Identity In The Truman Show
Through the analysis of the satirical film The Truman Show (1998) directed by Peter Weir, the audience is offered the chance to examine ideas & realities that previously remained unquestioned within society. The film provides insight in to the tendency for individuals to question the reality of the world around them in times of unexplainable occurrences. Throughout the course of the film, various scenes display the ideas of truth, media control & individual choice. They are ultimately revealed by Truman Burbank's quest to locate his true identity. Throughout the course of the film the statement “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” is both supported and challenged to the point that the audience may begin to question
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their very own existence and the world around them.
The ideas of 'truth' surrounds whether or not “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” This idea is explored in the opening scenes where Truman remains clueless to the truth, the fact that he is living within a large television studio, with his life broadcasted twenty-four-seven. As Truman leaves for work there is evidence that he is very accepting of the world in which he is presented. The use of the medium angle shots captures Truman exiting his front door, where his neighbours greet him. Whilst greeting his neighbours Truman displayed a 'happy & friendly' facial expression quoting "Good morning and incase I don't see you; good afternoon, good evening and good night" This leads us to believe that Truman feels warmly welcome as a part of the society in which he lives and feels no reason to question. In correspondence this produces the colour hue of his yellow shirt. Truman appears to be a cheerful, light hearted and full of joy. This reinforces his proposed fulfillment within the world as he is presented as having the perfect wife, job and friends all around him. Yet the mysterious occurrence of the light falling from the 'fake' sky forced him to think otherwise and question reality. The use of birds eye view shots create emphasis on the object hurling in to the road. This builds up the sense of mystery for the audience, leaving the individual; like Truman questioning reality. The use of various multifocal points streaming from various cameras filming Truman challenges the ‘truth’ from the audience’s perspective. The use of medium, high and low angles with panning and zooming techniques used at various points throughout the welcoming scene, provides the illusion that Truman's reality is being questioned, in particularly through the way he is been watched. The responder is presented with Christof as a benevolent character portrayed as an artist, He is made to look like an artistic intellectual man, who is responsible for creating Truman world. In effect causing us to begin to question if we should believe our world is true or simply made-up.
Media control is a reoccurring theme in The Truman Show, and it forces oneself to question whether it would be right or wrong if “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” Truman Burbank's whole commodified life since birth, had been controlled by the media, whom made him an unknowing 'star'. As unexplainable occurrences keep presenting themselves before Truman's very eyes he begins to question his reality and assert power over his life’s direction. Truman was eager to explore the world outside of the 'set' known as Seahaven. Toward the middle of the film Truman decided to venture away from his everyday life. Through the use of dramatic irony, the audience is shown the headquarters behind the show, where Truman and the world around him are controlled twenty-four-seven by Christof the producer and his team, unknown to Truman. The audience witnesses the transformation in Christof’s personality following Truman’s disappearance. A long distance wide angle shot is used to show the audience the full view of the production studio where ample levers, knobs and switches control the cameras, projection on to the wall behind. Christof instructs the camera, "back to medium now wide" enforcing the notion of media control as the behind the scenes team challenge the normality of Truman's world. The media's power can be seen as heavily controlling, even to the extent of the physical motion of the transmitting cable been disconnected by Christof. The Truman Show’s producer Christof’s actions are outlined by the medium angled shot capturing Christof, in a panic as indicated by his facial expression and the use of dialogue screaming "cut transmission" He is seen to have physically pulled out the transmission cable and hitting the transmission box until the projection screen when black the colour hue creating a mysterious, fearful atmosphere after discovering Truman was lost. Truman’s quest to find his true identity directly challenged his acceptance of his world he once had no reason to question.
Within the film The Truman Show, 'Individual Choice' is an overall theme that outlines the power of the media.
It can be questioned at times whether “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” or whether we feel that we must make a choice to change circumstances for the better. With Truman's individual choice being denied by Christof’s the control, as a result he found it necessary to rebel. After a risky voyage from the shores of made-up Seahaven found Truman's reality confronted after his sailing boat was stopped in its tracks by the barrier wall of the 'dome city' he has been captured in. A close-up shot followed by and extreme close-up captured Truman with his back again the wall he once knew, as been the sky. He carried a confused and emotionally wrecked facial expression detailing his emotions, the colour hue of his dark jumper symbolised his fear contrasting with his emotions as his whole world's reality was challenged. Non-diegetic sound track played as Truman walked along the wall running his hand along the dome wall, and walked up the stairs to the ‘exit’ door as captured by an extreme long shot. An extreme close-up shot zooming in on him as he pushed on the door opening it. As Christof confessed, Truman replied, “Well who am I”, which yet again challenges acceptances of his reality. Yet as per human nature an extreme close up on his face captured his last words “Incase I don’t see ya good afternoon, good evening and good night” supporting the fact that “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” yet challenging it as he walks through that very door, leaving us to question our very lives to what our reality truly
entails.
The Truman Show explores truth, media control, individual choice and existentialism as core themes that question the idea that “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” By supporting and challenging the statement through the scenes analysed, it becomes evident that Truman’s world, although constructed can offer the audience the opportunity to reflect on their own ‘realities’.
their very own existence and the world around them.
The ideas of 'truth' surrounds whether or not “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” This idea is explored in the opening scenes where Truman remains clueless to the truth, the fact that he is living within a large television studio, with his life broadcasted twenty-four-seven. As Truman leaves for work there is evidence that he is very accepting of the world in which he is presented. The use of the medium angle shots captures Truman exiting his front door, where his neighbours greet him. Whilst greeting his neighbours Truman displayed a 'happy & friendly' facial expression quoting "Good morning and incase I don't see you; good afternoon, good evening and good night" This leads us to believe that Truman feels warmly welcome as a part of the society in which he lives and feels no reason to question. In correspondence this produces the colour hue of his yellow shirt. Truman appears to be a cheerful, light hearted and full of joy. This reinforces his proposed fulfillment within the world as he is presented as having the perfect wife, job and friends all around him. Yet the mysterious occurrence of the light falling from the 'fake' sky forced him to think otherwise and question reality. The use of birds eye view shots create emphasis on the object hurling in to the road. This builds up the sense of mystery for the audience, leaving the individual; like Truman questioning reality. The use of various multifocal points streaming from various cameras filming Truman challenges the ‘truth’ from the audience’s perspective. The use of medium, high and low angles with panning and zooming techniques used at various points throughout the welcoming scene, provides the illusion that Truman's reality is being questioned, in particularly through the way he is been watched. The responder is presented with Christof as a benevolent character portrayed as an artist, He is made to look like an artistic intellectual man, who is responsible for creating Truman world. In effect causing us to begin to question if we should believe our world is true or simply made-up.
Media control is a reoccurring theme in The Truman Show, and it forces oneself to question whether it would be right or wrong if “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” Truman Burbank's whole commodified life since birth, had been controlled by the media, whom made him an unknowing 'star'. As unexplainable occurrences keep presenting themselves before Truman's very eyes he begins to question his reality and assert power over his life’s direction. Truman was eager to explore the world outside of the 'set' known as Seahaven. Toward the middle of the film Truman decided to venture away from his everyday life. Through the use of dramatic irony, the audience is shown the headquarters behind the show, where Truman and the world around him are controlled twenty-four-seven by Christof the producer and his team, unknown to Truman. The audience witnesses the transformation in Christof’s personality following Truman’s disappearance. A long distance wide angle shot is used to show the audience the full view of the production studio where ample levers, knobs and switches control the cameras, projection on to the wall behind. Christof instructs the camera, "back to medium now wide" enforcing the notion of media control as the behind the scenes team challenge the normality of Truman's world. The media's power can be seen as heavily controlling, even to the extent of the physical motion of the transmitting cable been disconnected by Christof. The Truman Show’s producer Christof’s actions are outlined by the medium angled shot capturing Christof, in a panic as indicated by his facial expression and the use of dialogue screaming "cut transmission" He is seen to have physically pulled out the transmission cable and hitting the transmission box until the projection screen when black the colour hue creating a mysterious, fearful atmosphere after discovering Truman was lost. Truman’s quest to find his true identity directly challenged his acceptance of his world he once had no reason to question.
Within the film The Truman Show, 'Individual Choice' is an overall theme that outlines the power of the media.
It can be questioned at times whether “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” or whether we feel that we must make a choice to change circumstances for the better. With Truman's individual choice being denied by Christof’s the control, as a result he found it necessary to rebel. After a risky voyage from the shores of made-up Seahaven found Truman's reality confronted after his sailing boat was stopped in its tracks by the barrier wall of the 'dome city' he has been captured in. A close-up shot followed by and extreme close-up captured Truman with his back again the wall he once knew, as been the sky. He carried a confused and emotionally wrecked facial expression detailing his emotions, the colour hue of his dark jumper symbolised his fear contrasting with his emotions as his whole world's reality was challenged. Non-diegetic sound track played as Truman walked along the wall running his hand along the dome wall, and walked up the stairs to the ‘exit’ door as captured by an extreme long shot. An extreme close-up shot zooming in on him as he pushed on the door opening it. As Christof confessed, Truman replied, “Well who am I”, which yet again challenges acceptances of his reality. Yet as per human nature an extreme close up on his face captured his last words “Incase I don’t see ya good afternoon, good evening and good night” supporting the fact that “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” yet challenging it as he walks through that very door, leaving us to question our very lives to what our reality truly
entails.
The Truman Show explores truth, media control, individual choice and existentialism as core themes that question the idea that “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” By supporting and challenging the statement through the scenes analysed, it becomes evident that Truman’s world, although constructed can offer the audience the opportunity to reflect on their own ‘realities’.