CONSTRUCTING STIGMA THROUGH AUDIO RECORDING IN “13 REASONS WHY”

Abstract

Technology, even a simple one like papers and pens, cannot be denied being able
to deliver ideas, thoughts or mere expression of one‘s feelings. Audio recorder
such as cassette in 21th century is an old school medium in delivering messages
and related to that anyone can record not only music but also ideological  messages as occurred in ―13 Reasons Why‖ novel. As a transferred student who
cannot adapt with regulations that applied in the school often being alone in the
school, Hannah Baker recorded her own statement of being judged by other
students. The other students make rumors about her, and since everyone have no information they automatically accept the rumor and construct it as stigma. It
somehow leads Hannah‘s character to alter her personality and behavior which
next she documented it on a cassette. In order to discuss how a stigma constructed within Hannah‘s character and its deliverance through audio recorder, Jahn‘s theory of character and Goffman‘s ideas on stigma are applied. The data are analyzed by using descriptive research method which divides Hannah‘s action and reaction recorded on the cassette. In conclusion, as a victim of other students‘ stigma, Hannah has finally constructed another stigma towards other students as well through an audio recording.
Keywords: audio recorder, character‘s development, stigma