How does the film The Truman Show tell the audience about the influence of the media?

Introduction
• Briefly explain what the film presents about the influence of the media.
• How does Truman show this?

The character of Truman
• What kind of person is Truman?
• Why has he been chosen as the star of a media show? Why doesn’t he know about it?
• In what ways is he influenced by the media?
• Think of a specific scene in which this is illustrated well and comment on the effect.
• How does this reflect how the media influences us?

Seahaven
• What type of place is Seahaven?
• In what ways does it fit in with ‘The American Dream’?
• Think of a specific scene in which this is illustrated well and comment on the effect.
• What messages do you think the makers of the reality TV programme are trying to communicate? Why?
• How does reality TV / the media in general influence us in a similar way?

Christoff
• What is Christoff’s role in the programme?
• How is this similar to programme makers in real life?
• Think of a specific part of the film where Christoff manipulates Truman and what this tells the audience. Do you think this happens to any extent in TV in real life?
• How does TV influence us?

Conclusion
• How does the media influence us?
• How is this similar / different to what we see in ‘The Truman Show’?
• Why is this film particularly effective?