Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
By:
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA
2018
AMERICAN DREAM AS A TOOL TO EXPLOIT THE WORKING CLASS
AS PORTRAYED IN THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (2013)
UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
By:
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA
2018
ii
AMERICAN DREAM AS A TOOL TO EXPLOIT THE WORKING
(2013)
UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
By:
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA
2018
iii
DECLARATION
1. This thesis is not copied from any other person’s work (published or
unpublished);
2. I do not use the services of any professional agencies to produce this thesis;
3. This work has not previously been submitted in whole or in part for a degree or
4. Any texts, tables, figures, data or other materials copied from other sources
(including, but not limited to, books, papers, and the internet) have been clearly
acknowledged and referenced in the text. These details are also confirmed by a
I am fully aware that breaching any or all of the above points will result in the
withdrawal of the awarded degree and disciplinary action in accordance with the
regulations at Universitas Airlangga.
121411231055
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Don't get crushed in the iron fist
Resist, resist, resist, resist, resist!
-Rancid
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the Almighty Allah SWT as the source of my strength and my grace. Praise to
Allah for His endless love and protection that always given to me. All the things
Sakti Nur Cahyo, for his expert. Thanks for your guidance, precious ideas, and
feedbacks that helped me a lot in finishing the thesis. This thesis would not be
advice whenever I got a problem. Moreover, I also would like to give my sincere
siblings who always bring cheerfulness. Tremendous gratitute for Best Ozon for
have me as a part of you. I cannot stand this tall without you guys!
Thank you for Gainscope Team (Mba prita, Mba Yanti, and the
Godmother of Wiyung, Zoura Farayda, S.Hum) include ikak, Pak Tatang and Pak
Bambang, for the patience in handling my ‘kengawuren’. Also, I would like to say
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Last but not least, my gratitude is also given to my dearest college friends
Setel Kendo for the unlimited support and enlightment. Especially for Anjayyna,
Farla, Dona, Apin, Sevilla, Mba Irma and Febe Batubara, that always there
whenever i need person to talk to. I love you with all of my heart!
Christi P.A.R
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Datanglah kerajaanmu, jadilah kehendakmu. Dibumi seperti di kerajaan
Sorga. Berilah kami rejeki pada hari ini, dan Ampunilah kesalahan kami,
seperti kami pun mengampuni yang bersalah pada kami, dan jangan jadikan
Matius 9:12
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION PAGE...................................................................................... iv
EPIGRAPH ........................................................................................................... ix
ABSTRAK ........................................................................................................... xv
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
x
3.1 Research Approach ...................................................................................... 18
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
DECLARATION PAGE...................................................................................... iv
EPIGRAPH ........................................................................................................... ix
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
xi
1.4 Significance of the Study ......................................................................... 9
4.4 The Exploitation Undergone by the Main Character of the Film ................ 32
4.9.3 How the Belief of American Dream could Affect the Working Class ..... 51
xii
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 56
xiii
ABSTRACT
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ABSTRAK
Kajian ini fokus ke bagaimana American dream memiliki keterlibatan
pada eksploitasi kelas pekerja dalam film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Signifikan kajian ini adalah untuk menemukan bagaimana kelas pekerja Amerika
dapat bertahan di sistem pembagian kelas kapitalis dengan menggunakan
keyakinan mereka terhadap American Dream. Tujuan dari kajian ini adalah untuk
menemukan bagaimana American dream memiliki peran penting dalam
mengkondisikan kelas pekerja agar mereka tetap bertahan di lingkungan kerja
yang eksploitatif. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan fokus meneliti
aspek narrative dan non-narrative film tersebut. Selanjutnya, aspek tersebut akan
dianalisis secara mendalam menggunakan sudut pandang marxist, khususnya
bagaimana American dream dapat memotivasi Walter Mitty untuk menempuh
perjalanan berbahaya dan luar biasa agar dia tidak dipecat dari pekerjaannya,
karena apabila dia dipecat maka dia tidak dapat memenuhi kebutuhan sehari-
harinya. Dari kajian diatas, dapat disimpulkan bahwa kelas pekerja tereksploitasi
dan tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa selain tetap melanjutkan pekerjaan mereka,
karena apabila mereka memberontak terhadap kelas penguasa, pemecatan adalah
jawabannya. American dream berperan dalam menciptakan pengkondisian kelas
pekerja, sebagai hegemoni, American Dream dapat membungkam suara kelas
pekerja dibawah situasi kerja yang eksploitatif.
Kata Kunci: American dream, Eksploitasi, Marginalisasi, Alienasi
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
the society into 2 contrary side based on the ownership of material goods. The
more treasure they have, the more they are being praised. This followed by a huge
wave of people try to work hard to get a secure life. What keep people believe in
this chaotic class division is a belief and dream that everything will change as they
work harder and harder. A dream of better live always becomes a positive
will get what we need. In fact, there are so many obstacles to face in order to
achieve succees, some could overcome the obstacles and become success earning
so much easy money while the rest had to exhaust just to stay alive.
has dream (Kasiyarno 2014). A country vision and dream always reflect the
citizens. Nation aspiration is central for each of individual since it will affect their
fundamental needs in life. The basic need fullfilled by the existence of Nation
interesting fact that nation aspiration could create hardwork as a culture. One of
culture and it has influence the lives of people of America itself (Kasiyarno 2014).
2
The idea of American dream had been created during the foundation of the
United States, in the middle of the revolutionary war, America officially declares
1776. Thomas Jefferson, who initiate the declaration of independence, stated that
each of American has inalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
(Dermo 2014). When Jefferson conceived the idea of pursuit of happiness, he was
grounded to the works of Plato and Aristotle about the notions of individual
freedom and societal fairness (Graham 2017). These promise become the base of
the American dream with its strong focus on individual freedom, opportunity and
This idea covers each person rights to pursuit liberty, life and happiness. Each of
the person had the same right despite of their social class background (Dermo
However, this dream becomes a hope for the lower class to maintain a hardwork.
Thus, with an expectation of class upgrading, from rags to riches, or at least they
could be in the middle class, between the higher class and the lower class. Even
though the dream doesn’t guarantee a positive result, it still gives a hope that each
of the working class, the writer examines about how American dream itself has a
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studied about how the American dream as hegemony could become a tool to
spread Americanization throughout the world. However, in this study the writer
examines on how the American dream affects the American working class.
between the rich and the poor, the employers and the working class, or the
proletariat and the bourgeoisie. As Tyson states that Marx class hieararchy are
separated based on the economic condition, society are grouped into two; the
haves and the have not (Tyson 2015). This contrary of course causing an
asymmetry relation between the two of them, as they both are living in the same
potential to conflict, thus conflict between the 2 of class can not be avoided. The
class conflict between the two of class is enacted from the contrast function in
stratification create a nuance of marginalization to the lower class, thus, the lower
class will take any roads hopefully someday they could be the upper class.
Supported by the idea of American dream, that everyone could achieve their own
liberty and happines as long as they work hard no matter how hard it is.
The circumtances of hard working not only exist in the western, but in the
whole world. In our own country, there was a noticeable hard working fire that we
can see inside a woman named Marsinah. From her story, we could learn a lot
about a hard work should be alligned with critical thinking. She is a village girl
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moved to the city to seek better prosperity for her family. It is her dream to uplift
her family from poverty. Life in the village was not as easy as it seems, dire with
poverty and joblessness. Therefore, she seeks fortune in the city which tempted
her with more job vacancies. Marsinah was known as dilligent and loyal to her
friends, she also known as a brave woman and has strong solidarity to her friend.
Her bravery encouraged by the vocal voice of marsinah to ensue fair wages.
Sadly, her vocal voice also delivers her to her own death. She was found dead in
9th May 1993. Marsinah is being kidnapped because of his vocal critics to the
company in which she worked. Her case float up until now, her name left
unsolved, but, her spirit of hardwork still become an inspiration for Indonesian
working class (Khoir 2010). Marsinah is just one of the example of class conflict
enacted from the discrepancy between the working class and the capital holder.
But the core of Marsinah’s tragedy is still, a hope and a dream for a better living
For global range, working class are beneath the shadow discrepancy of a
wider range between the working class and the capital holder that employ them.
between the working class and the capital holder could also be seen on two
superpower country in the world, China and America. Contrast to the expectation
of European and American about China as the paradise of worker- the welfare era
of the worker were at the Mao-era or people usually know it as the “iron rice
bowl” - is when at that time the worker guaranteed jobs for life- faded replaced by
the reform era. In the reform era, the worker only had few rights. Eventhough the
5
wage in china cities growing substantially, the gap between the rich and the poor
is still extremely wide. 8 out of 10 respondent agree that the richer is getting
richer while the poor is getting poorer (Schuman 2013). The wider gap do not
However, the loyalty is not based on self-willingness, the loyalty tend to be a form
In this film, Walter Mitty as the main character devote his life for LIFE
from printed magazine to online magazine cause a reduction of the staff, the one
who will be fired is the one who less contribute to the last printed issue of this
magazines, thus all of the worker work hard in order to avoid the work
termination. The last printed issue will featured by the maverick photographer
Sean O’connel, as he had already prepare ‘the quintessence of life’ as the final
cover. O’connel had send the negatives but eventually Mitty has trouble in finding
it. Mitty manage to find Sean O’connel and ask him about the negative. Sean
O’connel is not ordinary person, his workspaces are dangerous places and tough
field, but Mitty had to go there wheter want it or not, or he will get fired.
The writer uses Marxism as the core of this study as it concern on the
issues of class inequality. It also could enact a passion in creating equal rights
towards people. The framework of marxist critics could bring us closer to find out
how the working class affected by American dream. The American dream as a
motivation for the working class to work hard. However, it is very unique that the
American dream and American capitalist society work together upon a nation
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although both of them had contrast vision (Fishman 2015). They believe that the
american dream is real for those who pursue it.In fact, American dream creates a
fear of being fired, as if they fired they do not have income to purchase daily
needs. Thus, become succeess is way too far. The fear, could trap the working
American dream are also depicted in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
(2013), a film by Ben Stiller. A film that about the search of the meaning of LIFE
from the eye of a working class. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty directed by Ben
Stiller, that officially release on October 5, 2013 in New York Film Festival,
December 25, 2013 in the United States (IMdB 2013), while the film oficially
release on Indonesia by the new year 2014. (Detikhot 2014). This Film were won
an award as the best score for a comedy film from the International Film Music
Critics Award (IFMCA). This film has amazing filming technique and also detail
post production which make the meaning in this film succeesfully delivered to the
audiences. The most interesting part of this film is What the producer trying to
imply in this film is to remember the meaning of life from the point of view of a
working class man, How he struggle so hard to keep his job thus he could get a
proper life for him and his family, eventhough he had to risk his life on an
movie. It becomes a tool to motivate the working class to work hard, Even if the
The writer chooses this issue because the spirit of American dream is
in the middle of class dicrepancy. This is also triggered by the world economy
thoroughly in global scale. As the global economy on the superfluity crises, the
may be debt (Schuman 2013). The stagnant income contrasts to the steadily
raising price of daily needs and housing, the worst of all, the worker even cannot
There are a lot of films that portray about american dream, such as The pursuit
of happiness, The Hunger Games (2012) By Gry Ross, and Charlie and tthe
Chocolatte Factory (2005) by Tim Burton. However, the one ting that differ The
Secret Life Of Walter Mitty with those was how the american dream become a
motivation for mitty yet also it exploit him at the same time.
Align with the writer’s purpose of study, the issue of American Dream and
can be seen from several studies concerned on the class conflict issue. Mutiara
Criticism in Levy The Internship film (2013) illustrate how the intern in google
compete to get a prize as a resident worker in google. These interns whom as the
representative of working class work hard in order to attract the ruling class to
hire them as the resident worker. The focus of this studies were to convey how
American Dream as false conciousness portrayed in this film and how it influence
the working class society in the Internship film. What makes this study differ
from my study is this study put American dream as a part of false concioussness
8
causes, it become interesting when American dream could create a bigger impact
than just false concioussness. It could be a tool to motivate the worker to work
hard.
Factory. This film concentrate on how those two contrast class undergo the class
conflict. Zulfikar intend to reveal how the class position gained through the class
struggle process. The deep analysis will be put upon Charlie and Willy Wonka
Bourgeoisie and Ploletariat, while the factory it self represent the exploitative
working class. This study differ from my study because this study try to imply the
rather absence.
While John Lutz in his studies on Horror, concerned on how the class
struggle and alienation portrayed in the land of dead. The economic system in the
making an analogy of the contrast Bourgeoisie and Proletariat ast the uninfected
human and the Zombie. The uninfected human try to build fences to seggregate
exploitation of global capitalism, this film convey the class relations in the state
resident. (Fahy 2010) what makes this study similar from my study is the feature
In conclusion, this study attempt to reveal the portrayal of american dream and
how it impact working class in The secret Life of Walter Mitty film. In addition,
about Marxist critics, this study also had significant perception. Thus, hopefully,
this study could enrich and become a consideration to any other scholar that
interested in studying the knowledge about marxist critics. The writer hope that
this work also able to enlighten and keep the society aware with the working class
people situation, especially to what they have been through. The simplest outcome
to give respect towards everyhuman that believe and struggle to chase their
dreams.
2. How American dreams Become The Tool To Exploit The Working Class?
This studies aim to reveal how the main character of this film pursuit american
dream, and also how the american dream become a tool to exploit the working
class
influence towards working class to get a better quality of life. Hopefully, this
study could help people to aware with the working class exploitation that happen
In indonesia, working class are currently emerge a good trend, i have a great
awareness to Indonesian working class. i also hoe that my writings could enrich
Bourgeoisie : a ruling class that own the mean of production and the
CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty portray the life of american working class
in dealing with the pressure and bully on work space and anxiety on money. The
bully enacted from the class discrepancy. The most unique things ever happen in
this film is that the main character use the bully as a motivation to work harder.
This phenomenon suit with marxist critics point of view, especially on his theory
seemingly have relation on the belief of American dream. Thus, we will reveal
how the American dream play an important role in american working class in this
film.
As the one who own the property could play a part in the mode of production.
Thus, It allows class divided into 2, Tyson adress these two class as ‘The Have”
and “The Have Not”. The one who had the property as ‘the have’, while the one
Based on the context of ‘the have and the have not’, classes are polarized
into grand two which are the sub-ordinate proletarian and the super-ordinate
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bourgeouisie. Bourgeoisise is the class of the capital holder, the one who hold the
modals of the factory, the one who control the mean of production and employers
wage labour. In contrast is the proletariat as the one who rely on their labour, thus,
they use their labour as an access to mode of production, however, their labour is
power. Rummel stated that the distribution of political power also had nuance in
this economic class division. Thus the owner of the capital could legitimaze their
property and exclusively put themselves in a ‘safe deposit box’. he add that class
is not only deals with economic but it has a chain also to political forces (Rummel
1977).
The epic of America. He argue that life should be better, fuller, and richer for
everyone despite their social class or circumtances at birth. Thus, this dream allow
struggle for every humankind that believe the spirit of american dream (Graham
2017).
The spirit of American Dream enacted long time ago from their precedessor Sir
dream” itself, but he create a concept of nationalism, where everyone had a same
13
right to struggle . the long history of american dream and its optimistic tedency
offerrings make American dream become a powerful tool to motivate the working
class to work hard. American dream portray the ideological identity of a nation, as
it enacted based on the rational economic and social class structure as it side effect
Consumer Capitalism 2014). But the main purpose is still to inspire the notion to
success is the right of everyone who pursue it regardless their birth circumtances
(Nichol 2011). Furthermore, she stated that the american dream perpetuates
class as a form of long hours of working, thus it reduce the capability of the
keep the working class stay in their exploitative chain of capitalism, it happen
automatically since american dream are exist in the land of capitalism. Where
both are having contrast vision, as the american dream are concerning on self
(Graham 2017). Therefore, there are possibilty that American dream could
A fact that american dream shift in terms of its meaning has become a long
disscussion. Robert Shiller for the New York Times argue that James Truslow
14
Adam’s American dream with todays american dream are change in meaning.
Adams emphasize the ideal aspects rather than the material goods while people
symbolized with the home ownership as the central of the dream (Shiller 2017).
Thus, people forgot that the most important of all is the self actualization while
they are busy chasing financial security (e.g: working hard in order to achieve the
dream and forget to live the real life). As people see american dream is
devastating especially for the working class, they could be alienated from their
own life.
In order to find out how Walter Mitty experience exploitation, the writer
use Marxist critics’ point of view. As Marxist critics always concern on the
exploitative relation between bourgeoisie and the working class, similarly in this
film, the exploitation also exist in form of working class alienation. According to
‘consumer lust and commodity fetishism’, and it cause incapability to ties with
other (Berger 2014). The one who hit by the alienation is the working class since
and the working class always yield Alienation as a side effect of the exploitation.
within self and other (could be human, things, nature, and others), Alienation
Adam Smith posit that alienation emerged for worker who always do
effortless repetitious task, the higher possibility could happen to factory worker,
as they are usually do the same specific job all day for years to years. Ganti dr
buku get political Thus, Labor then being an ‘Alien’ or such feeling of isolation
from their family and fellows. They are estranged from their truly life and they
had no power to negotiate. (Fishman 2015) while marx rather see Alienation as a
social bound resulted from the segregation of the worker from the object of the
production as the commodity, the product transform into an apathetic things to the
worker. Indicating the worker alienation towards his own creation lead Marx to
contend that the alienation is come from the productive process itself, According
Worker comes to be controlled by their own creation, 2) The works lost it intrinsic
purpose for the workers; for them it appears as but means to the end of subsitence
(Valas 1987).
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Align with the writer’s purpose of study, the issue of American dream and
disscussed, it can be seen from several studies concerned on the class conflict
issue. Mutiara Rizky Arisandy in her studies Trapped in the False conciousness:
A Marxist Criticism in Levy The Internship film (2013) illustrate how the intern in
google compete to get a prize as a resident worker in google. These interns whom
as the representative of working class work hard in order to attract the ruling class
to hire them as the resident worker. The focus of this studies were to convey how
false conciousness portrayed in this film and how it influence the working class
society in the Internship film. What makes this study differ from study is the
notion of false concioussness experienced by the characters. This study will focus
on the effects of the American dream to the working class especially on how it
Factory. This film concentrate on how those two contrast class undergo the class
conflict. Zulfikar intend to reveal how the class position gained through the class
struggle process. The deep analysis will be put upon Charlie and Willy Wonka
Character. (Zulfikar 2010) because both of them had already sum up the
representation of Bourgeoisie and Ploletariat, while the factory it self represent the
exploitative working class. This study differ from my study because this study try
17
While John Lutz in his studies on Horror, concerned on how the class struggle and
alienation portrayed in the land of dead. The economic system in the Land of dead
the contrast Bourgeoisie and Proletariat ast the uninfected human and the Zombie.
The uninfected human try to build fences to seggregate themselves from the
capitalism, this film convey the class relations in the state by concentrating on the
contrast living condition of pittsburgh wealthy and poor resident (Fahy 2010).
What makes this study similar from my study is the feature of Alienation
CHAPTER III
METHOD
Film contains of sound and motion pictures, both are combined to narrate
stories and deliver meanings. Therefore, to convey what meaning rely in the text
we use qualitative method is choosen since it covers the text and the image data,
in other word, qualitative method analyze the ‘quality’ of the text, in contrast to
quantitative method that concern on numbers and statistic of the data. Qualitative
methods allows us to explore and find out the answers of social problem and
This research use the perspective of Marxist critics to see the problems
enacted from the social class division. One of them is the role of american dream
as a life aspiration to every american working class. Nevertheless, this dream also
pushes the working class to stay loyal to the company, eventhough the company
higher executives even practices bully to the lower staff. This bully emphasize
that the social discrepancy also happen in working space and it create an
There are two kind of data sources; primary and secondary data sources.
Primary data are the film itself, while the secondary data is articles journals and
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book related to the studies. To get the primary data, the writer access the movie
legally on Playstore. The duration of the movie is 114 minutes. The whole scene
in the movie are the samples of the data, since it is impossible to Analyze each
second in 114 minutes each frame of the movie, The writer use purposive
subject to categorize in which the samples represent their research (Berg 2001).
The data would be categorized based on the linkage within american dream from
the point of view of Marx’s class criticism. Those, the selected scene come out as
a primary data. While the secondary data are books, journals, articles and previous
Scope and limitation are important to keep the researchers focus on their
tracks and also keep them in deep analysis of the object. In this research, the
writer will focused on Walter Mitty as the main character, as he is the one who
undergo the life as a working class man. What makes Walter Mitty so interesting
is his timid personality, however, walter is actually a brave person in deep of his
heart. He prove it as his boss ‘challenge’ him to find the lost photograph, if he
cannot find the lost photograph, he will lost his job. In a conflict situation, Walter
then set his true self free, a brave and responsible walter mitty.
Despite Walter, the other character such as Cheryl Melhoff, Ted Hendricks
and Sean O’connel would also been analyzed in order to find supporting proof of
To collect the data for further analysis, the writer do close reading on the
film. Purposive sampling is choosen since not all of the whole film scenes being
analyzed, only scenes that fit to the writers category, therefore the writer choose
the scene based the criteria of american dream representation and how it correlates
The research would allow the writer to do a close reading on the film,
while categorize each scene, which scene resemble the issue being disscussed in
this thesis, which is the role of American dream in American working class
massive “masked”-exploitation.
Louis Gianetti and Bruce Mamer in order to find out the meaning rely on the text.
The Narrative aspect covers the plot and the story of the film. Both of
them relate each other and play important role in building message in the film.
Amy Villarejo in her book mention that narrative is a causal and effects relation
that create a story (Villarejo 2007). This chain enact an attraction for the
spectators to watch the film and find out what message rely on the film itself.
watch because it brings us closer to the point of view of the main character,
21
Walter Mitty. As Walter is often daydream, thus sometimes the scene do rapid
changes from the reality and the fiction created by walter himself, eventually, In
everyone, this is contrast to the reality that Walter is actually a worker who spend
most of his time behind his desk. Thus, the writer try to understand Walter’s
In order to find out the narratives aspect of the film, the writer use stages
From the point of view of Marxist critics, class are divided into 2 grand
from the main character, Walter Mitty, as he is into proletariat since he has
nothing despite of his labor to sell for wages. The film portray clear distinction
between the ruling class and the working class in terms of behavior and how they
deal with power. By finding the class divion in the film, it will ease the writer to
find out the initial emergence of the American dream chasing as it done by the
main character to prove that he as a human has the equal right and opportunities to
gain succeed.
As the context of the film is America, this stages attempt to reveal how the
american dream give nuance of self struggle in each working class man. Similarly,
Walter believe that he could achieve a settled job if he work hard, in fact, there are
many factors and obstacles in front. The biggest obstacles is the capitalist working
environtment itself.
Walter Mitty had to ensure himself he could find the lost film, as if he
could not find it, he will get fired. Walter as a family financial supporting had no
other choice. Walter did not realize that he is being exploited by his boss. Under a
pressure of the threat, walter undergo an astonishing journey with his own money,
at his own risk, no one guarantee his safety and fund replacement if later he could
find ou the film, however, walter keep doing the insane adventour and gamble his
In this stages, the writer try to reveal how the exploitation happen on the
working class. the exploitation is of course performed by the haves as the one who
rule and employ the working class. sometimes, the employers couldn’t guarantee
the workers welfare, even they gain profit upon their sweats.
In this stages, the writer will attempt to convey how American dream and
exploitation has a causal relation reflected in the film. To find the ideology in the
film, the writer will use marxist approach within american working class society
how the film-makers bring the narrative into a visual experience. The film-makers
will combine several aspects to build a projection of the narrative in the scene,
those aspects are; photography, mise en scene, camera movement, sound and the
All of the aspect combine into the scene and give the spectator experience
of the film. Such as photography in film range to the techniques of the shots, the
angles, the light and color symbolism in the film (L. Gianetti 2008). Each of the
non Narrative aspects has it own function in serving the spectators with the
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
The Analysis divided into three subchapters based on the research question
to findout the underlying meaning in this film. The first step is conveying the
portrayal of American working class situation, the second step covers how the
exploitation undergone by the main character of this film, later on, the writer
attempt to find out how the side effect of the worker exploitation. The last one, the
behaviour. In this part of the study, the writer will combine both narratives and
In this subchapter, the writer will focused on selected sene that portray the
condition of the working class in America, especially in Life Magazines. There are
tedencies that the company executives are bully their lower workers.
Scene number 2 use extreme long shot. Long shot or Extreme long shot
can be used to diminishing the subject, presenting a lone figure in a vast lanscape
will give a nuance of strong sorroundings (Mamer 2009). In this scene, the
producer try to bring up the urban areas situation. By using extreme long shot, the
producer emphasize the saturated nuance of the urban areas. In this scene, Walter
Mitty as the main subject can barely be seen. It emphasizes that Walter as a lone
figure in a saturated urban area. It also makes him look unhappy and stressful.
Scene number depicts Walter with his cellphones while waiting for the
train. The focus of this scene is on Walter. The deep focus put on Walter to create
26
a special effects (Mamer 2009). Deep focus is used to emphasize the subject of the
scene. In this scene, the producer try to emphasize the signifcant of Walter Mitty.
The set of the scene the train station that indicates Walter is a disciplines person.
These scene supported by the tone of the train station itself and Walter’s costume.
Most of the tone in this scene is grey which represent chill and impersonal nuance
In this scene, Walter meet with his fellow workers, and one of the
company executives, Ted Hendricks. Ted introduce himself and ask every one
what field are they currently working in. One of his friend, Gary Manheimm
answer that he currently working on graphic design, while the other, Tim Nolan
answer that he work on sales. Then Ted ask Walter, but he called Walter as
“cakeman” since Walter holds cake from his sister. It is Walter turn to answer the
question, but instead of answering the question, walter daydream that he throw
and offensive jokes to his snob boss. This daydream imply that he expect he could
Hendricks : “ Guy....”
The way ted stated mitty’s answer is worth to wait is sarcastic and
intimidating. Ted imply that Mitty’s job is actually less important. This ideas
perform what she calls as “downsizing of people” that enacted by the elites of the
Ted because of his job as negative asset manager is considered as non-vital and
allow people to easily take picture and copy it to the computer, thus Analog
Align with its Narrative, The Non Narrative aspect of this scene also
support the nuance that Walter is being downsized by his boss. From scene 3,
where Walter stand detached to the other 3 person, the positioning of the character
give a sense that Walter is less dominant and powerless. The costum also create a
different impression. The company executives and the skilled worker wear suit,
while Walter only wear jackets. It could be implied that Walter is in lower
position.
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Scene 5. Walter keep doing his job during the lunch break
In this scene Walter portrayed in a bird’s eye view, this shot is a variation
of the high angle shot. The coverage of this shot is usually directly from above
and tends to have god-like view. In this shot, people would rather look
insignificant (Mamer 2009). It emphasize the narrative aspect that Walter position
in the company is in lower position. Align with the concept of class stratification,
in this company class are divided into two based on the have and the have not.
The one who have skill and the one who do not own skill. Walter are grouped to
the one who does not have skill. For those who doesn’t have skill like Walter,
they had to work hard to ensure that even though they do not have skill, they still
have dedication to give. This gives a glance that joblessness is perpetuating the
4.2 The Worker encouraged by the executives to work hard and to give the
Scene 6: Life executive announce that there will be a worker remittance (00:09:02)
Scene 1 describe Life executives give briefing to the worker that there
surely will be a working remittance due to online transition. The executives will
monitor the staff performance, and later they will decide whether the staff should
be fired or not. They encourage the staff to workhard or if they don’t they will be
fired.
Donny as a boss that has responsibility to control the staff portrayed in this
scene, while he is also has responsibility towards the staff performance to Ted
Hendricks. Hence, we can see the class stratification between the company
executives and the workers. The company executives are the upper class since
they are the one who rule Life’s obligation. while the workers are the lower class
From the scene above, It can be seen from the gesture that these 3
higher position than Donny and the other one executives.The executives hold
higher responsibility to control the staff in order to work hard for the company.
the coffee machine. Then Ted, has an idea that they should probably throw a
paperclip on to him, thus he will be awake. Before throwing the paper clip, Ted
called Walter again, but with different addressing, this time, he called Walter as
Major Tom, a fictional astronout derived from David Bowie’s song entitled
“Space oddisey”.
what will be the very last issue of LIFE magazine. And for the
O’Connell , who has never, i’m told, been to speak with the
executives here. Well, He broke his long silence. And shared his
Hendricks : “ Okay, so our cover will probably be the most famous ever,
because it really will have the big quintessence of all time, very full
and so rich, so let’s see this thing, uh? Let’s see it, can we ... what
Donny : “ We’ll receive it now from Negative Assets, this gentleman. The
professional that always need his staff to prepare for the best. However, Hendricks
as a person is a bit annoying since he did not call Walter Mitty as his name instead
of Major Tom, which is come to be impolite, but what can walter do, he is just
staff while ted is an executives. Furthermore, Ted Hendricks also did not know
Life.
In this scene, the executives are encourage tha worker that they had
privilage to author tha very last issue of Life magazine itself. The purpose is to
push the worker to work hard and give them a feeling of pride to work at Life. A
the worker in a good way, It can be seen from the gesture of the executives. Ted
always show his superiority in form of sarcasm. Such as when he claps, it is not a
kind of claps that appreciate the workers instead of a claps that order the worker to
by Walter. The deep analysis will be applied on selected scene portray Walter
journeys to find the lost negatives. Walter had to do a different task than he is
usually doing. He had to find the photograph that intend to be the cover, that
Walter couldn’t find the lost negatives even he had already check the
whole working desk. He finally has an idea that he should meet Sean to ask where
the negative is. The problem is Sean had always been a maverick photographer.
Walter had to go to Iceland to find out where Sean actually is. Sean has no
telephone, thus no one could contact him. Thus, it makes the journeys more
difficult. Walter had to trace Sean existence from clues he got. The first clues is
from a lady in the bar that Sean previously visit. He told Walter that Sean join the
Ergkisnegk ship and the Ship will not landed in severals months, thus the only
33
way to reach the ship is by Helimail. The helimail is flewn by a drunken pilot,
Scene 9: Walter Jump into a flying Helicopter while cheryl cheer him with “Space
Oddity” song.
from below, singing Space Oddisey for him. When he nearly give up in finding
the photograph, it is his daydream which motivates him. Eventhough the bosses
don’t like Walter daydream, it is the daydream who pushes him until his limit.
Another one that motivate him is Cheryl, as she previously tell walter that Major
Tom is actually not a Loser, because his boss keep call him Major Tom due to his
daydreaming Habbit. Cheryl explain that Major Tom is actually full of courage
and brave. Then, this song from a mocking adressing become a fight song for
Walter.
34
After he jump from the helimail, he fall down into the sea. Then he see a shark
coming and he started to yell to the ship cabin asking for help. The ship cabin tell
him to calm down as it is not a shark, but it is a porpoise instead. It makes walter
calm down, but then, the animal swims closer to walter and try to attack him. And
it is a shark, instead of a porpoise. He panic and fight the shark with his luggage,
then the ship cabins some closer with a smaller boat to him gives him a help.
From the Non Narrative Aspects, in scene 9 and 10, the producer use close
up to give a sense of menacing closeness, this purposed to give the audience the
noticable. He look frightened as he had never been in these experience. This scene
is the first one that show walter is a hard worker. he risk his life for the very first
time. Previously, his job only allow him to work behind a desk and deals with
negatives. In this scene, his work space is “a bit” different than he used to,
however, he still manage to give the best to the company. Even, in the most rough
condition.
35
Scene 11: Walter Finally could see Sean but he had to get very close to an
erupting volcanoes
Walter finally could see Sean, but it makes him forget that it is an
errupting volcanoes and instead of run away from it. The interesting part of this
it (L. Gianetti 2008). Walter position is lower than Sean. It could be inferred that
Walter is less stronger or in the context of the film, Sean hold a higher position
rather than Walter. Even, Sean is not only have higher position, Sean is on a
flying with a helicopter while Walter looked him from below. Sean is a symbol of
freedom that cannot be reach by walter. This scene use low-angle shot show that
The lost photograph threat Walter jobs, as if he couldn’t find it, he will be
fired. He had been looking the negative everywhere, but still couldn’t find it.
When he had no choice to find the lost photograpgh, he finally decide to meet
sean in person to ask him, eventhough sean is really hard to meet, he only had one
in mind; to do whatever it takes in order to not get fired. Supported by scene 4,5,
and 6, Walter experience exploitation Initiated from the unfair treatment in terms
of sharing the surplus value, Marx believe that the worker frequently didn’t pay
suit to their work risk and their needs, while actually they produce profit for the
company, but they are receive small amount of the wages (Karl Marx 1948).
emphasize the locale around the object, while the object would appear not bigger
than a specks on the screen (L. Gianetti 2008). This is purposely to emphasize the
locale itself, which is in these scenes are the nature Walter try to fight. In this
Scene, walter are too focus in finding the photograph untill he forget to enjoy the
beauty of the nature. Instead of enjoy his journey, walter got several obstacles that
he is not usually face in his neat office. The journey itself is an amazing phase of
37
Walter’s life that he should enjoy, but Walter are burdened by the threat of being
fired.
workerhave side effects to Walter’s personalities. Walter could not easily socialize
with people around him because of his timid personalities, moreover, his job keep
comes to feelings. Walter had a crush on his fellow worker, cheryl melhoff, and
instead of talk to her, walter prefer to ‘touch’ her in social media. He sign up for a
e-harmony, which seems to be online dating, jsut to sent Cheryl a ‘wink’, a wink
is send to other user of E-Harmony in order the one who wink-ed could notice the
he needs to send Cheryl a wink. In fact, Cheryl herself never open the social
media.
This scene show that Walter segregated by a wall with his mother and his
sister. Three of them had a disscussion and family talks. Walter complaining abut
he being fired, then he realize that the picture he hold on is a fragment picture of
his mother’s piano. He immediately ask his mother wether somebody visit him in
late 7 days? his mother then explain that Sean O connel come to visit and
acknowledge his mother that walter is an amazing worker that always finish his
work. Walter is surprised all of sudden. He told his mother about the lost
photograph and how he tried so hard to meet Sean but he couldn’t. He also told
his mother that sean left him with 3 words as a clue: warlocks, rajqawee,. Then
his mother corrects him that it is Warlords, not Warlocks. Walter gogooth it and it
go there illegally.
39
Mitty. One of the signals is the incapability to bound socially with another person,
When Marx describe alienation as a form of the worker couldn’t even buy back
the product that he has already created (Karl Marx 1948). Align with the concept
and with development throughout it, Rahel Jaeggi describe Alienation as process
which Alienate the worker from his an incapability to cope a relation within self
and other (could be human, things, nature, and others). Alienation present a wall
his mother and sister while they are segregated with a wall. This symbolize how
walter are Alienated even in his own family. If only he look closer inside his
family, he will find Sean faster and minimize his exhausting journeys.
Scene 15: The initial Scene of this film show Walter and his Money note
and note everything in his small notes. No wonder, since walter is a family
40
backbone. He is the backup plan of his sister odessa and his mother. He paid for
his mother retirement house, odessa fine due to skipping jury, and even, the piano
delivery services. When everyone put materials things for themeselves at number
one priority to buy, Walter put his mother and sister as the priority.
financial notes. Close up is used to create a tight and confined space. It is also
used to amplify details. It can be inferred in this scene that money is a serious
issue for Walter. From this scene, we could also notice that he accomodate the
journey by himself.
Align with the narrative, Walter feel the journey to iceland is exhaust him
phisically and financially. He did not enjoy it at all. Financial success has been a
long core component of the american dream, and many of the values modeled and
encouraged bya the modern society suggest that the successof the happiness
that american dream has a darker lurks as it pursuing american wealth (Ryan
1993). This scene show that what makes walter anxious about financial security is
that his goals is to be secure monetary and wealth, instead of Self actualization.
41
This scene show Walter should manage his mother retirement house in the
middle of the lunch break. There is a problem in the retirement house, the piano
cannot be moved in. The solution is either Walter afford a bigger apartment or sell
the piano. it is really hard for Walter to choose since he neither dont want to sell
the piano and can not afford bigger apartment. This scene present that Walter is an
important role for his family. The mess in the house show that his mother and his
sister is yet to find a settled housing. The wallpaper color geen bring a nuance of
decay, old and uncomfortable. However, they do not have much choices. This
and sister life. This is one of the reason why Walter would stay in the company
This scene emphasized that Walter work hard for the family regardless the
meaning. Robert Shiller for the New York Times argue that James Truslow
Adam’s American dream with todays american dream are change in meaning.
Adams emphasize the ideal aspects rather than the material goods while people
symbolized with the home ownership as the central of the dream (Shiller 2017).
42
In this subchapters of the text, the writer will focused on how walter
believe that if he work hard, he will stay in Life. As it similar to the idea of
American dream, that every people had right to life, pursuit of happiness, and
daydream, as it shows that walter see him equal to other worker and even the
executives.
In this scene, Walter look up into his wallet and reading the motto of Life
that all of this time he believe. He surely believe that the purpose of life is
similarly as stated in Life magazine’s motto itself. “To see the world, things
dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to
feel. That is the purpose of Life”. Sadly,this scene taken Ted Hendricks fire him
in public, not in a proper way. Both of Ted and Walter are frustated, but Ted
doesn’t have to fire Walter in public. Walter had already been disappointed with
Life new management that doesn’t understand his difficulties in finding the
43
photograph. Walter then throw the wallet and takes his card and money out from
the wallet.
This scene implied that Walter, as a working class actually believe that
Life is more than other company, he believe to the spirit of self actualization as it
reflected from its motto. Thus, by working in Life, there is a sense of proud
because of its motto. This scene happen after Ted Hendricks fired him. It shows
that Walter is disappointed with Life magazines since the executives even do not
consider the journey he has been through. He throw away the wallet in a garbage.
Walter: Sean, What the picture of the film, what is the quintessence of life?
Walter finally meet Sean after a long tiring, and also lonely journey to the
peak of Himalaya. He found Sean while he still on the telephone with E-Harmony,
discussing his online dating profiles. While Sean was waiting for the snow
leopard to come out from the cave. Sean thought that there are way too much
noises, it could frighten the snow leopard, therefore he ask Walter to get away.
44
Walter surprised and sighed, and then introduce himself. Sean also surprised since
he didn’t thought that walter would come this far to meet him. Then walter told
the story about the film and also the journey. At the end of the conversation,
Walter ask sean about what the negative is, Sean replied that the negative is “
Ghost Cat “.
The ghost cat is actually the other name of the snow leopard (Phantera
Uncia). It usually called as The Ghost Cat, or the Grey ghost, because they mostly
hide from people and other animals (McPherson 2014). The ghost cat adressing is
an analogy to walter mitty himself. Both of them had similarities, They are always
live alone, when the snow leopard always get away when they meet people and
other animals, Walter also could not be able to socialize with people because of
his working load at life. He even couldn’t socialize with his mother and sister. The
ghost Cat is similar to Walter Mitty, and Sean see it. He aware that Walter is a
This scene show us the final issue of LIFE, which is Walter Mitty himself.
It was him with his habit, keep working during the lunch break time. In the cover,
Walter held his head up under a big statue with LIFE engraved in it. The statue is
more dominant than Walter, It indicates that Walter after all this time is
class, However, this show that Walter is symbolized as Alienated from the object
of the production. He had been exhausted searching for the negatives, while the
negatives had always been inside his pockets. While marx rather see Alienation as
a social bound resulted from the segregation of the worker from the object of the
45
labour and also the instrument (Karl Marx 1948). As we know that Walter had
already work for Life Magazine for 16 years, and the whole period his life is
sorrounded by thousands negatives, and He had never been lost one of them.
Adam Smith posit that alienation emerged for worker who always do
effortless repetitious task, the higher possibility could happen to factory worker,
as they are usually do the same specific job all day for years to years. Thus, Labor
then being an ‘Alien’ or such feeling of isolation from their family and fellows.
They are estranged from their truly life and they had no power to negotiate
(Fishman 2015).
In this sub chapter of the film, the writer focused on the analysis of the
findings and the ideology embedded in the text throughout both the narrative and
the non narrative aspects of the film. The working environtment in the film gives a
glance about how class stratification happen between the workers based on their
ability. Since this film come from the point of view of the marginalized one, then
we can see clearly how they are being bullied and oppressed in the working
Talking about today’s American Dream cannot be separated from its roots. It
pursue their idea of happiness was a necessary driver of a prosperous society. the
pursuit of Happiness itself become the driver of the entrepreneurial spirit that
defines the American free market economy (Amadeo 2018). Similarly, the media
prosperous society. In this film, the American Dream triggering each of american
working class to work hard, just like Walter Mitty that resemblance American
working class that work hard even under an unhealthy working space.
But what was “the happiness” that Adams refer to? Throughout the
history, the definition itself has already shift in meanings. Before Adam comes
with his idea of american dream as a self actualization, in 1920, the american
Scott Fitzgerald in his novel, The Great Gatsby. At the same time, he warn that
the pursuit of happiness driven by a greed was not attainable (Amadeo 2018).
Thus, Adams propose American Dream in order to raise the spirit of American
working class during the Great deppression period. Back then, Adams remind the
materialistic chasing. However, the dream seems to be fluid. Under the leadership
of Donald Trump, that come out with a verse “Makes America Great Again”, he
also stated that “The American Dream is back”. According to Shiller, considering
what Trump has said, he affirms that American Dream has radically changed
throughout the years (Shiller 2017). Nowadays, the american dream turn to be
materialistic success as the core of the dream. It contrast to what Adam said
47
previously in 1930 that it had more to do with morality rather than material
success.
dream that drive a hardworking culture. supported by the goverment that as if you
Work hard and “play by the rule”, you will get homeownership, health insurance
that guaranted by the government. Shiller argue that in the United States, these
film, we could see how Walter as a working class had already work hard and play
In social class perspective, the upper class give each individuals who own
less skill an access of perception that they could occupied the economic ladder.
This happened with an intention of giving the worker a feeling of paid off and
ensure that they should work hard to get into financial success (Wyatt-Nichol
2011). In other word, this treatment also has a purpose to calm the worker down
in order not to revolt against the company. Applied in this scene, It is seems fair
for all of the worker since all of them had opportunity to stay in Life, The fact is
the one who stays is the one who had higher qualification. Compared to Gary
Manheimm and the other staff that has skill on graphic design and marketing,
college and get a degree so everyone believe that they are master at each field.
While transferring film negatives did not need special requirement, everyone
48
could do that is they are willing to learn it. Workers like Walter Mitty and Cheryl,
certainly couldn’t stay, but Life executives have different offers that make
unskilled worker like Walter still believe that he could manage to stay if he get the
film. These scene show us that the executives as the upper class use their power to
press their worker to work hard or if they don’t they will get fired, while if they
are fired and jobless, they wouldn’t be able to earn money to afford their needs.
Align with the context, this believe is well-known as American dream. Thus we
can say that American dream help the capitalist system to manage the worker to
stay loyal in the company. For, the working class are always apphrehensive when
it comes to joblessness, especially for unskilled working class just like the main
system (Farmer 2005). Thus, the focus of american dream is on financial success
rather than self actualization. These believe causing a marginalization to the one
dream blame the unsuccessful people of America as the one who responsible in
widening economic inequality. They fail because they are lazy (Wyatt-Nichol
2011). In fact, there are many factors that could cause failures in human life. It
are lazy. For Walter, he fail to stay at Life because of many reasons. The changing
of Life to an online magazine is also one of the reason. Walter is a negative asset
49
managers, and in the future of Life, there will be no more negative to process since
4.9.2 Exploitation
Align with the theory, the background of Marx and Engels proposed the
time. According to Eric Hobswan, the industrial revolution become a trigger for
with The use of machine to create a faster and cheaper production process, thus it
replace the work of labour in the industry (Hobsbawm 1996). The same thing
happen to Walter, the changing of the company to online magazines cause his job
as an negative asset manager will not longer needed. the most distinct exploitation
that undergone by walter is the bully he receive from his boss because Walter is
who willing to learn it. And also, Walter is a symbol of an unskilled working class
in the midst of digital era. In these time, to compete with other working class, it is
Walter also resemblance the anxiety of American people about the high
price of education system and how hinger education always determine job
opportunities. According to the report done by Elka Torpey for United States
education levels means higher opportunities to have a job with higher wages, such
50
as in District of Columbia that has median annual wage for up to $64.510, With
nearly 4 percent of its jobs in occupations that typically require a master’s degree,
the District of Columbia had the highest concentration of jobs at this education
level. Political scientists, economists, and historians are among the occupations
that are more heavily concentrated in this city than in the states (Torpey 2014).
This is a contrast to the high price of college tuition in the U.S, those for the one
who coulnd’t afford degree, there will be still a lot of job waiting a job with lower
wages.
Back then from the class stratification point of view, The capitalist is
ruling the mean of production, which is include ruling the result of surplus value.
The surplus value itself is the profit gained throughout the production process.
Where the profit goes? Of course to the pockets of the mean of production holder,
the capitalist (Karl Marx 1948). The working class as the proletarian especially
the one who had lower education levels didn’t have capability is interrupt the
mode of production as they doesn’t have accees to it. The one who has accees to
the means of production is the one who own the capital. When the old Marxist
critics talk about capital, there will be a relation between the capital holder and the
labourer. In this film, we could apply Marx critics about the capital holders that
could accees the means of production. Thus, The capital is no longer only relevant
to money, Education and Skill become alternatives for the working class in order
From the sattire of these movies, the director want to empasized that the
notion that American dream is for everyone but with terms and condition applied,
51
American dream will be relevance to a working class with skill and degree. While
the working class who only had labour, the capitalist forces them to sell their
labour and they just don’t have option to deny. If they deny to sell they labour,
they cannot afford meals, if they sell the labour, the capitalist bought it with cheap
prices. Similarly, this happen to Walter Mitty, he risk spend his savings on plane
tickets and accomodation to greenland while the company do not guarantee that
4.9.3 How the believe of American dream could affect the working class
catalyst of the american dream is the capitalists that are getting bigger and bigger
day by day, both of them are contrast. As the american dream concern on self
actualization and self liberty as if they work hard, while capitalist are not, they
concentrate on how much income could the company get, while they spread the
income to their employee. The sharing of the income of the company, or Marx
called it as Surplus value, sometimes do not suit to the working load of the
employee. The employee had to work so hard just to get a stagnant income. For
clearer example; if a poor man had to start everything from the bottom, he had to
job as he hope that his job could make him some money, hopefully he could use
the money to become a capital later, in fact the job keeps him away in a relentless
working hour and stagnant income while he trapped in the chain of capitalist
working environtment. thus, say adios to the dream to own the capital. This makes
52
american dream are no longer relevant to this case, he has already work hard but
What makes walter stay in these situation is his believe that if he willing to
work as hard as possible he would stay in Life and had anual income just like the
promoting a term ‘if you work hard, you deserve success’. Similarly, Walter
Mitty, work hard to achieve a prosperous life; proper housing and steady income
for his family. His optimistic and hardworking character posited in his daydream,
as he always dream that he could do the same things with the skilled labour, for
mitty nothing is impossible if we had dedications. The dreams also keep mitty on
the track to an adventourous and risky journeys to find the photograph that desired
by his boss. This is similar to the notion that the American dream play an
important role to manage the working class understanding that they could manage
to be boss someday if they work hard. Walter had already work hard to find the
Film, but he couldn’t find it. And the boss accept no excuse, walter are fired from
The notion that American dream is for every human being that willing to
workhard is now vanishing as the worker receive stagnant income while the
scholar, the american dream are now turning into nightmares because of the
soaring income for the CEO while giving the worker harder works to handle
(Khalil 2006). Financial anxiety also portrayed in this film, one of the example is
Walter are being exploitated since he had to spend his own money to accomodate
53
his “bussiness trip” to greenland, he also had to climb up to the peak of himalayas,
which is life-risking. But no one guarantee that he will stay in, eventhough he had
went through a though journey. This is a proof that American dream either shift in
A fact that american dream shift in terms of its meaning has become a long
disscussion. Robert Shiller for the New York Times argue that James Truslow
Adam’s American dream with todays american dream are change in meaning.
Adams emphasize the ideal aspects rather than the material goods while people
symbolized with the home ownership as the central of the dream (Shiller 2017).
Thus, people forgot that the most important of all is the self actualization while
they are busy chasing financial security (e.g: working hard in order to achieve the
dream and forget to live the real life). The effects is devastating especially for the
In the land of the American dream itself, the dream has facing many
Be more specific with it, Mike Davis argue that the American working class work
behind a dream that keep them as a prisoner (Davis 1986). The dream promise
everyone with an equal opportunity, bu the reality is that the opportunity will be
American lecturer discuss about the employment opportunity for worker without a
college degree. It resulting a facts that employers with no college degree had to
compete harder than the one who has degree (Anna Haley-Lock dan Danielle
54
berman 2013). Supported by the data from Bureau of Labor, Education level will
determine the range of job could be applied. For the one who had lower education
could mostly apply jobs like taxi drivers, bartenders, lobby attendant, and ticket
takers, While people with degree could get a job with higher income (Torpey
2014). Thus, the notion that American Dream is for everyone is irrelevant.
American dream belong to those who also own skill, degree and knowledge.
cannot rely only on hardwork and fortune to success, eventhough it does not close
the possibility to success, but it will need an extra passionate and exhausting hard
work. The working class may believe that hard work could bring success but, it
will be so much easier if the hard work align with high education level.
Despite the American dream with its hegemony feature, This film spread a
positive vibes especially for the working class to work hard to achieve the dream.
Not only in the america, Indonesian middle working class are now emerge
Indonesia’s poverty rate in the last two decades, one in every five Indonesians
now belongs to the middle-class group (Boediono 2017). Hopefully, the good
trend could stay longer and widely spread not only in certain part of Indonesia but
throughout the nation. The best way to keep the good trend is to maintain a good
This film is a celebration and apreciation for the working class, that work
hard to earn money but lack of appreciaton. Even from their own employers. In
this film we could also see how the worker contemplate American Dream in their
55
daily life by working hard and have an optimistic mind eventhough the reality
surpress them down. This film is a shoutout to the world that we should appreciate
the working class since they always be the one behind the scene. Similar to
Walter, “the Ghost cat” that transfer the film into the cover of Magazine finally
got an appreciation in the very last edition of the magazines. It is walter mitty
himself that become the cover of the last issues. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
successfully resemble the anxiety and the secret Life of working class that never
be appreciated throughout Walter’s character. This Film outwit us with its comedy
and also the amazing film techniques, in fact, the underlying meaning of the film
Without this kind of film, the world may not know that the working class play a
vital role behind every successful company. Hopefully, the life of working class
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION
Walter’s daily life. It is portrayed in the film, how the worker had already work
hard and give dedication to the company but does not reach success.
working class. The class stratification divide the working class in Life magazine
by each worker’s skill and ability: The skilled and the unskilled labour. Walter
mitty is an unskilled labour that has no ability, but he has dedication and willing
to work hard. Because of walter has no skill, it will be hard for him to get job if he
get fired, he also burdened by a responsibility to support his mother and sister
financially. But walter believe, he will not get fired as long as he work hard.
Walter then gone for a mission to find the lost negative. His plan is to meet
Sean O’connel and then ask where he put the negative. It seems easy at first when
he finally realize that Sean is very mobile. He had to chase Sean to an errupting
Volcanoes and also swim into a freezing ocean. He had already do everything, but
When he had already run out of money, he go home to the state with an
empty hand. The company executives were angry at him and fired him
immediately without understanding how Walter had already spend his savings on
the journey. He express his disappointment to his executives also, but nothing he
could do. He is now unemployed. Later on, he come to his mother retirement
57
house and tell his mother that he has already been fired. His mother then couraged
him to keep looking for the negatives, in order not to disappoint Sean. Walter
decided to continue his journey, but this time, he goes backpacking. He found clue
that Sean is hunt a picture of Snow Leopard. He exhausted until he reach the peak
of Himalaya. There he goes, Sean O Connel wait calmly for the snow leopard to
come out. He ask Sean where he put the photograph and Sean tell it is has already
The class stratification based on the Skill is portrayed in this film. The
class are divided into two, the unskilled labour like walter and cheryl melhoff, and
working class society. The result of this studies shows that American dream that
spread the spirit of work hard, become a tool to exploit the working class.
American dream enacting work hard as a way of life, as it ensure the working
class that they will be success if they work hard, despite the most fundamental of
the working class need; skill. Thus, american dream become a tool to justify that
the working class only need hard work, but in the reality, if they do not have
skills, they will be exploited, just like what Walter had been through.
58
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