The movie, The Truman Show, depicts how society is so obsessed with fictional characters in television and movies. The idea that a television production company would create a entire false world in order to film a non suspecting Truman Burbank throughout his entire life is very disturbing.
Truman has been filmed with hidden cameras and televised live since his birth, everyone in his life including his family and friends are hired actors. The world watches as he grows up, becomes a man, and even gets married.
Nothing in his life is true or private, and he doesn’t even know. The fact that Truman has no true relationships or anyone that honestly cares for him is sad. Though the theme of the movie is very far fetched and unrealistic, it does open our eyes to the reality of how as human-beings we are so obsessed with the lives of famous people and celebrities. In my opinion, The Truman Show, portrays society’s obsession with reality television and celebrities.
Millions of people watch reality television shows every day, they become obsessed with shows like The Bachelor, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and The Real Housewives. But the truth is, like the movie, everything is staged and scripted, and nothing is real.
Another thing that stands out in my mind is how throughout the movie, there are so many obvious product endorsements. This is a more exaggerated view of the reality of subliminal messages and product endorsements throughout the entertainment industry. There have been many times that I have noticed strategically placed brand items in television shows and movies, yet they are made to look as if they belong.
Then there is the fact that we are all subjected to so many television commercials while watching any television program. In all honesty, you can’t watch a 30 minute program without having 15 minutes worth of commercials.
During The Truman Show, cameras are hidden strategically so Truman doesn’t see them and so they they can zoom in and out in order to focus on Truman throughout his day. During an interview scene the show’s director played by Ed Harris states there were over 5,000 cameras being used. The first scene of the movie shows Truman talking to himself, the camera appears to be hidden in the mirror. The angle of the shot looks as if you are seeing Truman straight on and through the other side of the wall. During this scene the cast are being interviewed and the shots go back and forth from Truman’s life and to the actors interviews. Thus, giving the movie a documentary feel, this continues throughout the movie as the camera goes back and forth from Truman actions to the audience’s reactions.
The Truman Show Movie Analysis. (2022, Jan 24). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/the-truman-show-movie-analysis/