This research aims to analyze the representation of the Imaginary Friend in the song My Blood by Twenthy One Pilots using Multimodal Discourse Analysis. The method applied for this research is descriptive qualitative. The data is collected through observation. The data is analyze using Halliday’s (1994) ideational metafunction for verbal data and Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) representational meaning for visual data. The objectives of this research are to identify the ideational meaning in the lyrics, analyze visual representation meaning in the music video, and examine how the imaginary friend is portrayed across both.
The results of this study show 23 verbal clauses, consisting of 13 material processes, 2 mental processes, 4 relational processes, 3 verbal processes, and 1 existential process, with no behavioral processes identified. Visual data consists of 18 selected frames from the official music video, revealing 8 actional processes, 6 reactional processes, 3 classificational processes, and 1 symbolic process.
This study finds that My Blood portrays the Imaginary Friend as a central, emotionally resonant figure through both verbal and visual modes. The lyrics emphasize his protective, loyal, and empathetic character, while the visuals depict him as active, emotionally attuned, and closely bonded with the Imaginer. The consistent use of shared visual identity and synchronized action reinforces the Imaginary Friend’s role as a psychological coping mechanism. This multimodal representation aligns with Taylor’s (1999) theory of imaginary companions, illustrating the Imaginary Friend as a symbol of emotional strength, resilience, and internal support