The Truman Show (Week of November 1st)

1. Write a brief synopsis of the film, including the basic story line and the main characters.

The Truman Show is a film about Truman, an individual whose life is the focus of a reality TV show. He has been the reality TV star since birth and he doesn't know it. The people whom he believes are his parents and friends are actually actors; his life is a lie.

2. Give three examples from the film where Truman's perception of reality is deliberately manipulated.

One instance in the film where Truman's perception of reality is deliberately altered is when Truman is talking to his 'best friend'. Truman was sharing his concerns with his friend; that there's something weird going on with his life, while his friend is wearing a mic and simply saying what the director of the show is telling him to. Another instance where his perception of reality is altered is when it's a clear day, and then it suddenly starts raining on Truman, and the rain follows him as he moves. Another instance where his perception of reality is altered is when Truman sees the person whom he believes to be his father and the actors that surrounded Truman made sure that he didn't get to see his father; when he went on the bus, the bus stopped and all the passengers went off but him.

3. "We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented". Bearing in mind this quote from the film, what does this film teach us about perception? Consider our discussions surrounding the concept of illusion.

The film teaches us that we take our sense of perception and the way we perceive reality for granted; and for a character like Truman, he thought his life was real (he was living in the real world) and later found out that although no one controlled his actions, the people and things around him were controlled and he was living a lie. His wife, friends, and everyone he knew were merely actors. However, although the audience knew thought that Truman wasn't living in a 'real' world, for Truman, his life was a reality, which teaches us that someone's reality is just their perspective, or what they perceive reality to be.

4. How does this link with the concept of our senses being the only link to the outside world?

Our basis of knowledge, and some of our beliefs are based on our senses. The things we believe to be true, for many things in life, depend on our senses and perception, and we use them to know the truth or use them as the basis of what we believe to be true. Once can't express truth or prove something right or wrong without their senses; senses/perception of reality and truth/beliefs(to some extent) go hand in hand.

5. "There is no more truth out there than in this created world." This quote was said by the show's director just before Truman left the dome. What point do you think he was trying to make?

The director is indicating that to Truman, his life is real. So reality is what you perceive it to be. Truman thought that he was controlling his own life, and that's what people do in the real world. They just live, relying on their senses as the basis of truth and reality.

6. Give three real life examples where a person's concept of reality is deliberately altered.

One - pictures of models and actors in magazines/advertisements as they are edited/made to look different
Two - Beliefs in Santa, the tooth fairy etc. Children mostly believe in these because of what their parents tell them
Three - mental illnesses like schizophrenia where patients can be delusional, believing that they are being watched or sometimes hear noises coming out of sockets/electricity.
Four - Products that are advertised; like shampoo that 'makes your hair shine/healthy' and when you actually use the shampoo you can tell that there's a significant difference between the way your hair looks after using it and the way the person's hair looks in the commercial.

7. If this film is considered a work of art then what do you view as its main message?

Reality is simply what we perceive it to be.

8. Do you think that the Truman Show could actually be created? Explain the reasoning behind your answer.

No; as far as technology is concerned, there probably is the technology to create a fake world and hire actors etc. But I don't believe it ever would be created because of the amount of money it would take to build a fake world. Also, people can't be bought, and especially with the internet, someone would know if they were the center of a reality show. Also, I don't think it's possible to create a world that looks real, or seems real enough for someone to believe it's real; like the sky etc. Although there have been advances in technology and science to control the weather in recent years, I don't see it becoming a regular alteration to the world because it costs too much and some people believe it to be unethical. In theory, technology is developed enough to create a fake world, but it's an unrealistic thing to expect to happen as it would require a lot of time, money, and interest in the matter; and even if it could be created, there would be too many problems with the 'alternate reality' to function or last long.