The Irony Of American Healthcare as Constructed in Documentary Movie Entitled SICKO in Presidential Campaign For 2008.
THE IRONY OF AMERICAN HEALTHCARE AS CONSTRUCTED IN
DOCUMENTARY MOVIE ENTITLED SICKO IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN FOR 2008
THESIS
Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of Requirement
For the Sarjana Sastra Degree of the English Department
Faculty of Cultural Sciences
Sebelas Maret University
By
Edwi Mardiyoko
C0307022
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES
SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY
SURAKARTA
2015
i
ii
iii
PRONOUNCEMENT
Name
: Edwi Mardiyoko
Student Number
: C0307022
I certify that the thesis entitled “The Irony of American Healthcare as
Constructed in Documentary Movie Entitled SICKO in the Presidential
Campaign for 2008” is not a plagiarism nor written by others. Any materials and
theories used as reference are written in direct quotation or in paraphrase. I am
fully responsible for the pronouncement. If it is proven to be wrong, I am willing
to take any responsible actions given by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Sebelas
Maret University, including the withdrawal of the degree.
Surakarta, April 23, 2015
The researcher
Edwi Mardiyoko
iv
MOTTO
“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is good, and
forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.”
(The Qur’an 3: 110)
“Don’t be a successful man, you should be a precious man.”
(Albert Einstein)
v
DEDICATION
For myself,
my family,
HMI, BEM, EDCOM,
and American Studies scholars.
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismmillahirahmannirahim…
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah
SWT for His blessing and bring me to life. Greet be to the Prophet of Muhammad
SAW my uswatun hasanah who gives me guidance to gain the spirit of Islam.
Finally, I can finish this research in a good way. This accomplishment also comes
because of all direct and supports from many people. Therefore, I would like give
special thank for them who had already given their supports and prays in finishing
this research and my gratitude goes to:
Drs. Riyadi Santosa, M.Ed, Ph.D, Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences,
for approving this thesis. Drs. Agus Hari Wibowo, M.A, Ph.D, the Head of
English Department, for the approval and the support, and also for all the lectures
of English Department. I want to thank for them for all knowledge, advices,
supports, and experiences during I study in English Department.
To Mrs. Ida Kusuma Dewi, S.S., M.A., my academic advisor, for her
beautiful advices when I got any problems. Mr. Yusuf Kurniawan, S.S., M.A., my
thesis consultant. I thank for helps in finishing this thesis. I could never finish this
thesis without his helpful suggestion, advices, devastating criticisms, and
corrections. I do apologize, if I make mistake and thank for you sir for being
patient with me.
I also thank to my beloved family. I dedicate this thesis to my parents,
Bapak Tardi and Ibu Suparmi who have prayed me to be good person every time.
I also thank to my grandmother, Mbah Miyem who have also prayed me every
time. Then, I thank to my brother and sister, Eksan Parsudi and Rinta Parsudi who
have encouraged me to finish this thesis. Then, I also thank to my little nephew,
Gibran Aksa for his best smile ever. Many thanks for Mas Gopar for encouraging
me to finish this thesis.
vii
The students of American Studies 2007, The Feds who have helped me to
finish this thesis. I specially thank to Mbak Pipit, Makna, Daniel, Syaiful,
Chandra, and Vista, hopefully you can achieve you goals in your life. I also thank
to the students of ED’07 who have given colors in my days during I study in
English Department. I am so grateful to have all of them as my friends.
At BEM, I am particularly grateful to Farida, Evi, Bungsu, Wisnu, Rizal
Fikri, Irwanto, Dyah Mata, Yusuf, Bara, Mbak Ulfa, and the others for their
patience and support. Also at EDCOM, Cassandra, Hanifan, Rara, Jusmar, Mas
Kiki, Mbak Aya, Mbak Rini and many other for their assistance and support when
we had been board together. EDCOM is nothing but it is everything.
At HMI, I must thank to Sidiq, Tori, Fajar, Kanda Arief, Anjas, and Kanda
Roseno for their encouragement, their faith, and their friendship. Then, I also
thank to Much. Pandu, Usman, Endang, Dewi, Woro, Setyari, and many cadre of
HMI for their enthusiasms, expertise, unfailing patience, crazy discussions, and
humors who have kept me to finish this thesis.
I do apologize to the people that I could not mention one by one. I thank
for their pray, support, and encouragement. Any errors in this thesis, of course,
my own responsibility.
Surakarta, March 19, 2015
Edwi Mardiyoko
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER ..........................................................................................................
i
APPROVAL OF THESIS CONSULTANT ................................................... ii
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS ........................................ iii
PRONOUNCEMENT ..................................................................................... iv
MOTTO ........................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................... vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. x
LIST OF PLATES ........................................................................................... xi
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1
A. Research Background .......................................................................... 1
B. Research Questions .............................................................................. 4
C. Objectives of the Study ........................................................................ 4
D. Scope of the Study ............................................................................... 4
E. Benefits of the Study ............................................................................ 5
F. Research Methodology ........................................................................ 5
G. Theoretical Approach ........................................................................... 7
H. Thesis Organization ........................................................................... 14
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................... 16
A. American Healthcare .......................................................................... 16
1. A Brief History of American Healthcare ..................................... 16
2. Healthcare Reform Issue in The Campaign Time for 2008 and A Social
Movement in American Society ................................................... 19
ix
B. The Myth of American Dream ........................................................... 20
C. Irony: An Effective Propaganda ......................................................... 23
D. SICKO ................................................................................................ 28
E. Constructing American Healthcare through Documentary ................ 30
F. Defining Montage and Voiceover Narration ...................................... 34
1. Montage ........................................................................................ 34
2. Voiceover Narration ...................................................................... 37
G. Semiotics ............................................................................................ 42
CHAPTER III: ANALYSIS ........................................................................... 45
A. The Irony of American Healthcare as Constructed in the Documentary
Movie SICKO ..................................................................................... 46
A. The Construction of the Derivation of Political Discourse in the United
States Based on SICKO’s Point of View ............................................ 66
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................... 78
A. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 78
B. Recommendation ................................................................................ 80
BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 82
x
LIST OF PLATES
1.1 Pierce’s model element of meanings ........................................................ 43
2.1 Cover of SICKO ....................................................................................... 47
2.2 The sequence of Adam ............................................................................. 49
2.3 Dramatized sequence of the American Dream ......................................... 50
2.4 The sadness of a mom .............................................................................. 53
2.5 The old man worker’s personal experience ............................................. 53
2.6 The sob of health insurance salesperson .................................................. 54
2.7 Dramatized testimony through camera movement .................................. 58
2.8 Comedy tape for confrontation patient versus HMO ............................... 59
2.9 Montage pictures the conspiracy of HMO’s origin .................................. 61
2.10 A newsreel informs the failure of medical programs ............................. 64
2.11 Metaphoric message concerning healthcare case ................................... 65
2.12 Dramatizes offering the afraid against socialized medical programs .... 68
2.13 Constructing heroine, Hillary R. Clinton, sign of women’s power ....... 69
2.14 A testimony from the U.S people preferring to Canadian healthcare and
Constructing media to make fallacy of Canadian healthcare .................. 70
2.15 Testimony of dr. Jacques Milliez testifies about French medical service 73
2.16 Dramatize constructing Cuba as evil place and A journalistic footage of the
rejection against Cuba ............................................................................ 73
2.17 Testimony of Tony Benn testifies about the correlation of democracy and
healthcare ................................................................................................ 75
xi
DOCUMENTARY MOVIE ENTITLED SICKO IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN FOR 2008
THESIS
Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of Requirement
For the Sarjana Sastra Degree of the English Department
Faculty of Cultural Sciences
Sebelas Maret University
By
Edwi Mardiyoko
C0307022
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES
SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY
SURAKARTA
2015
i
ii
iii
PRONOUNCEMENT
Name
: Edwi Mardiyoko
Student Number
: C0307022
I certify that the thesis entitled “The Irony of American Healthcare as
Constructed in Documentary Movie Entitled SICKO in the Presidential
Campaign for 2008” is not a plagiarism nor written by others. Any materials and
theories used as reference are written in direct quotation or in paraphrase. I am
fully responsible for the pronouncement. If it is proven to be wrong, I am willing
to take any responsible actions given by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Sebelas
Maret University, including the withdrawal of the degree.
Surakarta, April 23, 2015
The researcher
Edwi Mardiyoko
iv
MOTTO
“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is good, and
forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah.”
(The Qur’an 3: 110)
“Don’t be a successful man, you should be a precious man.”
(Albert Einstein)
v
DEDICATION
For myself,
my family,
HMI, BEM, EDCOM,
and American Studies scholars.
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismmillahirahmannirahim…
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah
SWT for His blessing and bring me to life. Greet be to the Prophet of Muhammad
SAW my uswatun hasanah who gives me guidance to gain the spirit of Islam.
Finally, I can finish this research in a good way. This accomplishment also comes
because of all direct and supports from many people. Therefore, I would like give
special thank for them who had already given their supports and prays in finishing
this research and my gratitude goes to:
Drs. Riyadi Santosa, M.Ed, Ph.D, Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences,
for approving this thesis. Drs. Agus Hari Wibowo, M.A, Ph.D, the Head of
English Department, for the approval and the support, and also for all the lectures
of English Department. I want to thank for them for all knowledge, advices,
supports, and experiences during I study in English Department.
To Mrs. Ida Kusuma Dewi, S.S., M.A., my academic advisor, for her
beautiful advices when I got any problems. Mr. Yusuf Kurniawan, S.S., M.A., my
thesis consultant. I thank for helps in finishing this thesis. I could never finish this
thesis without his helpful suggestion, advices, devastating criticisms, and
corrections. I do apologize, if I make mistake and thank for you sir for being
patient with me.
I also thank to my beloved family. I dedicate this thesis to my parents,
Bapak Tardi and Ibu Suparmi who have prayed me to be good person every time.
I also thank to my grandmother, Mbah Miyem who have also prayed me every
time. Then, I thank to my brother and sister, Eksan Parsudi and Rinta Parsudi who
have encouraged me to finish this thesis. Then, I also thank to my little nephew,
Gibran Aksa for his best smile ever. Many thanks for Mas Gopar for encouraging
me to finish this thesis.
vii
The students of American Studies 2007, The Feds who have helped me to
finish this thesis. I specially thank to Mbak Pipit, Makna, Daniel, Syaiful,
Chandra, and Vista, hopefully you can achieve you goals in your life. I also thank
to the students of ED’07 who have given colors in my days during I study in
English Department. I am so grateful to have all of them as my friends.
At BEM, I am particularly grateful to Farida, Evi, Bungsu, Wisnu, Rizal
Fikri, Irwanto, Dyah Mata, Yusuf, Bara, Mbak Ulfa, and the others for their
patience and support. Also at EDCOM, Cassandra, Hanifan, Rara, Jusmar, Mas
Kiki, Mbak Aya, Mbak Rini and many other for their assistance and support when
we had been board together. EDCOM is nothing but it is everything.
At HMI, I must thank to Sidiq, Tori, Fajar, Kanda Arief, Anjas, and Kanda
Roseno for their encouragement, their faith, and their friendship. Then, I also
thank to Much. Pandu, Usman, Endang, Dewi, Woro, Setyari, and many cadre of
HMI for their enthusiasms, expertise, unfailing patience, crazy discussions, and
humors who have kept me to finish this thesis.
I do apologize to the people that I could not mention one by one. I thank
for their pray, support, and encouragement. Any errors in this thesis, of course,
my own responsibility.
Surakarta, March 19, 2015
Edwi Mardiyoko
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER ..........................................................................................................
i
APPROVAL OF THESIS CONSULTANT ................................................... ii
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS ........................................ iii
PRONOUNCEMENT ..................................................................................... iv
MOTTO ........................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................... vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. x
LIST OF PLATES ........................................................................................... xi
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1
A. Research Background .......................................................................... 1
B. Research Questions .............................................................................. 4
C. Objectives of the Study ........................................................................ 4
D. Scope of the Study ............................................................................... 4
E. Benefits of the Study ............................................................................ 5
F. Research Methodology ........................................................................ 5
G. Theoretical Approach ........................................................................... 7
H. Thesis Organization ........................................................................... 14
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................... 16
A. American Healthcare .......................................................................... 16
1. A Brief History of American Healthcare ..................................... 16
2. Healthcare Reform Issue in The Campaign Time for 2008 and A Social
Movement in American Society ................................................... 19
ix
B. The Myth of American Dream ........................................................... 20
C. Irony: An Effective Propaganda ......................................................... 23
D. SICKO ................................................................................................ 28
E. Constructing American Healthcare through Documentary ................ 30
F. Defining Montage and Voiceover Narration ...................................... 34
1. Montage ........................................................................................ 34
2. Voiceover Narration ...................................................................... 37
G. Semiotics ............................................................................................ 42
CHAPTER III: ANALYSIS ........................................................................... 45
A. The Irony of American Healthcare as Constructed in the Documentary
Movie SICKO ..................................................................................... 46
A. The Construction of the Derivation of Political Discourse in the United
States Based on SICKO’s Point of View ............................................ 66
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................... 78
A. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 78
B. Recommendation ................................................................................ 80
BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 82
x
LIST OF PLATES
1.1 Pierce’s model element of meanings ........................................................ 43
2.1 Cover of SICKO ....................................................................................... 47
2.2 The sequence of Adam ............................................................................. 49
2.3 Dramatized sequence of the American Dream ......................................... 50
2.4 The sadness of a mom .............................................................................. 53
2.5 The old man worker’s personal experience ............................................. 53
2.6 The sob of health insurance salesperson .................................................. 54
2.7 Dramatized testimony through camera movement .................................. 58
2.8 Comedy tape for confrontation patient versus HMO ............................... 59
2.9 Montage pictures the conspiracy of HMO’s origin .................................. 61
2.10 A newsreel informs the failure of medical programs ............................. 64
2.11 Metaphoric message concerning healthcare case ................................... 65
2.12 Dramatizes offering the afraid against socialized medical programs .... 68
2.13 Constructing heroine, Hillary R. Clinton, sign of women’s power ....... 69
2.14 A testimony from the U.S people preferring to Canadian healthcare and
Constructing media to make fallacy of Canadian healthcare .................. 70
2.15 Testimony of dr. Jacques Milliez testifies about French medical service 73
2.16 Dramatize constructing Cuba as evil place and A journalistic footage of the
rejection against Cuba ............................................................................ 73
2.17 Testimony of Tony Benn testifies about the correlation of democracy and
healthcare ................................................................................................ 75
xi