The Truman Show is showing us how often the media influences our everyday lives and that we are sometimes not even aware of it. For example, although Mrs Truman is going a little over the top when she advertises some branded coco powder, whilst having a conversation to Truman - we don't think about it when we talk about a brand, but in a way we are advertising it. It also reminds us that sometimes our social lives are often based around the media. For example the two old ladies sitting on the couch watching Truman whilst clutching Truman cushions.There is also the Truman bar- a bar themed on a TV show. Another point brought to my attention was that Truman listens to basically whatever the media tells him.
An example being at the start of the film when a light falls off the ceiling and lands by Truman's house, this is then explained on the radio to be a part from an aeroplane that was dropped a few minutes earlier over Seahaven and Truman thinks nothing more of it. Christoff seems to know that Truman will listen to what he is told by the media, when he turns on the TV it is almost like he is listening to his god.In the 21st century there are less religious people in the world than century's, it might well be we don't need religion any more. Alternatively it could be down to scientific progress which has made us less superstitious. Personally I think the media may well have something to do with this, religious people do what god wants them to do as in the same way we will dress like our favourite pop star.
Truman however is so use to the media as that was how he was brought up, that he will listen to it for more serious advice than what to wear. Truman is a kind, humorous and likeable character.He is a happy chap and always has a smile on his face. For example every morning two twins pin him up against a billboard, but Truman just smiles even though they often make him late for work.
Truman is the sort of "what you see is what you get" type of guy, but by the end of the film this changes and he purposely becomes unpredictable. To sum up, Truman Burbank is "the man with no enemies". In a way Christoff turns this model citizen into an unpredictable wreck. Truman also seems to the audience to have a great family. Truman wanted to settle down and have children who they could bring up together in Seahaven.Although Truman does some strange things (normally under Christoff's control), he is generally kind at heart.
A few days before Truman was born there were ten "mums to be" in a room, and the baby born on the right day would be "Truman" and he would unknowingly give his soul to the media. As Truman got older Christoff realised that Truman is quite a good catch. For instance, Truman is likeable so he won't really cause much conflict. This is good because it means most of the situations he is in can be controlled by Christoff and not caused by Truman.
I am not sure if Christoff expected the show to go on for as long as it did but I believe the reason it did is down to Truman's character. Truman basically will believe whatever the media tells him is true. Christoff knows that Truman will listen to the power of the media, for example towards the end of the film Truman is thinking of moving away from pleasant little Seahaven and going all the way to Fiji. Christoff then puts a show on TV entitled "there's no place like home". This is as the title may suggest a show telling the people of Seahaven how there is no place better than home.Truman seemed to somewhat agree with this TV show and had cold feet about going to Fiji.
Truman is influenced in lots of his decisions by whatever the media is telling him to do. It is hardly surprising that Truman is influenced so much by the media as Truman himself; in a way is the media. The ways in which Truman is influenced by the media reflects how the media influences us. For instance if we were thinking about going on holiday to a certain destination, and then it featured on "holidays from hell" the same day then we might have second thought?This is how the TV influenced Truman on his decision to stay at Seahaven.
Although the media cannot make our (or even Truman's) mind up, it can persuade us with our decisions. Seahaven is a charming little town. It is immaculately clean and everyone there seems to look smart, friendly and purposeful. The buildings there are attractive pastel coloured villas lawns like a putting green. There is no pollution on Seahaven and definitely no crime. Seahaven is Christoffs idea of what a town should be like.
The American Dream would have started in towns like Seahaven.The American dream is typically two. five kids, a detached house in the suburbs with a two car garage and of course financial security. This is a typical middle class lifestyle and as many may have realised, it is mainly based on material items. Many people aspire to achieve the American dream; but many people who achieve it discover it does not bring happiness.
In away Seahaven sort of mimics the American dream. Notably, is his neighbour who always says morning in his snappy suit from his detached house whilst getting into his family car.The American dream is a very media influenced idea and nearly everyone in Seahaven has achieved it. I wonder if Christoff meant for it to be this way.
I believe Christoff thought anybody would be happy with the American dream lifestyle and he probably realized this was not the case when Truman started to look for more in his life. So in a way this may have change Christoff's view on things. All Seahaven is doing is copying the American dream and Christoff must have assumed this would have made Truman happy, and it did for a while but then as we know he wanted more from his life.Seahaven is Christoff's creation of what all towns should be like.
Christoff is the inventor of TVs greatest show. Christoff decides how Truman's life plans. Without Christoff there would be no Truman Show. Programme makers are always trying to think of something new and original to do, they want something that nobody has ever done before. For example who ever thought of a programme where people swap wives? But this programme has been on for so long that it is clearly a success with viewers. We as people like to see things that have never been done before, and the Truman show was the ultimate in reality TV.
Directors like to have a unique way of doing things so that they are remembered. Nearing the end of the film, when Truman is convinced people are watching him so attempts to be as unpredictable; Truman drives onto a road but there is a huge traffic jam (just as Christoff plans) so Truman drives back. Although Truman does eventually get onto the road Christoff manipulates him for a while. Things like this do sometimes happen on our TV screens for example "Big Brother".
"Big Brother" is the housemate's leader and they do mostly what "Big Brother" said.As the volunteers for the show aren't exactly bright then they are none the wiser to the fact that the country is being entertained at their expense. The media influences us all the time in our everyday lives, in lots of different ways. There is one way which is particularly notable.
Our fashion trends tend to be influenced by the media. For example our sense of style will almost certainly be influenced by the media; if somebody had just bought a new an orange shirt and a week or so later they were told in some form of the media that orange was last season, then I expect the shirt would go to the back of this guys draw!The media has put fashion into basically anything and we can't help following what the media is telling us sometimes. TV can influence us in all kinds of different ways, good or bad. For example the TV can influence us on what music we listen to.
If there is a programme which is only mediocre but has a great advertising campaign, then it is likely that this will influence us to tune in to that programme. It is relatively similar as Truman is often influenced by the media.For example if something odd happens in Seahaven e. g. Truman thinks he sees his dad in a tramp outfit then Christoff would put something like "crack down on Tramps in Seahaven" as the newspaper headline the next day- Truman would then think nothing more of it so in a way he is being manipulated by the media.
In Seahaven Truman is influenced by the media on huge decisions notably whether to leave Seahaven for Fiji or whether to stay in his hometown. I believe that the Truman show is so effective because it is such an original idea, unlike many films nowadays particularly comedies, which are so repetitive - once you have seen one, you have seen them all.It also is effective because it is the sort of thing that could actually happen in the not so distant future - this makes us think. It is quite similar to channel 4s "space cadets" this is where they tricked some less intelligent looking people into believing they were actually in space. Something like the Truman show could happen quite soon, but would you feel morally right by watching it? The Truman show definitely reminds us how much the media influences us in the 21st century. I wonder if our lives will ever be like Truman's.
