The miscegenation in America as seen on Manns film from Coopers the last of the Mohicans

WIDYASTUTI, Ima, Prof. Dr. Siti Chammamah Soeratno, M.A

2008 | Tesis | S2 Pengkajian Amerika

Proses transformasi menimbulkan persamaan dan perbedaan dalam elemen ceritera seperti; latar belakang, alur, tema, dan karakterisasi karena perbedaan media. Dalam novel, ceritera dituangkan dalam kata-kata sedangkan dalam film, ceritera disajikan dalam gerakan dan gambar. Konsekwensinya, di film, sutradara melakukan pemotongan, penambahan atau bahkan memvariasi ceritera dikarenakan batasan waktu dalam film. Disamping itu, apa yang dilakukan sutradara adalah dalam rangka fungsi; perubahan elemen-elemen dalam ceritera, dan memenuhi harapan penonton. Dalam film adaptasi The Last of The Mohicans, fungsi-fungsi tersebut dapat dilihat dengan jelas. Tema ceriteranya berubah dari petualangan dan perang menjadi tema percintaan dengan petualangan dan peperangan sebagai latar belakangnya. Hal ini bisa dipahami mengingat tema percintaan lebih universal dan dapat menarik lebih banyak penonton meskipun bagi yang pernah membaca versi novelnya akan merasa kecewa dikarenakan apa yang dideskripsikan James Fennimore Cooper dalam novelnya tidak bisa diinterpretasikan secara sempurna oleh Michael Mann. Karena tema itulah, Mann melakukan beberapa perubahan dalam karakterisasinya. Walaupun beberapa karakterisasinya sama, yaitu berani, panik, pandai, protektif, relijius, balas dendam, licik, dan khianat, dan Man menginterpretasikan penampilan fisik para karakter dalam novel dengan mengambil aktor-aktor dan aktris-aktris yang berpenampilan seperti yang dideskripsikan dalam novel, Mann mengganti atau bahkan menghilangkan karakter-karakter yang bisa digantikan oleh karakter yang lain, contohnya David Gamut dihilangkan dan sifat relijius yang melekat padanya dilekatkan pada Cora Munro, dan dalam film, Cora Munro tidak meninggal sedangkan Alice Munro malah meninggal. Tema percintaan ini mampu menaikan emosi para penonton, menciptakan karakter yang lebih komplek, dan memenuhi horizon pengharapan para penontonnya. Dalam versi novelnya, hanya ada dua hubungan percintaan yang mengarah ke ikatan antar ras yaitu antara Uncas dengan Cora Munro, dan Cora dengan Magua. Sayangkan hubungan ketiganya tidak berhasil karena semuanya mati. Sementara itu, dalam versi filmnya, ada beberapa hubungan cinta antar ras yang ditampilkan seperti Hawkeye dan Cora Munro, Cora Munro dan Duncan Heyward, Uncas dan Alice Munro, dan Alice Munro dan Magua. Variasi terpenting yang dibuat Mann adalah perkembangan percintaan Cora Munro. Di filmnya, Cora Munro tidak dipasangkan dengan Uncas tetapi dengan Hawkeye. Lebih jauh lagi, hubungan keduanya berhasil, sedangkan Uncas dipasangkan dengan Alice dan keduanya akhirnya meninggal. Hubungan percintaan diantara karakter-karakter baik dalam novel maupun film menunjukan fenomena ikatan antar ras yang ada di Amerika dari dulu sampai sekarang dan akan tetap ada di masa depan.

The transformation process sets similarities and differences in elements of the story such as; setting, plot, theme, and characterization, due to the different media. In the novel; for example; the story is poured in words while in film, the story is shown into motions and pictures. Consequently, in the film, the director will do some cuttings, additions, or even variations because of a time limit. Besides, these are to meet specific functions; for example changing the elements of the story, and meeting the horizon expectation of the film audiences. In the filmed novel of The Last of The Mohicans, these functions can be seen clearly. The themes are changed from the adventurous and war themes into the love story with adventure and war as its backgrounds. This is understandable since the love story theme is more universal and can attracts more audiences even though those who have read the novel version would be disappointed since what James Fennimore Copper described in his novel could not be transformed perfectly into film by Michael Mann. Due to the love theme, Mann did several changing in the characterizations. Even though some characterizations are similar to those in the novel version such as; brave, panicky, intelligent, protective, religious, revenge, tricky, and treasonous, and Mann interpreted the physical appearances of the characters by taking actors and actresses who seemed to have the looks as described in the novel, Mann changed or even omitted characters who can be replaced by others; for example; David Gamut is omitted and the religious aspect depicted on him is belonged to Cora Munro, and in the film version, Cora Munro is not dead while Alice Munro is dead. This theme leads to the rise of emotion of the film spectators, creates a more complex character, and meets the horizon expectation. In the novel version, there are only two love affairs leading to the miscegenation described: Uncas with Cora Munro, and Cora Munro with Magua. Unfortunately, the relationship between Cora Munro with neither Uncas nor Magua is failed as they all are finally dead. Through this unsuccessful miscegenation, it can be said that Cooper did not agree with the miscegenation. Meanwhile, in the film version, there are several miscegenation found; such as; Hawkeye and Cora Munro, Cora Munro and Duncan Heyward, Uncas and Alice Munro, and Alice Munro and Magua. The most significant variation Mann made is the development of Cora Munro’s love story. In this film version, Mann did not match her with Uncas but Mann preferred Hawkeye as the soul mate of Cora Munro. Moreover, the relationship between Hawkeye and Cora Munro is successful; while; Uncas is matched with Alice and both are dead. The miscegenation among the characters in both novel and film versions also shows the miscegenation phenomenon in the United States of America from the past up to now and it will still exists in the future.

Kata Kunci : Transformasi,Novel,Film,Ceritera cinta,Tema,Karakterisasi,Hubungan antar ras,transformation, novel, film, love story, theme, characterization, and miscegenation.