2.

2 Semiotic of Poetry Theory

This research aims at analyzing BTS's Pied Piper song using semiotic theory. A
semiotic is a way something can be interpreted with something else. Semiotic is
"referred to as a science of sign" (2006:43), according to David Carter. In this
research BTS 'pied piper is analyzed using Micheal Riffaterre's theory which is the
Semiotic Poetry Theory. This theory believes if every word in a poem is a sign.
Michael Riffaterre in his book entitled Semiotics of Poetry said that there are four
things that must be considered in understanding and interpreting a poem.

The basic assumptions of Michael Riffatere's semiotics are clearly illustrated through
his Semiotics of Poetry. According to his book, Riffatere said that “The shift from
meaning to significance necessitates the concept of interpretant, that is, a sign that
translates the text's surface signs and explains what else the text suggests.”. The
statement of Riffaterre it can be understood that in explaining and describing a sense
of meaning, it takes a concept interpretant to explore the meaning of the sign that is
more complex and comprehensive.

According to Riffaterre, the interpretation itself is divided into two, lexematic and
textual. Lexematic is a process of interpretation by linking words that have double
signs because they connect two texts (one text must be understood in two different
ways), whereas textual is more about the process of interpreting the relationship with
the quoted text. So, interpretation is the function to express and open the reality of a
text.

Besides interpretation, language and literature are also important in two aspects of
semiotic. In literature, language is increased to meaning (significance) so that
literature is a semiotic system. The semiotic process actually appears when the
reader gives meaning to the signs contained in a literary work. These signs will have
meaning after reading and interpreting them. Furthermore, Riffaterre also expressed
some of his semiotic assumptions, as seen in the following explanation.
Semiotics of Riffaterre divided into four parts, the first is the indirect expression,
heuristic and hermeneutic, matrics variant and model (keywords), and last
hypogram. With four of these parts that have been expressed by Riffaterre,
analyzing the meaning contained in the poetry will be easier to understand. These
four steps must be taken to get the meaning and codes in poetry.

2.2.1 Concept of Theory

1. Indirect Expression
In reading poetry and vocabulary that is used in poetry there is no meaning
that describes directly. The use of words in poetry has a meaning conveyed
by implying or presupposing. Certainly through the process of meaning of
each individual. As Riffatterre said in his book entitled Semiotics of Poetry
says that poetry from time to time always changes. The change is caused by
differences in the concept of aesthetic and the taste of evolution. But there is
one thing that has not changed, which is, the poem is an indirect expression
(1978: 1). Indirect expression that according to Riffaterre is caused by three
things which is, displacing, distorting and creating meaning (1978: 1).

a. Displacing Meaning
Displacing meaning is the change in meaning of words in the poem
that usually are not used with the actual meaning. Usually poetry like
that uses figure of speech. It is used in the replacement of meaning
with metaphor. The book explains that metaphors are figures of speech
in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is
not literally applicable.

b. Distorting Meaning
In most poems, words or sentences that are used often occur a
deviation of meaning that results from three things according to
Riffaterre, which is ambiguity, contradiction and nonsense (1978: 2).
Ambiguity can occur in words, phrases, sentences, or discourse
 caused by the emergence of interpretations that vary according to the
context. Contradiction is the use of paradoxical words, irony and
antithesis. Meanwhile, non-sense are words that do not have meaning.

c. Creating Meaning
The creation of new meaning occurs because it is caused by a visual
form that includes, rhymes, and typography (Riffaterre, 1978: 2). This
means that visualization in poetry is able to create a new meaning such
as rhyme and typography that makes the creation of new meanings in
poetry. So that in the meaning of poetry, there is a new meaning
(creating meaning).

2. Heuristic and Hermeneutic

Heuristic reading is a first stage of interpretation in this Pradopo theory (2010
p.295) In this stage the reader knows that the structure of the entire literary
work also transforms the poem language into a common language with a
clear interpretation so that the reader can easily understand the poem's
significance.

While hermeneutic is the second stage of interpretation meaning re-reading of

the poem, it means that the reader combines with the first stage reading and
understands all the interpretations such as ungrammatical in the first stage
reading. Pradopo (p.297, 2010)

3. Matrics, Variant, and Model

Riffaterre explained that understanding a poem is the same as seeing a
donut. There is an empty space in the middle that serves to support and
sustain the creation of donut meat around the empty space. In poetry, this
empty space is the center of meaning called the matrix. The matrix is not
present in a text, but the actualization of the matrix can be present in a text
called a model. Matrix is what ultimately provides the unity of a poem. This is
in line with the concept put forward by Indrastuti that the matrix is an abstract
 concept that has never been actualized. This concept can be summarized in
one word or phrase (Riffaterre, 1978: 25).

4. Hypogram ( Intertextual Relation)

Hypogram refers to the intertextual relationship, which has two parts. The first
is Hypogram Potential and Actual. Potential hypogram is the implication of
meaning of language, and the actual hypogram is a good response that
includes both pros and cons in the poem text itself. The meaning can be
found in text form through different forms of objectivity.

2.3 Concept Song Lyrics

The lyrics are someone's expression of something they've seen, heard or

experienced. The poet or songwriter plays on words and language in expressing his
experience to create appeal and distinctiveness of the lyrics or poems. The use of
this language can be vocal, stylistic and irregularities meaning of the word and
strengthened by the use of melody and musical notation tailored to the lyrics so that
the listener is getting carried away with what she thought of the author (Awe, 2003).

Definitions of the lyrics of the song or poetry may be called poetry. It is also
mentioned by Luxemburg (1989), ​“namely the definition of the texts of poetry not
only includes the types of literature but also an expression that is proverbial,
advertising messages, slogans politics, poetry pop songs and prayers”.

The relationship between music elements and elements of poetry or song lyrics is
one form of mass communication of the song formed, and the song by communicator
to communicate through mass media in large numbers serves as a means of
delivery. Through the lyrics of songs in the form of messages or spoken and
sentences serve to create an atmosphere and imagination to the audience and
create a variety of meanings. The function of the song as a communication medium
is like to sympathize with reality and imaginative stories.
While the song's purpose can be used to fervor the spirit as in the fight, it can unify
the differences, play with a person's emotions and feelings with the intention of
instilling an attitude or meaning which can then be interpreted as normal, right and
proper. Therefore the word used in the song's lyrical character is not like ordinary
language and has an enigmatic essence, which is to find meaning in the song's lyrics
through a semiotic process, which is in reality a field of science that learns about
sign system. How the symbol is perceived rather than affected by culture and
experience, and how it represents the circumstances surrounding it (Wellek &
Warren, 1989).

Songs formed from the relationship between the elements of music with the element
of poetry or song lyrics is one form of mass communication. In this condition, the
song at the same time is a medium of delivery of messages by communicators to
communicants in large numbers through the mass media.

2.4 Moral and Messages

The words message and moral are often used to mean what a reader or audience
member learns from a story. The moral can usually be expressed in a sentence or
proverb that teaches a lesson.

The terms message and morale are also used to describe what a listener or member
of the audience learns from a song. Usually morals can be expressed in a sentence
or proverb which teaches a lesson. There are many ways to interpret a song, and
different listeners may come away with different lessons at times. This is why the
morals in a song were mentioned in the song's entire lyric.

According to Burtis (2010) he said that "A message may include verbal content
(written or spoken words, sign, language) and will include nonverbal content
(meaningful behavior beyond words: e.g., body movement and gestures, eye
contact, artifacts and clothing, vocal variety, touch, timing, etc.). Intentionally or not,
both verbal and nonverbal content 21 is part of the information that is transferred in a
message. If nonverbal cues do not align with the verbal message, ambiguity is
introduced even as uncertainty is increased."

2.5 Research Framework

In this theoretical framework it shows that the researcher uses semiotic poetry theory
to analyze the misinterpretation of the song. In semiotic poetry theory it has four
elements that relate to the concept which is song lyrics concept. Poem can be
learned by the heuristic and hermeneutic methods of comprehension. The heuristic
reading is based upon language conventions. Heuristic reading in each stanza of the
poem should explain the relationships between words in one paragraph, and
between others. As Riffaterre said, heuristic reading is also “where the first
interpretation takes place, since it is during this reading that meaning is
apprehended” (1978:5).
The poem should be analysed by hermeneutic or retroactive reading after heuristic
reading. The poem language is littered with figurative language. Hermeneutic
reading used to assign the text of the poem its literary significance. If heuristic
reading is based on language conventions, then hermeneutic reading is based upon
literature conventions. The sense of the word or the poem's importance can be found
in this reading. A poem can be read back and forth in hermeneutic reading, since it is
a structure that relates in its sections to one another.

Poem is different from everyday language. "Poem communicates idea and issues
through indirection, according to Riffaterre. In other terms, a poem says one thing,
and means another "(1978: 1). Looking for indirection is the next step to know the
structure and meaning of poetry. In his book "'Semiotics of Poetry," Riffaterre
explains about indirection that is produced by displacing, distorting and creating
meaning.

The next step is to find matrix, layout and poem type. The matrix is fundamental to
interpretation. It is an abstract idea that the author never realises. Riffaterre tells in
his book Semiotic of Poetry if the matrix is "a minimal and literal sentence, into a
longer, complex and non-literal periphasis" (1987:19). Model can be those of some
words or phrases with poetic character and matrix reflections. Variant is the pattern
transition, which can be found in the poem's lines or stanza.

The final stage will be to find the hypogram. Hypogram is a result of a textual
interrelationship between texts. Riffaterre argues, "the text as a whole, however,
evidences a humorous constant inseparable from inter-textuality-the sustained
discrepancy between the expectations raised by the title and what actually found in
the text'' (1978: 127). This theory believes that literary works are born as an answer
for previous literary works nowadays. There is a connection between one passage
and another.