30 THE IMPORTANCE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS A HIGH CLASS SOCIETY FOR TEENAGER IN ALYSON NOËL’S FAKING 19 Santoso, L.N. 1 and Suprajitno, S. 2 1,2 English for Creative Industry, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Siwalankerto 121- 131, Surabaya 60236, East Java, INDONESIA Emails: m11412005@john.petra.ac.id; steph@peter.petra.ac.id ABSTRACT This paper discusses the Alex’s desire to be acknowledged as a high class person. Alex comes from a middle class background. When she enters high school, she started to change. In this paper I analyze the changes that happened to Alex. In the analysis, I use Georg Simmel’s theory about fashion and metropolitan lifestyle. I divided this analysis into three parts. The first part, it discusses what Alex does to get the acknowledgement. Second, it discusses the reasons and result behind her desire to be acknowledged as a high class. Finally, it discusses what Alex learns from her encounter with the high class. Through the analysis I find that Faking 19 shows an important moral lesson. Being acknowledged as a high class is not the most important thing in life. The most important thing in life is when someone can be themselves. Key Words: Acknowledgement, Society, Teenager, Identity. INTRODUCTION Teenage literature is one of the most popular genres which always stand out among the other genres. The stories are associated with problems such as romance, bullies and fights. Teenage literature can also be called as a reflection tool for teenagers to see and relate their life to their society. For this reason, teenage literature has become very popular and attracted a lot of reader. Alyson Noël, one of teenage literature writers who previously attained success because of her works, has got an award as New York bestsellers for her teenage literature novel, which is enjoyable to read. One of Alyson Noël’s popular novels in teenage literature is Faking 19. Faking 19 is a story about a journey of a young teenager named Alex. It shows a clear explanation on how teenagers are struggling with their problems in school and family, and even with themselves. I am interested in discussing one issue that Faking 19 explores, an issue that always exists in teenagers’ life, that is the behavior of the main character, Alex. In discussing this issue, I want to show the ways and the efforts that Alex uses to be acknowledged as someone of the high class society. I also want find out the reason and result of Alex’s desire to get the acknowledgement as well as lessons learned that she gets. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND In so doing, I use George Simmel’s theory about Metropolitan Lifestyle and Fashion. Metropolitan Lifestyle explains that every individual lifestyle nowadays is always related to money and modernism. Modernity, which closely related with economy level on each individual, creates ‘false’ needs in society. As seen in following quotation: “To Simmel: modernity is a cultural system based on an advanced, capitalist monetary economy which creates a false consciousness of stability, security, order and a serenity of mind and action.” (Mackonytė, 2010) People behavior in consuming things become uncontrollable and the purpose of consuming things has changed as well. Next, Fashion theory talks about how fashion can help people maintain their existence in society. It explains that fashion has an important role in society to satisfy people’s desire of differentiating one to another. Simmel also argues: “But fashion is also a remedy for envy, because, in imitating the person I admire, I become or appear like them, and thus I identify myself as one who appears admirable.” (Benvenuto, 2000, pg.3) It means that fashion products that they put on become the representation of their identity.