Understanding the Symbolic Meaning of 'Blow in the Wind' by Bob Dylan: A Semiotic Analysis, Schemes and Mind Maps of Literature

Download Understanding the Symbolic Meaning of 'Blow in the Wind' by Bob Dylan: A Semiotic Analysis and more Schemes and Mind Maps Literature in PDF only on Docsity! Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |114 A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS MYTH OF LIFE IN LYRIC’S BLOWIN’IN THE WIND BY BOB DYLAN’S R. Myrna Nur Sakinah Al-Ghifari University Email: myrnaasakinah@gmail.com Muhammad Ghifar Aufa A. State Islamic University Sunan Gunung Djati Email: muhammadghifaraufa@gmail.com ABSTRACT This research analyzes the myths that exist in the lyrics of "Blow in the wind" by Bob Dylan. Researcher used descriptive qualitative methods because the results of this study were words that were then discussed. Lyrics of Bob Dylan's "Blow in the wind" research are like wind, humans, sky, mountains, seas, humans, cannon balls. This study uses Roland Barthes' theory and focuses on the denotative, connotative and mythical meanings of Bob Dylan's "Blow in the wind" lyrics. The results in this study provide an understanding of the life and culture of mankind from now on, besides the results of this study provide historic results and find some thoughts about how human life. One form of myth that is in this study is through the word wind, wind in this study has a myth about the answers to the problems of human life. The problems of human life are war, poverty, and suffering. This song is a form of protest against war, the war which discusses in the lyrics of this song is about war, Vietnam, the government only focuses on war and is discussing about African- Americans who use civil rights in Vietnam war. The song lyrics that have to be questioned in the lyrics of this song are very difficult to solve just like seeing the wind or maybe the meaning of the wind here also means that people do not care more about the problems that arise and only need. Keywords: semiology, denotative, connotative, myth, blow in the wind. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini menganalisis mitos yang ada pada lirik "Blow in the wind" karya Bob Dylan. Peneliti menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif karena hasil penelitian ini adalah kata-kata yang kemudian dijelaskan. Dalam penelitian ini, peneliti menemukan beberapa simbol mengenai kehidupan pada lirik "Blow in the wind" karya Bob Dylan seperti angin, man, sky, gunung, lautan, manusia, bola meriam. Penelitian ini berfokus menggunakan teori Roland Barthes dan fokus pada makna denotatif, konotatif dan mitos yang ada pada lirik "Blow in the wind" karya Bob Dylan. Hasil dalam penelitian ini memberikan pemahaman yang baru mengenai kehidupan dan budaya umat manusia sejak dahulu hingga sekarang, selain itu hasil dari penelitian ini memberikan hasil secara historis dan menemukan beberapa mitos tentang permasalahan kehidupan manusia. Salah satu bentuk mitos yang ada dalam penelitian ini adalah melalui kata angin, angin dalam Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |115 penelitian ini memiliki mitos tentang jawaban atas permasalahan kehidupan umat manusia. Permasalahan kehidupan manusia itu meliputi peperangan, kemiskinan, dan penderitaan. Lagu ini adalah sebuah bentuk protes terhadap perang, Perang yang dimaksudkan dalam lirik lagu ini menceritakan bagaimana konflik perang vietnam, pemerintah hanya fokus pada perang dan mengabaikan pelanggaran Afrika-Amerika yang melibatkan hak-hak sipil dalam perang vietnam. Hingga kemudian kata wind memiliki makna mitos bahwa berbagaia hal yang telah dipertanyakan dalam lirik lagu ini sangat sulit untuk diselesaikan sama seperti melihat angin atau mungkin makna angin disini juga memiliki makna bahwa orang-orang tidak perduli lagi tentang masalah kemanusiaan dan diabaikan begitu saja. Kata kunci: semiologi, denotatif, konotatif, mitos, blow in the wind INTRODUCTION Literature is a forum for human beings to express what is felt by humans. In addition, the essence of literature itself is a creative form that was born by humans. It is not easy to explain what literature is, because literature moves dynamically so that it has power in following the development of an era. According to Wellek (1997, p.3) Literature is considered a creative art. That is, literature used to be known as creative work that uses words as the main media, both through writing and verbal. Although words are not the only thing, creative works have different diction compared to ordinary language as we know it; become more artsy. That makes literature as a unique work of art, because the language found in everyday language will feel the difference. Literature based on the above theory is considered as a creative art, then the definition of literature develops frequently with the times. Based on Eagleton (1996, p.2), he gave a definition of literature. Literature is creative or imaginative writing. The process of literary writing is known as literary writing that uses imaginative power, because writing literature is something that uses the imagination of the writer and is not only based on a true story. The quote intends that in writing a literary work not only based on a true story, but there are certain feelings or ideologies displayed in a literary work in order to achieve an effect on the reader. Literature is divided into three parts, namely prose, poetry and drama. Especially in poetry writing, Hardjana added (1994, P.25) that a poet in each of his poems gives a tangible manifestation of experience. The experience in question is a poetic experience which is a creative appreciation in giving birth to a work. So on that basis the essence of poetry is a deep appreciation of a poet. Then the Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |118 meaning sign) is the science that examines signs, sign systems, and the process of a sign interpreted in other words, the study of various objects, events, or all cultures as signs according to Eco in (Yosep, 1997, p . 41). "The sign itself is interpreted as something representative, representing something else based on certain conventions". Conventions that allow an object, event or cultural phenomenon to become a sign are also called social codes. For Peirce, semiotics is the study of signs and the relationship between signs and other signs. The difference in the way between Peirce and Saussure from the point of view gives a definition of semiotics or semiology. Saussure views a sign as a structure because the development of Saussure's semiology is based on linguistic studies and it appears that a sign is part of the structure. Peirce does not appear as a sign is part of the structure, but the process of understanding the understanding of communication and semiotics by Peirce is how to think in more logic. Peirce said in (Rusmana, 2014, p. 107) that "through signs, humans can interpret life with reality" language is an important position as a sign of a very basic system for humans, for example nonverbal and verbal signs. There are two ways in the sign principle, representative and interpretive. Peirce said in (Rusmana, 2014, p.107) "The basic principle of the sign is representative, the representation of the sign is something that represents something else, while the interpretive sign gives the user and receiver the opportunity" in this context the significance of the process becomes important because humans give meaning to reality. Peirce explicitly presupposes language that is related to reality. In Roland Barthes's semiotics the terms signifier (sign) and signified are developed which are developed into a theory of metalanguage with two signification systems, namely the meaning of denotation and connotation. In its semiological approach, Barthes considers the analysis of concrete sign vehicles - text and images - as a cultural and ideological vehicle of myth. Barthes identified myth as a type of speech but certainly not of any type because 'language requires special conditions to become a myth'. For him, myth is a message that is included in the communicative system; he regarded it as a mode of significance (Barthes, 1972: 107). With this idea, it can be said that the myth represents the meaning of the second order from the signified while the Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |119 connotation is the second order meaning of the signifier. The meaning of denotation is a level of descriptive and literal meaning that is virtually owned by all members of a culture. According to Harimurti (in Pateda, 2001, p.98), denotation means the meaning of words or groups of words that depend on the word itself or depend on certain conventions. The meaning of denotation is the truth which is agreed socially, which refers to the reality social. While the meaning of connotation is formed by linking the markers with broader cultural aspects such as beliefs, attitudes, frameworks, and ideologies of a social formation (Sobur, 2017, p.145). The meaning of connotation is open to new interpretations. Connotation is a term used by Roland Barthes to explain the workings of signs. According to Fisk (quoted in Bouzida, 2014: 5) connotation illustrates the interaction that occurs when a sign meets the user's feelings or emotions and their cultural values. This is influenced by subjective factors that open up more interpretation of the text. Between the sign and the sign must have a relation so this is what will form the sign and the relation will certainly develop because it is determined by the user of the sign. The relationship between the two is arbitrary. So that the meaning of denotation results in an explicit meaning and is the first signification system. While the connotation meaning produces an implicit meaning and is the second siginification system (Vera, 2014, p.27). Furthermore, when the connotation is accepted as normal and natural, or in other words, it provides justification for the dominant values that prevail in a certain period as if it was destined by God, then it is a myth that results from a structural construction, but nevertheless it appears as universal truths that have existed before and are attached to common sense. A myth has a concept similar to ideology because both work at the level of connotation. Even Barthes stated that a solid myth would become an ideology. According to Volosinov (in Sobur, 2017, p.147) that the realm of ideology will correspond to the arena of meaning where there is a sign, then there is an ideology. The myth in Barthes's view is that it is a second language that talks about first-level languages. This means that the sign on the first signification (sign and sign) which forms the meaning of denotation becomes a marker in the second order of connotational mythological meaning (Vera, 2014, p.30). Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |120 Barthes was interested in applying the semiotic method to the reading of the phenomena of everyday life and especially popular culture because he believed that objects and events always meant more than themselves, they were always caught in a system of representation, which added to their meaning. When describing the potential of semiotics, Barthes goes beyond the ideas of Saussure's semiology and considers it to have the goal of accepting any sign system, whatever its substance and limits; images, gestures, musical sounds, objects, and complex associations of all of these, which form ritual content, conventions or public entertainment: this is, if not language, at least a signification system (Barthes, 1987: 9). METHOD This type of research used in this study examines the lyrics of Bob Dylan's blow in the wind poetry using qualitative research. This qualitative research as a research procedure that produces descriptive data in the form of written or oral words. According to Bodgan and Taylor in (Moeloeng, 1992, p.21-22) qualitative descriptive is a research procedure that produces descriptive data in the form of speech or writing and the behavior of those who observe. This qualitative descriptive is expected to provide clear data through descriptions, words, clauses or others. Then according to the theory in this study will be explained systematically how the results are clear in the form of text descriptions. The data source in this study is blow in the wind by Bob Dylan. Then this research uses the method of literary criticism, namely by using an objective approach and structuralism. In addition, researcher used the main theory of semiology of Roland Barthes with a focus on denotation, connotation and myth in this study. DISCUSSION "Blowin 'in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962. Bob Dylan himself was born on May 24, 1941, he is famous as a singer who always entertains the people. Bob is one of the musicians who won the Nobel Prize in 2016 in the literary category. Blowin 'in the Wind is a song that is full of protest, then this song raises many rhetorical questions about peace, war, the search for identity and freedom. Indirectly this song deals with the ill effects of the Civil Rights Movement during the Vietnam War. Dylan argues that the government is Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |123 situation at that time by using the phrase sleeps in the sand is a connotative meaning there is no war. The meaning of myth in the data above is like the story of Noah. The story in that sentence explains how the incident of Noah, which illustrates that the earth was flooded with water, caused flooding. The white bird was ordered by Noah to look for a place where it was not flooded. So that the relationship between sand and soil there is an indeterminate place whatever in other words as illustrating that after the war humans will not exist or die and what is left is a heartbreaking peace with the lyricists then questioning the actions of those who have created war. Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly Before they're forever banned? (Dylan, Bob. “Blowin` in the Wind”: couplet 5&6) The above data is the last array of the first stanza, the above data denotatively still refer to the dictionary meaning. Such as cannonballs are a kind of cannon ball used for war, or the word fly still has the same meaning as a dictionary, and the function of the word they also still refers to the dictionary meaning. But after the words are arranged in sentence form, the words also rearrange the new meaning connotatively. The data above has the meaning of a question from the lyricist, that how many more cannons are in the sky, then with the response that the weapon is a heartbreaking form for the life of humanity. Where the creepy sound is above our heads that is the sky. The meaning of myth, in this array is a form of protest that the development of the world turned out to bring the world worse with the many technologies that have emerged that continue to make the war increasingly. What the poet wants to convey in this array is how much longer the war must go on, the war has taken many casualties and must immediately dismiss the weapon. This lyrical insinuates about war and still fits the current situation. War is still raging in the western world and this song is still able to describe it. The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind (Dylan, Bob. “Blowin` in the Wind”: couplet 7&8) The data above is the answer to all questions in this stanza, denotatively the meaning of the wind still refers to the movement of air, then the word friend here is also still in a meaning that is not very clear who is being addressed. But Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |124 after entering the stage of connotative meaning, the word wind turns into an answer to all questions. This gives meaning that every problem that was asked in the previous data is a must. Because actually the war is an action that is difficult to stop. The myth in the data above the word wind is a form of impossibility. The denotative meaning of the word wind is the movement of an air, then it turns into connotative, that is, wind is essentially invisible to humans, it can only be felt so this gives rise to a new mythic meaning that to stop war is tantamount to imagining because it is one of very impossible form. Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist Before it's washed to the sea? (Dylan, Bob. “Blowin` in the Wind”: couplet 9&10) In the first line denotatively the word mountain is a form of a natural place that gives life to humans and animals, in this array the lyricists also question how many years a mountain can be present before it sinks into the ocean. Connotatively to the data above, this means that the mountain symbolizes pride and ego to those who want war. The myth of the word mountain has the meaning of a strong desire to fight, the form of the strong is like a mountain but its nature will never be long because until it will eventually collapse and sink into the ocean one day. Yes, and how many years can some people exist Before they're allowed to be free? (Dylan, Bob. “Blowin` in the Wind”: couplet 11&12) In the first line denotatively the word mountain is a form of a natural place that gives life to humans and animals, in this array the lyricists also question how many years a mountain can be present before it sinks into the ocean. Connotatively to the data above, this means that the mountain symbolizes pride and ego to those who want war. The myth of the word mountain has the meaning of a strong desire to fight, the form of the strong is like sPada On further data, referring to the word people who denotatively still have a dictionary meaning that is one type of living creature that has a sense and is different from the animal is human. Connotatively the data explains how the process of slavery takes place. This is confirmed by a question as to how long people can be there and in the next line before they are free. The meaning of myth in this stage, this indicates that humans in the past were never equal. Because since ancient times this form of slavery was one of the Jurnal TEXTURA Volume 6 Nomor 2 Tahun 2019 ISSN. 2339-1820 |125 atrocities that existed in ancient times. This mythical data explains more to the relationship of discrimination against African-Americans who are treated racistly and considered so despicable as second-class citizens of the world even though they live in a free country. Then this matter is still clarified with further data on a mountain but its nature will never be long because until it will eventually collapse and sink into the ocean someday. Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn't see? (Dylan, Bob. “Blowin` in the Wind”: couplet 13&14) The data above is still related to the previous explanation, that in the myth of human civilization there are still acts of discrimination and harassment against African-Americans. Though ideologically their country is in a free place or it can be said to be in the right place. But in fact those people were abused and insulted, even considered as slaves. Then in the following array the author reaffirms the answer to the previous question. The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind (Dylan, Bob. “Blowin` in the Wind”: couplet 15&16) The word friend in the above data is still denotatively a friend or acquaintance, but contextually the friend there is still in an abstract form and it is not known who that friend is. If it is continued into the next stage which is connotative meaning, the word friends there refers to those who have been insulted and discriminated against by people who do not know themselves who consider that they are the most civilized human beings. In myth, black people are still considered lowly creatures and have no value in the eyes of whites. So that discrimination seems to be a cultural heritage. Then the lyricist reiterates the answer to all the unease and the question of the world's problems is unknown, by emphasizing the symbol on the word wind. As has been explained how wind has such a broad meaning that it means that every humanitarian problem is something difficult. Because the writer still asks when these people are completely free on this earth. In myth, too, in this array He is waiting for the day when people will speak out against discrimination rather than pretending there is no inequality. In the last stanza, he repeats that the answer is in front of us and waits for someone to take it.