A Breakdown On The Truman Show
After watching The Truman Show I have considered some of the ways it relates and compares to life as I know it. A connection to my life and the movie are reality shows. Truman’s life was a reality show, but not completely like the reality shows that exist or have existed.
The similarities in Truman’s life compared to reality television are, the obvious one being that he’s filmed most of the time everyday. There are some moments in his life that are staged and manipulated for a desired and sometimes unpredictable, but very compelling effect. Most of his settings, like a lot of reality shows are temporary structures and facades that give a positive appeal about the lives the lead in front of the camera at the moment and the places they reside. Another similarity is the amount of emotions and the actual emotions captured for the viewers’ indulgence, accompanied by a score or soundtrack that punctuates the emotions and actions on screen.
The differences in regards to Truman and reality shows are that Truman is unaware of his involvement and that he is being watched by a multitude of viewers in a world outside of the one he knows. Reality shows usually have participants sign contracts and release and permission forms to be on the shows. Participants usually play up actions and emotions in front of the camera to entertain viewers and sometimes create a gate of opportunity to further, rejuvenate or create a career in entertainment or becoming a recognizable public figure or image. In Truman’s life his actions come naturally to him, although at times manipulated for a more network and viewer favorable result. Truman didn’t know he was constantly being watched and focused on, and that a lot of what happened was staged without his permission.
In some reality shows the people involved aren’t just observed, but in competition to win or gain something they strongly desire. Truman wasn’t in a known competition to win, especially since he didn’t know he was on a show about every aspect of his life; a fabricated life from birth. His life was handed to him and he didn’t have to do much competing to acquire the things he wanted or desired in his life, except for his freedom.
Christof and the television network are creators like God and have a lot of control of the environment that Truman inhabits. Both God and Christof combined with the network allow levels of freedom, but Christof and the network have more restrictions on Truman’s freedom. God allows us to make decisions with only guidelines that are strongly suggested to make the correct decisions. Also the freewill that Christof allows Truman is fabricated, thus it’s limitations, although it allow Truman the door to leave into the world outside.
If I were in Truman’s position I am not sure what I would do. I figure I’d be terrified by the news I’ve learned and to also venture out into a world I’d never known. But I am an explorer of sorts. I would be curious enough to venture out into a world I’d never been to and not sure of what to expect. I’m sure I can return home one day.
On the other side of the door for Truman, after leaving Seahaven, I can assume that the mechanical aspects that power and work to create the Seahaven experience, like weather and climate conditions that affect the Seahaven environment. Beyond the mechanical area Truman eventually gets to a door to exit. He is let out onto a possible bright day or cool, calm night, paved lot surrounded by fencing and fortified and amplified to keep out further intrusion. Truman would step out into the world he hasn’t really known before and look back at the massive dome construct, which used to be his home from the time he was born.
I suspect that after the televised display of Truman’s exodus, sudden hoard of television news crews descend upon him. Security of the Seahaven studio arrive at that moment to attend to his well being. They try to keep him safe from the overwhelming mass of news crews and gathering onlookers that have arrived, until law enforcement arrives to handle the situation.
After watching The Truman Show I have considered some of the ways it relates and compares to life as I know it. A connection to my life and the movie are reality shows. Truman’s life was a reality show, but not completely like the reality shows that exist or have existed.
The similarities in Truman’s life compared to reality television are, the obvious one being that he’s filmed most of the time everyday. There are some moments in his life that are staged and manipulated for a desired and sometimes unpredictable, but very compelling effect. Most of his settings, like a lot of reality shows are temporary structures and facades that give a positive appeal about the lives the lead in front of the camera at the moment and the places they reside. Another similarity is the amount of emotions and the actual emotions captured for the viewers’ indulgence, accompanied by a score or soundtrack that punctuates the emotions and actions on screen.
The differences in regards to Truman and reality shows are that Truman is unaware of his involvement and that he is being watched by a multitude of viewers in a world outside of the one he knows. Reality shows usually have participants sign contracts and release and permission forms to be on the shows. Participants usually play up actions and emotions in front of the camera to entertain viewers and sometimes create a gate of opportunity to further, rejuvenate or create a career in entertainment or becoming a recognizable public figure or image. In Truman’s life his actions come naturally to him, although at times manipulated for a more network and viewer favorable result. Truman didn’t know he was constantly being watched and focused on, and that a lot of what happened was staged without his permission.
In some reality shows the people involved aren’t just observed, but in competition to win or gain something they strongly desire. Truman wasn’t in a known competition to win, especially since he didn’t know he was on a show about every aspect of his life; a fabricated life from birth. His life was handed to him and he didn’t have to do much competing to acquire the things he wanted or desired in his life, except for his freedom.
Christof and the television network are creators like God and have a lot of control of the environment that Truman inhabits. Both God and Christof combined with the network allow levels of freedom, but Christof and the network have more restrictions on Truman’s freedom. God allows us to make decisions with only guidelines that are strongly suggested to make the correct decisions. Also the freewill that Christof allows Truman is fabricated, thus it’s limitations, although it allow Truman the door to leave into the world outside.
If I were in Truman’s position I am not sure what I would do. I figure I’d be terrified by the news I’ve learned and to also venture out into a world I’d never known. But I am an explorer of sorts. I would be curious enough to venture out into a world I’d never been to and not sure of what to expect. I’m sure I can return home one day.
On the other side of the door for Truman, after leaving Seahaven, I can assume that the mechanical aspects that power and work to create the Seahaven experience, like weather and climate conditions that affect the Seahaven environment. Beyond the mechanical area Truman eventually gets to a door to exit. He is let out onto a possible bright day or cool, calm night, paved lot surrounded by fencing and fortified and amplified to keep out further intrusion. Truman would step out into the world he hasn’t really known before and look back at the massive dome construct, which used to be his home from the time he was born.
I suspect that after the televised display of Truman’s exodus, sudden hoard of television news crews descend upon him. Security of the Seahaven studio arrive at that moment to attend to his well being. They try to keep him safe from the overwhelming mass of news crews and gathering onlookers that have arrived, until law enforcement arrives to handle the situation.
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