The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island :: Icon and symbol

ULINNUHA, Roma, Prof.Dra. Djuhertati Imam Muhni, MA.,Ph.D

2005 | Tesis | S2 Pengkajian Amerika

Tesis ini membahas tentang salah satu artifak penting di Amerika Serikat – Monumen Nasional Patung Liberty. Tulisan ini berkenaan dengan hubungan antara aspek-aspek fisik dan estetis dengan cara pandang “myth and symbol school”. Monumen tersebut mengungkapkan ikon keindahan dan kesatuan serta merupakan simbol budaya Amerika yang cukup penting. Pembahasan tesis ini menerapkan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Pengumpulan serta penyajian data ditampilkan secara kualitatif. Terdapat tiga langkah penelitian yaitu dengan pengumpulan data, penyeleksian data serta analisa data. Disamping itu, penelitian ini juga menggunakan metode metodologi penelitian kepustakaan. Data primer bersumber dari buku-buku serta internet sedangkan data sekunder bersumber dari artikel-artikel serta teori-teori yang berhubungan dengan topik. Penelitian menekankan korelasi antara artifak dan fakta – dengan nilainilai yang terkandung di dalamnya. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Patung Liberty berperan penting dalam menekankan nilai-nilai kebebasan, patriotisme, kesatuan, kedermawanan dan gotong royong khususnya pada masyarakat Amerika Serikat. Pada akhirnya patung Liberty juga menunjukkan simbol yang mencerminkan isu-isu seperti demokrasi dan American Dream.

This thesis dealt with one of the cultural artefacts in American Life – The Statue of Liberty National Monument. It discussed the relationship between physical and aesthetical matters based on the ‘zeitgeist’ of myth and symbol school. The monument represents icon of beauty and unity as well as a significant cultural symbol in America. The study applied the descriptive qualitative method. The data were qualitatively gathered and qualitatively presented. There were three major steps to organize the research: data collecting; data selecting, and data analysis. The study analyzed the Statue of Liberty National Monument using library research methodology. The primary data were collected from literature and internet-base concerning the artefact and secondary data obtained from sources such as articles and theoretical writing dealing with the topics. The study emphasizes the correlation of the artefact and fact – of natural science (the making of the artefact) and values (the meaning of the artefact). The research reveals that The Statue of Liberty has significantly played role in giving Americans in particular – ideas of liberty, freedom, patriotism, unity, generosity and volunteerism. Hence, it also revealed that the Statue of Liberty constituted a symbol that reflected American issues of democracy and American Dream.

Kata Kunci : Artifak Budaya Amerika Serikat,Patung Liberty,Ikon dan Simbol, Cultural Artefact; Statue of Liberty National Monument; Icon; Symbol