The Representation of Homosexuality in American Music Videos in the Era of Legalization of Same-sex Marriage Released Between 2012-2014

Isna Ardyani Fataya. C1313008. 2016. The Representation of Homosexuality in American Music Videos in the Era of Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Released Between 2012-2014. Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Cultural Sciences. Sebelas Maret University. The purpose of this research is to describe how the music videos represent the image of homosexuality in the era of legalization of same-sex marriage released between 2012-2014. This research is descriptive qualitative. The method is employed by watching, classifying and analyzing the data collected by selecting the scenes, objects and lyrics representing the image of homosexuality. The source of main data are three official music videos entitled “Same Love by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat Mary Lambert (2012), I still Love You by Jennifer Hudson (2014) and Really Don’t Care by Demi Lovato (2014) downloaded from www.youtube.com. The data are in the form of moving images, music and lyrics. The supporting data consist of reviews, pictures, interviews and information taken from books, journal, articles, online sources and researches. Since the research is in the scope of American studies which is an interdisciplinary study, it involves some disciplines which are applied in the form of theory and approach including queer theory, performative theory, semiotic theory and socio-historical approach. From the analysis, the representation of homosexuality in the era of legalization of same-sex marriage is not constructed as comical, villainous, evil, abnormal or problematic. It depicts the image of gay who is struggling to gain an approval and an acceptance from family, friends and heterosexuals. Due to heterosexism and homophobia, homosexuality emerge as the victim, target and result of the social hatred and anti-homosexual attitude. The representation of same-sex kissing and gay marriage eliminate the sense of overt eroticism and homoerotic stigma stating gay has violated the established norm and value. Hence, homosexuality is not judged as a deviant behavior, instead, a way to seek for a self-identification, recognition and truthfulness. Furthermore, the representation of masculine look erase the sense of masculinity crisis perceiving gay as effeminate, sissy or flamboyant. The image of gay is presented through the gay pride parade. It serves to express a pride and a visibility for being a homosexual, to come out from the private space, and to familiarize heterosexual public. Keywords: homosexuality, same-sex kissing, gay marriage, representation, music vide