of 01.39.52
a relationship with my
credit card, I have a
relationship
with
someone who loves me
back. And never declines
me.”
4.
Esteem
Needs
00.01.31
a. Self
Rebecca’s
Esteem mine:”Rebecca
Bloomwood.Occupation:
Journalist. Jacket: Visa.
30
Dress: AMEX. Belt:
MasterCard. It's vintage.
And I got one percent
cash back. Bag: Gucci!
And worth every penny.
Rebecca’s mine:”Cause 00.02.08
you know that thing,
when you see someone
cute and he smiles, and
your heart kind of goes
like warm butter sliding
down hot toast? Well,
that's what it's like when
I see a store. Only it's
better.”
Rebecca’s mine:” You
see, a man will never
love you or treat you as
well as a store. If a man
doesn't fit, you can't
exchange him seven days
later for a gorgeous
cashmere sweater. And a
store always smells
good. A store can
awaken a lust for things
you never even knew you
needed. And when your
fingers grasp those
shiny, new bags...Oh,
yes! Oh, yes!”
00.02.43
Rebecca:”Give me the 00.53.44
boots and no one gets
hurt”
Rebecca:”
Because 01.16.39
when I shop, the world
gets better. The world is
better. And then it's not
anymore. And I need to
do it again.”
31
b. Confidence
The
manequin:”The 00.05.50
point about this scarf is
that it would become
part of a definition of
your...Of your psyche.
Do you see what I mean?
Rebecca:”No, I do. Keep
talking.
The
manequin:”It
would make your eyes
look bigger.
Rebecca:”Mmm...It
would make my haircut
look more expensive.
The manequin:”You'd
wear it with everything.
Rebecca:”It would be an
investment.
The manequin;”You
would walk into that
interview confident.”
Rebecca:”Confident.”
The manequin:”And
poised.”
Rebecca:”Poised.”
The manequin:”The girl
in the green scarf.”
Shop assistant:”That'll
be $120. How would you
like to pay?”
Rebecca:”Here's $50 in
cash, can you put 30 on
this
card...Ten
on
that.Twenty on that.It's
so cute.”
Shop
assistant:”Declined.”
00.06.07
Rebecca:”Do you do 00.07.00
cash back?”
Hotdog’s
seller:”What?”
Rebecca:”If I give you a
check for $23, will you
give me one of your hot
32
dogs and $20 cash back,
please?”
Hotdog’s seller:”Do I
look like a bank?”
Rebecca:”I have an
interview. They don't
hold items. It's a
desperately
important
scarf.”
c. Esteem Receptionist:”Nice
scarf.”
from
others Rebecca:”Thanks. I
bought it for the
interview.”
00.08.30
Suze:”Bex, this is so 00.16.28
funny. You're so smart.
You're the best writer
ever!”
Rebecca:”Do you like
it?”
Suze:”You're fabulous!”
Rebecca:”What?
Luke:”This is good.
Rebecca:”Really?
Luke:”Mmm. Is it by
Rebecca Bloomwood?
Rebecca:”Yes! My friend
Suze saw me writing it.
Luke:”I mean, is that
how you want your name
to appear? "By Rebecca
Bloomwood"?
Rebecca:”Oh, right.”
00.33.27
Luke:” The Girl in the 00.34.08
Green Scarf. Thank
you.”
33
Woman:”We never get 00.34.32
this kind of response.”
Edgar West:” I've just 00.34.51
spent a few minutes
rather wrapped up in
your "Green Scarf." I
like it. Uh, she obvi
OF HUMAN NEEDS ON THE MAIN CHARACTER IN THE FILM
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC
A Thesis
Submitted to Faculty of Adab and Humanities
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Strata 1 (S1)
By:
ERLINA PRANISTIASARI
205026000539
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
2011
ABSTRACT
Erlina Pranistiasari, “Shopping Behavior as the Reflection of the Hierarchy of
Human Needs on the Main Character in the Film Confessions of A Shopaholic”.
Thesis: English Letters Departement. Faculty of Adab and Humanities, State
Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2011.
This research that uses descriptive qualitative method is aimed to find
how the character of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character and her shopping
behavior in the film Confessions of A Shopaholic reflects the needs based on The
Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham Maslow’s theory. The writer identifies
the character’s characteristics and her shopping behavior because they influence
the main character’s attitude in fulfilling her needs. The needs of the main
character is analyzed based on Maslow’s theory from the lowest to the highest
stage of Maslow’s theory to identify the stage of needs related to shopping
behavior of the main character.
The writer reveals the needs of the main character based on the
Abraham Maslow’s theory which is classified into five levels, they are;
Psychological Needs, Safety Needs, Love and Belongingness needs, Esteem
Needs, and Self Actualization Needs. The writer then finds that the main character
can fulfill all of the five level of needs and the shopping behavior on the main
character reflects the needs of Esteem and Self actualization needs.
i
vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All praise be to Allah SWT, the almighty and the lord af the universe, who
has given the writer guidence and strength to achieve and make this thesis
possible. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet
Muhammad SAW, and his families, relatives, and all of his followers. Ameen
This thesis would not have been possible without the guidance and the
help of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended
their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study.
On this very special occasion, The writer would like to express the very
best gratitude to her family especially to my beloved parents, Mr. Yasaruddin BE
and Mrs. Endang Rusmiati, who always give the me their prayer, love, affection,
support, and advices all the times. This thesis will not accomplish without their
contribution in the writer’s life.
The writer also wishes to express her warm and sincere thanks to her thesis
advisor Moh. Supardi, SS.,M.Hum, who has supported and given many useful
suggestions and inputs throughout my thesis with his patience and knowledge.
May Allah SWT, always bless him and his family.
The writer would like to express my sincere gratitude to the following
people for their remarkable contribution:
1.
Dr. H Abdul Wahid Hasyim, M. Ag, the Dean of Adab and Humanities
Faculty.
v
vii
2.
Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, the vice of the dean of Adab and
Humanities Faculty.
3.
Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M. Pd, the head of English Letters Departement.
4.
Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum, the secretary of the English Letters Departement.
5.
Inayatul Chusna, M.Hum and Maria Ulfa, MA., M.Hum as the thesis
examiners.
6.
All lecturers in English Letters Departement who have been sincerely
transferred their knowledge to the writer during her study.
7.
The officials of main library of State Islamic University of Syarif
Hidayatullah Jakarta and the staffs of the office and library of Adab and
Humanities Faculty who have been kind of helping the writer to collect the
data required.
8.
My beloved brother and sister: Evi Ratnasari, Yanto Kusdiantono, Meilani
Trianasari, Muhammad Rizky Adinugraha, who give their best motivation to
the writer.
9.
My beloved sweetheart, Muhammad Ikbal, S.Sos who always accompanies
me in any condition and gives his love, affection, supports, and spirits. He
contributes in many ways to make this thesis possible.
10. My classmates of English Letters Departement, the year of 2005: Febry Indah
Sari, Haenudin, Deny Effendy, Munazaruddin, Milawati, Famela, Fitri,
Suzanti Laima, Robiatul Adawiah, Dedy Effendy, Laila Fadhilah, Firdaus
Ismakhun, Qaid Zulhilmi, Andhina Noor Ichsani and everyone who has great
contribution that the writer cannot mention them one after another.
vi
vii
Last but not least, the writer also hopes that this paper will be useful for some
literary study in advance and give a lot of benefits to the students of English
Letters Departement particularly who wants to have a further research. Therefore,
it is really a pleasure for her to have any constructive suggestions and critics. May
Allah SWT bless us. Ameen.
Ciputat, December 2011
Erlina Pranistiasari
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ i
APPROVEMENT ............................................................................................... ii
LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION ................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 1
A. Background of the study ..................................................................... 1
B. Focus of the study ............................................................................... 4
C. Research question................................................................................ 4
D. Objective of the study ......................................................................... 4
E. Significance of the study ..................................................................... 5
F. Research methodology. ....................................................................... 5
1. Method of Research ...................................................................... 5
2. Data Analysis ................................................................................ 6
3. Unit of analysis ............................................................................. 6
4. Instruments of Research ................................................................ 6
G. TIME AND PLACE .......................................................................... 7
CHAPTER II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .......................................... 7
A. The Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham
Maslow ............................................................................................... 8
viii
1. Psychological needs ..................................................................... 11
2. Safety needs ................................................................................. 12
3. Love and belongingness needs ..................................................... 13
4. Esteem needs ................................................................................ 13
5. Self actualization needs ................................................................ 14
B. Consumer behavior ............................................................................ 16
C. Character and characterization ........................................................... 17
1. Character ...................................................................................... 17
2. Characterization ........................................................................... 19
CHAPTER III. RESEARCH FINDINGS ......................................................... 23
A. Data description.................................................................................. 23
B. Data analysis ...................................................................................... 37
1. Character analysis of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main
character in the film Confession of A Shopaholic ..................... 37
2. The Hierarchy of Needs on Rebecca Bloomwood as the main
character in the film Confession of A Shopaholic ..................... 43
CHAPTER IV. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ................................... 74
A. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 74
B. Suggestion ........................................................................................... 76
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................... 77
APPENDIXES ..................................................................................................... 79
ix
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
The rapid development of technology today provides many options for
many people to be able to choose their way to entertain themselves, such as
reading books, listening music, or watching movies. Among those types of
entertainments, many of them choose to watch films, because it offers a
combination of sounds (audio) and pictures (visual) simultaneously. In its
development, the film itself has made a lot of progress both in terms of sounds
and visuals of the display.
Film is a work result of a number professionals from various field (such as
writer of scenario, film maker, actress, lighting/electric expert, etc). Generally,
every film workers are considered to have contribution in the film that they
made.1Films are cultural artifacts created by specific cultures, which reflect those
cultures, and, in turn, affect them. Film is considered to be an important art form,
a source of popular entertainment and a powerful method for educating - or
indoctrinating - citizens. The visual elements of cinema give motion pictures a
universal power of communication. Some films have become popular worldwide
attractions by using dubbing or subtitles that translate the dialogue.2
Films are made up of a series of individual images called frames. When
these images are shown rapidly in succession, a viewer has the illusion that
1
Anggadewi Moesono, Psikoanalisis dan Sastra (Depok: Pusat Penelitian Kemasyarakatan dan
Budaya Lembaga Penelitian Universitas Indonesia, 2003), p. 61.
2
http://www.eicar-international.com/definition-film.html. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
1
2
motion is occurring. The viewer cannot see the flickering between frames due to
an effect known as persistence of vision, whereby the eye retains a visual image
for a fraction of a second after the source has been removed. Viewers perceive
motion due to a psychological effect called beta movement.3
Film does not only become something that can entertains, but it can also
inspire viewers if it is presented attractively. There are many things that can be
summed up in a film, such as the problems of life, love, friendship, or the
psychological motivation of the characters in the film, about what and why they
do things and what makes them encourage to do so.
In film, the roles of character are very important. Without character, the
story can be very difficult to be built. With character, audiences can understand
the plot of the story better.
Based on the explanation above, the writer would like to analyze a film
with the title Confessions of A Shopaholic (This is a 2009 American film
adaptation of the Shopaholic series of novels written by Sophie Kinsella. The film
is Directed by P. J. Hogan, with the star Isla Fisher as the shopaholic journalist
and Hugh Dancy as her boss.)4 by Sophie Kinsella (Madeleine Wickham was born
in London on December 12th 1969. She wrote The Secret Dreamworld of a
Shopaholic, Shopaholic & Baby, Chick Lit and Twenties Girl. Wickham
graduated from New College, Oxford. She has worked as an author.)5. The film
tells about a young woman named Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher). She is
3
http://www.pooler-georgia-homepage.com/movie-focused-sites.html. Accessed on August 10th,
2011
4
http://www.worldofkj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49241. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
5
http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/biography_of_madeleine_wickham. Accessed on August 10th,
2011
3
a shopping addict who has a problem due to his debts and she lives with her best
friend Suze (Krysten Ritter). She works as a journalist for a gardening magazine
but dreams to join the fashion magazine Alette, because she thinks that she can get
high salary and continually fill her desire in shopping if she can work in Alette,
then she tries to get a job there. In the way to realize her dream to work in Alette,
she first works in the money magazine Successfull Savings. She becomes a
financial advisor though she doesn’t really love this job, and gradually she
becomes very famous with her financial article in that magazine with her author
name “The girl in the green scarf”.
In her popularity, she slowly falls in love with her boss, Luke Brandon
(Hugh Dancy). But she still has her personal problem about her debts due to her
impulsive shopping habbits she spends more than $.900 for shopping, and it
makes her to be pursued by her debt collector Dereck Smith (Robert Stanton). She
keeps her secret about her debts and lies to her boss that her debt collector is her
ex-boyfriend who stalks her over. Her carrier in Successful Savings gradually
makes her popular and it makes her to be invited in one of a financial TV
program, but unfortunately her debt collector Dereck Smith proves all secret about
her debts in front of her boss and the viewers of the live TV program. She then
loses her friend and the love from her boss.
Finally she realizes that all of her problems comes from her impulsive
shopping habbits and she decides to sell all her items she bought to pay all her
debts. She also refuses the offer to work in Allete, though it was her dream to
work there. She then realizes that all she needs are the love and the supports from
4
all people that she loves. From the summary of the movie above, the writer is
interested in analyzing about the hierarchy needs of the main character that is
reflected from her consumer behaviour in her impulsive shopping habbits.
According to the writer, the consumer behavior of the main character is the way
to satisfy her desire in shopping to reveal her needs that she must fulfill and it
can be analyzed by using the concept Hierarchy of Human Needs of Abraham H.
Maslow’s theory.
B. Focus of the Study
According to the background of studies above, this research will be
concentrated only on how to understand the needs that must be fulfilled by
Rebecca Bloomwood from the consumer behavior that she has in satisfying her
shopping desire by using Hierarchy of Human Needs Theory of Abraham
H.Maslow.
C. Research Question
Based on the focus of the study, there are two questions in this study, as follows:
1. What are the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character
in Confessions of A Shopaholic’s movie?
2. How does this characteristics influence consumer behavior on Rebecca
Bloomwod?
3. In what stage does Rebecca Bloomwod’s consumer behavior fulfill the
hierarchy of human needs by Abraham Maslow?
D. Objective of The study
The objectives of this study are described as follows:
5
1. To describe the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main
character in Confessions of A Shopaholic movie
2. To describe how the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood influence her
consumer behavior.
3. To reveal in what stage does consumer behavior take place as the needs
that reflects the hierarchy of needs that must be fulfilled by the main
character.
E. Significance of the Study
The benefits of this research are to increase the knowledge and the
comprehension about the hierarchy of needs that reflects from the main
character’s consumer behaviour. The writer also hopes that this research can also
be benefits for readers who want to understand more about hierarchy of needs
from the point of view Abraham H. Maslow’s theory.
F. Research Methodology
This research methodology comprises by many aspects, such as, method of
research, technique of data analysis, instruments of research, and unit of analysis.
1. Method of Research
Based on the research questions and the significance of the study above,
the writer applies descriptive qualitative method6, by analyzing the relation
among words or sentences that produce particular meaning.
6
Muhammad Farkhan, Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra (Jakarta: Cella Jakarta, 2007), pp. 2 & 4
(Metode deskriptif kualitatif yaitu metode penelitian yang disunakan untuk mendeskripsikan
fenomena-fenomena alam yang terjadi dan kaitan antara satu peristiwa dengan peristiwa lainnya
dengan menggunakan data verbal dan non-numeric sebagai dasar analisis dan pemecahan masalah
yang sedang dikaji)
6
2. Data Analysis
The writer will explain the data qualitatively. The writer uses Hierarchy of
Human Needs of Abraham Maslow’s approach based on critical study
and sharp analysis to the qualitative data. First, the writer watches the
movie carefully for several times. This is aimed to learn the contents of the
movie intensively, so it can prevent misunderstanding in the analysis.
Then, the writer underlines the scripts of the movie, captures particular
scene from the film, and identifies Confessions of A Shopaholic’s film
carefully. Finally, the writer analyzes the related data collected according
to human needs theory and how consumer behaviour reveals those needs.
3. Unit of Analysis
The unit of analysis that is used in this research is the film Confessions of
A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella which was released in February 13, 2009
and distributed by Touchstone Pictures.
4. Instruments of Research
The research instrument of this qualitative research is the writer herself.
The writer analyzes it by watching the film carefully. Then, the writer
marks the characteristics of the main character to find out the evidences of
the fulfillment hierarchy of needs from her consumer behavior viewed
from the theory of Abraham H. Maslow in Confessions of A Shopaholic
film.
7
H. Place and Time
This research is conducted in Jakarta, in the faculty of Adab and
Humanities UIN Jakarta from march 2009 to September 2011.
8
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A.
The Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow is a humanistic psychologist. Humanistic psychology
was instead focused on each individual's potential and stressed the importance of
growth and self-actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology is
that people are innately good and that mental and social problems result from
deviations from this natural tendency7. Humanistic Psychology is so named due to
its core belief in the basic goodness present in and respect for humanity. Its core is
founded upon existential psychology, or the realization and understanding of
one's existence and social responsibility8.
Abraham Maslow developed a theory of personality that has influenced a
number of different fields, including education. This theory accurately describes
many realities of personal experiences.
The cornerstone of Abraham Maslow’s understanding of motivation is the
proposition that human being posses urges or basic needs at organism level. These
basic needs, however, are weak needs, quiet biological urges that are often
confused and easy overlooked in day to day affairs.9 It means that the individual
seek to satisfy successively the higher needs that occupy a set of hierarchy.
7
http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/a/hist_humanistic.htm. Accessed on
December 12th, 2011
8
http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Humanistic-Psychology.asp. Accessed on
December 12th, 2011
9
John Marshall Reeve, Understanding Motivation and Emotion (New York: Harcourt Brace
Collage Publisher, 2004), p. 311
8
9
Maslow had little interest in compiling a list of how many needs human
beings possess. Rather, Maslow side-stepped the numbers issue and proposed that
one master need, the tendency toward growth, governs and organizes all other
needs. The growth/actualizing need organizes all others into a hierarchy featuring
five clusters based needs. The arrangement of these needs, Maslow felt, was best
represented visually by a hierarchy. The first need in Maslow’s hierarchy contains
the set of physiological needs necessary for body homeostasis, quiescence, and
survival. All the other needs in the hierarchy (safety and security, love and
belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization) are psychological in nature of
human needs.10
Maslow argued that any comprehensive theory of Human motivation must
take into account the individual as a whole. One cannot hope to understand the
complexities of the human condition by reducing behavior to specific responses in
specific situations. The wholeness of behavior can also serve several motive states
at once.11 Thus for example, sexual behavior may serve physiological as well as
psychological needs of belonging and esteem.
Maslow argued that one must seek to understand the ultimate goals of
behavior rather than the superficial or apparent goals, because the apparent goal
for any observed behavior may be quite different from the ultimate goal. 12
Maslow argued that human motivation can best be studied by observing
human rather than animal behavior. His observations led him to the conclusion
10
Ibid
Herbert L. Petri, Motivation: Theory and Research (California: Wadsworth Publishing Company,
2003), p.289
12
Ibid
11
10
that human needs can be understood in terms of hierarchy of needs. Needs lower
on the hierarchy are propotent (i.e., stronger) and must be satisfied before needs
higher on the hierarchy will be triangle. Maslow did not, however, regard the
hierarchy as totally rigid: one can partially satisfy lower needs, thus allowing
higher needs to become partially active. Maslow regarded the satisfaction of needs
on the hierarchy in a probabilistic manner. If a lower need is being satisfied most
of the time (e.g., 85%), that need will have little influence on behavior.13 The
following diagram shows Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, represented as a pyramid
below:
Figure 1. Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs14
13
Ibid
King, Bank 2.0: How Customer Behavior and Technology Will Change the Future of
Financial Services (Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Reference, 2010), p. 26
14Brett
11
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often described as a pyramid consisting
of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as being associated
with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs, associated
with psychological needs. Deficiency needs must be met first, once these are met,
seeking to satisfy growth needs drives personal growths.15
According to Maslow, once an individual has moved upward to the next
level, needs in the lower level will no longer be prioritized. If a lower set of needs
is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily reprioritize those needs by
focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs, but will not permanently regress to the
lower level.16Maslow’s basic needs are as follow:
1.
Physiological Needs
The first level of the hierarchy consists of physiological needs. If needs
such as hunger or thirst are not adequately being met, the needs above them on the
hierarchy are pushed into the background in terms of controlling behavior. The
individual is in an emergency situation and his or her whole being is dominated by
need.17 Physiological needs consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, and a
relatively constant body temperature. Maslow felt that physiological needs are
adequately met for most people in our society. When these needs are met, the next
need on the hierarchy emerges as a dominant force in controlling and directing
behavior.18
15
Lawrence A. Tomei, Lexicon of Online and Distance Learning (United States of America:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009), p. 148
16
Lawrence A. Tomei (2009), op. cit. p. 148
17
Herbert L. Petri (2003), op.cit. p. 290
18
Ibid
12
2.
Safety Needs
When all physiological needs are satisfied and are no longer controlling
thoughts and behaviors, the needs for security can become active.19 These needs
represent a need for safety or security in our environment. Like the physiological
needs, safety needs are primarily triggered in emergency situations. Higher needs
become unimportant when one’s life is endangered, and our behavior reflects our
attempts to remain secure. An example of his recently occurred when the
remnants of a hurricane caused extensive flooding in my neighborhood. Some of
my neighbors sustained thousands of dollars of damage to their homes; yet, at the
time of the flood, their material loss was unimportant to them because escaping
the flood was all that mattered.20
Safety needs dominate our behavior primarily in times of emergency.
Maslow, however, felt that working of the safety needs can also be seen in
people’s preference for familiar surroundings, secure jobs, savings account, and
insurance. Safety needs are most evident in your children, as shown when an
infant cries if it is dropped suddenly, is startled by a loud sound, or a stranger
enters the room.21
Maslow believed that the safety needs of most adults in our society are
adequately met. One reason for the clearer appearance of the threat or danger
reaction in infants is that individuals do not inhibit this reaction at all, whereas
19
C. George Boree, Personality Theories. http://www.ship.edu/-cgboeree/maslow.html.
Accessed on August 10th, 2011
20
Herbert L. Petri (2003), loc.cit
21
Ibid
13
individuals in our society have been taught to inhibit it at all costs.22
3.
Love or Belonging Needs
If both the physiological and the safety needs are fairly well gratified,
there will emerge have love and affection and belongingness needs, and the whole
cycle already described will repeat itself with this new center. 23 Then, they
become unimportant in the direction of behavior, and the love or belongingness
needs emerge. These needs involve a hunger for affectionate relationship with
others, a need to feel part a group, or a feeling that one “belong”. The love needs
are not equivalent to sexual needs (which are physiological), though sexual
intimacy can serve to satisfy one’s need to belong. 24 Maslow argued that
individuals seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation. This involves
both giving and receiving love, affection and the sense of belonging.
4.
Esteem Needs
If the love need have been adequately met, they too slip into the
background in relation to guiding behavior, and the esteem needs become
dominant. These are need for a positive, high evaluation of oneself. This
evaluation can be broken down into two subcategories – a need for self esteem
and a need for esteem from other.25
The need for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for
achievement, strenght, confidence, independence, and freedom. The related need
of esteem from others involves a desire for reputation, status, recognition, appre-
22
http://www.xenodochy.org/ex/lists/maslow.html. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
C. Goerge Boeree (2006), loc.cit
24
Herbert L. Petri (2003), loc.cit
25
Ibid
23
14
ciation by others of one’s abilities, and a feeling of importance.26
5.
Self-Actualization Needs
When one has satisfied the first four level of need, the final level of
development, which Maslow termed self-actualization, can be reached. At the
self-actualization level, the person’s behavior is motivated by different conditions
than at the lower levels.27 It means, at this level, the individual differences are
greatest.
The self-actualized individual has satisfied all the deprivation needs of the
first four levels of the hierarchy. The behavior of the self-actualized person is, as a
result, motivated by new set of needs, which Maslow termed the being needs (Bmotivation, or metamotivation). These B-motives are values such as truth,
honesty, beauty, and goodness, and they provide meaning to the life of the selfactualized individual.28 The clear emergence of these needs usually rest upon
some prior satisfaction of the physiological, safety, love, and esteem needs.29
The picture Maslow gives us of the self-actualized person is a very
positive one. The self-actualized individual is no longer motivated by deficiencies
but is motivated to grow and become all that he or she is capable of becoming.
Self-actualization constantly stimulates people to test their abilities and expand
their horizons.30
26
Ibid, p. 291
Ibid
28
Ibid
29
C. George Boeree(2006), loc cit
30
Ibid
27
15
5.1 Characteristics of Self-Actualized People
In addition to describing what is meant by self-actualization in histheory,
Maslow also identified some of the key characteristics of self-actualized people:
Acceptance and Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions of
themselves, others and the world around them. Problem-centering: Selfactualized individuals are concerned with solving problems outside of themselves,
including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the external world.
These people are often motivated by a sense of personal responsibility and ethics.
Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal thoughts
and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations,
they also tend to be open and unconventional. Autonomy and Solitude: Another
characteristics of self-actualized people is the need for independence and privacy.
While they enjoy the company of others, these individuals need time to focus on
developing
their
own
individual
potential.
Continued
Freshness
of
Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view the world with a continual
sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a
source of inspiration and pleasure. Peak Experiences: Individuals who are selfactualized often have what Maslow termedpeak experiences, or moments of
intense joy, wonder, awe and ecstasy. After these experiences, people feel
inspired, strengthened, renewed or transformed.31
Based on the theory above, the significance of this research are to
increase the knowledge and the comprehension about the hierarchy of needs ref31
Kendra Cherry, Characteristics of Self-Actualized People
http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/tp/self-actualized-characteristic.htm.
Accessed on August 10th, 2011
16
lects from the main character’s consumer behaviour.
B.
Consumer Behavior
Consumer Behavior is defined as the acts of individuals directly involved
in obtaining and using economic goods and services, including the decision
processes that precede and determine those acts.32 Consumer behavior may be
defined as decision process and physical activity individuals engage in when
evaluating, acquiring, using or disposing of goods and services.33 Consumer
behavior are acts, process and social relationship exhibited by individuals, groups
and organizations in the obtainment, use of, and consequent experience with
products, services and other resources.34 Consumer behavior consists of the
actions that consumers take in regard to making decisions about purchasing
various goods and services. A study of this phenomenon will often focus on the
psychological and other factors that motivate people to either buy a product or
reject it in favor of some other option.35
In analyzing her thesis, it is important to know the psychological of the
main character in the film Confessions of A Shopaholic about what and why she
does the shopping. It reflects her consumer behavior and the theory about
consumer behavior can help the writer to analyze her research.
32
James F.Engel, David T. Kollat and Roger D. Blackwell, Consumer Behavior (New York: Holt,
Rinehart andWinston, 1968), p.5
33
David L. Louden and Albert J. Della Bitta, Consumer Behavior: Concept and Applications (The
United States of America: By McGraw Hill Inc, 1984), p. 22
34
Ibid
35
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-consumer-behavior.htm. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
17
C.
Character and Characterization
1. Character
In a film, character is an important element that will develop the story
because character is a person who carries out the events of film and then those
events become a story. A character, then, is presumably an imagined person who
inhabits a story-although that simple definition may admit to a few exceptions. A
character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that exists in a work of art.
Along with plot, setting, theme, and style, character is considered one of the
fundamental components of fiction.36
Character development is essential to a good story. Character should enter
the story as dimensional, non-stereotypical character, and become more
dimensional as the story and other characters act upon them. To say that someone
is a character suggests that he or she has a strange or eccentric personality. To say
something about a person’s character involves a discussion of his or her personal
values and behavior.37
For analyzing film characters utilizes three different types of pairing: stock
character and stereotypes, static versus dynamic character, and flat versus round
characters.
Stock character and stereotype. It is not essential or even desirable for
every character in a film to have a unique or memorable personality. Stock
characters are minor character whose actions are completely predictable or typical
or their job or profession. They are in the film simply because the situation
36
X.J. Kennedy, An Introduction to Fiction, (Boston: Little, Bown, 1983), p.4
http://www.writing-world.com/screen/film3.shtml. Accessed on August 10th, 2011
37
18
demands their presence. They serve as a natural part of the setting, much as stage
properties like a lamp or a chair might function in a play.38 A stereotyped
character represents a category of people. The word stereotype comes from
printing and refers to a metal mold used to mass produce duplicates of printing
type. Stereotypes, however, are characters of somewhat greater importance to the
film. They fit into preconceived patterns of behavior common to or representative
of a large number of people, at least a large number of fictional people.39
Static versus dynamic characters. It is often useful to determine whether
the most important characters in a film are static or dynamic characters. Dynamic
characters deeply affected by the action of the plot and undergo some important
change in personality, attitude, or outlook on life as a result of the action of the
story. The change they undergo is an important, permanent one, not just a
whimsical shift in attitude that will change back again tomorrow. The character
will somehow never be the same person he or she was when the action of the film
began.40
The change can be of any type but is significant to the total makeup of the
individual undergoing the change. Developing characters become sadder or wiser,
or happier and more self-confident. They might gain some new awareness of life,
become more nature or more responsible, or become more moral or less so. They
may become simply more aware and knowing and less innocent or naïve.41
38
Joseph M.Boggs and Dennis W.Petrie, The Art of Watching Film, 5th ed (London:Mayfield
Publishing Company, 2000), p.57
39
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner, Fiction, (California:McGraw Hill, 1999), p.97.
40
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) loc.cit.p.58
41
Ibid.p.59
19
Static characters remain essentially the same throughout the film. The
action does not have an important effect on their lives. Or they are insensitive to
the meaning of the action and thus are not capable of growth or change. Statics
characters, however, remain unchanged; their character is the same at the end of
the story as at the beginning.42
Another important distinction is made between the characters and round
characters. Flat characters are two-dimensional, predictable characters who lack
the complexity and unique qualities associated with psychological depth. They
often tend to be representative character types rather than real flesh-and-blood
human beings. Unique, individualistic characters who have some degree of
complexity and ambiguity and who cannot easily be categorized are called round
characters.43
Round character is a three-dimensional character complex enough to be
able to surprise the reader without losing credibility. Round characters are not
inherently superior to static characters. The terms merely imply how different
characters function within the framework of a story. Round characters are
characters
who
are complex
and
realistic;
they
represent
a depth of
personality which is imitative of life.44
2. Characterization
The characterization means how the writer tells the reader about the
physical and non physical characteristics of the person told in the story. It might
be done by giving description in words or by being shown in actions or through
42
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner (1999) op.cit.p.97
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) loc.cit.p.60
44
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner (1999) loc.cit.p.95
43
20
the comments given by other character. Character creation is the art of
characterization-what the author does to bring a character to life, to provide the
reader with a sense of that character’s personality, to make that character unique.45
Characterization can involve developing a variety of aspects of a character such as
appearance, dialogue, external action, internal action, or reactions of other
characters.
a)
Characterization through appearance
Because most of film actors project certain qualities of character the
minute they appear on the screen, characterization in film has a great deal to do
with casting a major aspect of film characterization is revealed visually and
instantaneously.46 The minute we see most actor on the screen, we make certain
assumptions about them because of their facial features, dress, physical build, and
mannerisms and the way they move. Our first visual impression may be proven
erroneous as the story progresses, but it is certainly an important means of
establishing character.47
b)
Characterization through dialogue
Characters in a fictional film naturally reveal a great deal about themselves
by what they say. But a great deal is also revealed by how they say it. Their true
thoughts, attitudes, and emotions can be revealed in subtle ways through word
choice and through the stress, pitch, and pause patterns of their speech. Actor use
of grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and particular dialects (if any) reveals
a great deal about their characters’ social and economic level, educational
45
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner (1999) op.cit.p.98
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) op.cit.p.50
47
Ibid
46
21
background and mental processes.48 Therefore, we must develop a keen ear,
attuned to the faintest and most subtle nuances of meaning revealed through the
human voice, listening carefully not only to what is said but also to how it is said.
c)
Characterization through external action
Although appearance is an important measure of a character’s personality,
appearances are often misleading. Perhaps the best reflections of character are a
person’s actions. Some actions are more important in revealing character than
others.49 Even the most ordinary choice can be revealing, for some kind of choice
is involved in almost everything we do. Sometimes the most effective
characterization is achieved not by the large actions in the film but by the small,
seemingly insignificant ones. For example, a fireman may demonstrate his
courage by saving a child from a burning building, yet such an act may be only a
performance of duty rather than a reflection of a choice.
d)
Characterization through internal action
Internal action is character’s minds and emotions which consist of secrets,
unspoken thoughts, daydreams, aspirations, memories, fears, and fantasies. People
hopes, dreams, and aspirations can be as important to an understanding of their
character as any real achievement, and their fears and insecurities can be more
terrible to them than any real catastrophic failure.
e)
Characterization through reaction of other characters
The way characters view a person often serves as an excellent means of
characterization. Sometimes a great deal of information about a character
48
49
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie (2000) op.cit.p.52
Ibid.p.53
22
is already provided through such means before the character first appears
on the screen.50
50
Ibid.p.53
23
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In this chapter the writer discusses about the data description and analysis
about Rebecca Bloomwood in the film of Confession of A Shopaholic. The data
presented in this chapter are based on the scripts of the film combined with the
particular film’s scenes related to the research. The data are analyzed by the
theory of Abraham Maslow about the hierarchy of human needs as the main
theory to analyze this research. The general data description will be presented in
the data description while the analysis will be discussed in the data analysis as
mentioned below:
A.
Data Description
In this part, the writer describes the character’s characteristics of Rebecca
Bloomwood and her shopping behavior, then the writer describes the needs that
she tries to fullfill from the lower to the highest stage (phsycological needs, safety
needs, esteem needs, love and belongingness needs, and self actualization needs)
based on Abraham Maslow’s theory about hierarchy of human needs. Last, the
writer identifies in what stage of Abraham Maslow’s theory does consumer
behavior take place as a part of the needs that Rebecca Bloomwood tries to
fullfill. The data descriptions are showed from the table below:
23
24
Data description of character’s characteristics and shopping behavior of the
main character in the movie “Confessions of A Shopaholic”
No.
1.
CharacteCorpus
Time
ristic
Shopping “...But when I looked 00:00:55
addict
into shop windows, I saw
another world. A dreamy
world full of perfect
things. A world where
grown-up girls got what
they wanted. They were
beautiful. Like fairies or
princesses. They didn't
even need any money,
they had magic cards. I
wanted one.”
“...A store can awaken a 00:02:08
lust for things you never
even knew you needed.
And when your fingers
grasp those shiny, new
bags...Oh, yes! Oh, yes!”
Rebecca:”Because when 01:16:39
I shop, the world gets
better. The world is
better. And then it's not
anymore. And I need to
do it again.”
2.
Impulsive “Oh, no... I spent $900.”
3.
Immature Rebecca:”Give me the 00.53.44
boots and no one gets
hurt”
00:02:50
Scene
25
Rebecca:”...Here! All I 00:53:49
have to do first is buy a
new dress.”
Suze:”Bex,no! Absolute
ly not. You've 10,000
dresses already.”
4.
Shallow
5.
Vivacious Luke:”Rebecca
Bloomwood was
most vivacious...”
6.
Has an
amazing
sense of
style
7.
Liar
01:19:07
the
“Rebecca Bloomwood. 00:01:31
Occupation: Journalist.
Jacket: Visa. Dress:
AMEX.
Belt:
MasterCard. It's vintage.
And I got one percent
cash back. Bag: Gucci!
And worth every penny.”
Derek Smeath:”Hello! 00:13:51
Hi! Ms. Bloomwood?”
Suze:”Hello. I'm sorry.
It's actually not..She's
still
recovering
from...You know... OK.
I'll have her call you as
soon as...”
Derek Smeath:”Yes?”
Suze:”As soon as she's
come
back
from...
From...”
Rebecca:”Finland!”
Suze:”Finland!”
Tarkie:”Why do so
many of your excuses
involve Finland?”
Rebecca:”Cause no one
checks up on Finland,
Tarkie.
Rebecca:”...I lied to the 01:28:12
man I love...”
26
Data description of the main character’s hierarchy of human needs in the
movie “Confessions of A Shopaholic”
Num Hierarchy
Corpus
Time
of Needs
1. Phsycologi
cal needs
a. Hunger Luke:” ”Drank a lot of 00.49.28
and
majitos, I drank a lot of
thirst majitos. It wasn’t always
work and no play”
Rebecca:”Gracias”
Luke:”Gracias”
Rebecca:”Cheers!”
Luke:”Mmm.”
Luke:”Right, uh, ladies 01.02.14
and gentlemen,tonight
we will be serving...the,
uh, brook trout and wild
smoked salmon.”
Rebecca:”Thanks.”
The
bartender:”Pleasure”
b. Sex
00.41.38
Rebecca:”I thought she 01.03.42
was your girlfriend.”
Luke:”No. She's not my
girlfriend. She's not you.
Luke:” It's a desperately
important scarf.”
01.38.53
Scene
27
2.
Safety
needs
a. Security Derek Smeath:”Hello! 00.13.51
Hi! Ms. Bloomwood?”
Suze:”Hello. I'm sorry.
It's actually not.”
Tarkie:”Why do so 00.14.13
many of your excuses
involve Finland?”
Rebecca:”'Cause no one
checks up on Finland,
Tarkie.”
Rebecca:”Derek
Smeath. Oh! No!”
00.35.52
Luke:”Exactly how long 00.35.59
has this ex-boyfriend
been stalking you?”
Rebbeca:”Ever since the
relationship ended. He's
been
following
me
around
pretending to be a debt
collector.”
Hayley:”I was once
stalked...by a dog.
Luke:”OK. Look, take
the rest of the day and
block all future calls
from Derek Smeath.”
Hayley:”Yes, sir.”
Rebecca:”You
are 00.45.15
getting
your
own
ringtone. Do not answer
this call, it's Derek
Smeath.”
28
Luke:”I've had enough 01.07.01
of this clown. I'll see
him.”
Rebecca:”Whoa! Luke!
No! I never want you to
meet him, ever.”
Hayley:”Don't
worry.
I've
already
called
security.”
Rebecca:”See?
She
called security.”
3.
Love and
belonging
ness needs
a. Friends Suze:”OK, Bex, the most 00.13.24
important thing is not to
panic.”
Suze:“How are you 00.15.50
going to pay off sixteen
thousand twelve hundred
and 62 dollars and 70
cents with no job?”
Rebecca:“I could win
the lottery”
Suze:”
Maybe
you
should have a backup
plan. Oh! Backup plan, I
got it, I got it, Back up
plan.”
Suze:”I just found a 00.23.44
perfect book for you”
00.17.29
b. Family Mom:”Doesn’t this just
cheer you up?”
Rebecca:”It’s
not
working, Mom.”
Mom:”Come on, you’ll
get another job”
29
Dad:”Spend it wisely, 00.36.36
huh?”
Dad:”Nothing
defines 01.22.30
me, except you and your
mother”
c. Lover Luke:”No. She's not my 01.03.30
girlfriend. She's not
you.”
Rebecca: The bidder on 01.38.39
the phone was you. But
you lost!
Luke:”Both
bidders
were me”
Luke:”It’s a desperately
important scarf”
01.38.40
Rebecca:”And instead of 01.39.52
a relationship with my
credit card, I have a
relationship
with
someone who loves me
back. And never declines
me.”
4.
Esteem
Needs
00.01.31
a. Self
Rebecca’s
Esteem mine:”Rebecca
Bloomwood.Occupation:
Journalist. Jacket: Visa.
30
Dress: AMEX. Belt:
MasterCard. It's vintage.
And I got one percent
cash back. Bag: Gucci!
And worth every penny.
Rebecca’s mine:”Cause 00.02.08
you know that thing,
when you see someone
cute and he smiles, and
your heart kind of goes
like warm butter sliding
down hot toast? Well,
that's what it's like when
I see a store. Only it's
better.”
Rebecca’s mine:” You
see, a man will never
love you or treat you as
well as a store. If a man
doesn't fit, you can't
exchange him seven days
later for a gorgeous
cashmere sweater. And a
store always smells
good. A store can
awaken a lust for things
you never even knew you
needed. And when your
fingers grasp those
shiny, new bags...Oh,
yes! Oh, yes!”
00.02.43
Rebecca:”Give me the 00.53.44
boots and no one gets
hurt”
Rebecca:”
Because 01.16.39
when I shop, the world
gets better. The world is
better. And then it's not
anymore. And I need to
do it again.”
31
b. Confidence
The
manequin:”The 00.05.50
point about this scarf is
that it would become
part of a definition of
your...Of your psyche.
Do you see what I mean?
Rebecca:”No, I do. Keep
talking.
The
manequin:”It
would make your eyes
look bigger.
Rebecca:”Mmm...It
would make my haircut
look more expensive.
The manequin:”You'd
wear it with everything.
Rebecca:”It would be an
investment.
The manequin;”You
would walk into that
interview confident.”
Rebecca:”Confident.”
The manequin:”And
poised.”
Rebecca:”Poised.”
The manequin:”The girl
in the green scarf.”
Shop assistant:”That'll
be $120. How would you
like to pay?”
Rebecca:”Here's $50 in
cash, can you put 30 on
this
card...Ten
on
that.Twenty on that.It's
so cute.”
Shop
assistant:”Declined.”
00.06.07
Rebecca:”Do you do 00.07.00
cash back?”
Hotdog’s
seller:”What?”
Rebecca:”If I give you a
check for $23, will you
give me one of your hot
32
dogs and $20 cash back,
please?”
Hotdog’s seller:”Do I
look like a bank?”
Rebecca:”I have an
interview. They don't
hold items. It's a
desperately
important
scarf.”
c. Esteem Receptionist:”Nice
scarf.”
from
others Rebecca:”Thanks. I
bought it for the
interview.”
00.08.30
Suze:”Bex, this is so 00.16.28
funny. You're so smart.
You're the best writer
ever!”
Rebecca:”Do you like
it?”
Suze:”You're fabulous!”
Rebecca:”What?
Luke:”This is good.
Rebecca:”Really?
Luke:”Mmm. Is it by
Rebecca Bloomwood?
Rebecca:”Yes! My friend
Suze saw me writing it.
Luke:”I mean, is that
how you want your name
to appear? "By Rebecca
Bloomwood"?
Rebecca:”Oh, right.”
00.33.27
Luke:” The Girl in the 00.34.08
Green Scarf. Thank
you.”
33
Woman:”We never get 00.34.32
this kind of response.”
Edgar West:” I've just 00.34.51
spent a few minutes
rather wrapped up in
your "Green Scarf." I
like it. Uh, she obvi