Identity construction reflected on assertive acts used by the main characters in the film Just Mercy

This research aims to identify assertive acts that reflect the identity construction used by the main characters in the film Just Mercy. The film “Just Mercy” tells the story of the social inequality experienced by two different groups in an area to show their respective identities, especially the white community and the black community (Negro). Therefore, the researcher formulated the problem in this research into two elements, 1) What types of assertive acts used by the main characters in the film “Just Mercy”. 2) How does identity construction reflected on assertive acts used by the main characters in the film “Just Mercy”. This research uses a qualitative approach by applying a clear and systematic form of description to the findings compiled in this research. In collecting the data, the researcher used film transcripts that had been compiled to simplify the data collection process. The researcher also gave signs to the conversations in the transcript to facilitate the data analysis process in this research. This research focuses on the types of assertive acts used by the main characters in the film “Just Mercy” based on the theory of J. Searle's (1979). Then the research continued by identifying identity construction reflected on assertive acts based on the approach taken by M. Bloor and T. Bloor (2007). The result shows that there are eight types of assertive acts found in the film Just Mercy, including; explaining, informing, complaining, asserting, stating, predicting, arguing and telling. Stating is the type of assertive acts most often found in the film “Just Mercy”. In addition, the types of assertive acts found can reflect to the elements of identity construction, including; power and equality, identity and social roles, national identity, racial and ethnic identity, and gendered discourse. The type of gender identity is not found in the film “Just Mercy”. The main characters in the film “Just Mercy” use the types of assertive acts to emphasize actual facts. Therefore, the main characters in the film “Just Mercy” use types of assertive acts that reflect identity construction with the aim of maintaining group integrity, identifying other groups, and using language as a form of resistance to achieve a justice