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

The film uses an imaginary world “Seahaven” to show the audience in the real world how we react to the media. Our emotions are often affected by TV shows, as shown by how the audiences in the Truman show reacted when watching the show. For example, two elderly women were observed to cry and hug each other, this shows that with the simple progression of plot we are even able to be moved to tears, which shows how easy it is for media to influence us. TV shows can also affect the way we behave or do our jobs, as shown by the police turning down a person in need just to follow the progress of the plot of Truman show. The Truman Show also tells the audience that the influence of the media can sometimes help us to create a perfect world to live in and have a positive impact on our lives. This is done by showing Truman leading a lifestyle where everything is decided for him. The film shows Truman holding a job, having a family which is the basic things that an ordinary man would ask for. This were all the creation of the media which may seem to suggest to us, the audience, that the media can also influence us to create a perfect world to live in.

Introduction:

Briefly explain what the film presents about the influence of the media.

The Truman Show has managed to capture the interest of a widespread group of people from all walks of like 24/7. For example, some of the audiences of The Truman Show include security guards, patrons and waitresses at a pub, a man in a bathtub and two elderly women. The man in the bathtub goes to the extent of placing a television set in his bathroom and the two elderly women even fall asleep on the couch while watching the show. Hence, audiences are constantly being exposed to the media and whatever products the media is selling and the messages that they put through. The constant exposure gives the media a round the clock platform to put through the things they are selling and persuade people to buy the products.

The influence of the media is not only all around; it is also invasive—the influence of media affects people’s emotions. In the show, the audience was seen accompanying every moment of Truman’s life, crying and laughing at the various stages of Truman’s life. These reactions were clearly generated by the progression of the plot, as the audience was able to identify with Truman’s situations and was able to feel for him. As such, this goes to show that media has the power to influence the audience down to the depths of their hearts. For example, in the show, two waitresses were seen tearing at the sight of Truman not being able to get out of Seahaven, as they felt he was pitiful and their hearts reached out to him. In a more dramatic example, the man in the bathtub was observed being enraged after he saw Truman choosing to leave the production and refusing to be the star of the soap opera any longer, so much so that he thumped his fists in the water. The media has indeed influenced the audience emotionally.

Another influence that the film tells us that the media has on us is that the media influences our perceptions of things. Since we were young, the media has imposed on us negative and positive thoughts about things in our lives. This is usually done through television programmes and commercials. Even though some of the information presented are not true altogether, the media still presents us such information to, sometimes, manipulate us. This kind of fake information was seen by the “drowning act” played out by Truman’s father. Such a planned event was to influence Truman to be afraid of water so that he would not be able to travel out of Seahaven and the show could continue. In television shows, for example, fire is always seen as destructive destroying houses and killing masses. It is therefore natural for us to be fearful of fire since that was what the media has made us perceive since we were young. However, if the media has not portrayed it in that way, just like if Truman had not seen his father drowning, we may not be afraid of fire and Truman may not be afraid of the water. The film therefore tells us a very important point about the influence of the media, that is, it influences our perceptions of things in life and what we think is good or bad, has to a large extent been controlled by the media.

The Truman show also shows that the media influences our decisions to suit their needs. In the show, the director of the show persuaded the travel agency to advise Truman against travelling so that he does not leave Seahaven and the show can go on. In real life, our schedule and lifestyle are to some extent, controlled by the media as well. Shows with many viewers are shown during peak hours, which are at 7-8pm or 9-10 pm. We then have to make our decisions based on these programme time slots, assuming we want to watch the shows. We have to finish dinner at 7pm, for example, so that we do not miss the 7pm show. The media also defines the ‘popular’ or ‘in’ things, and that affects our decisions to purchase certain things such as clothings and accessories.

How does Truman show this?

In this show, Truman is portrayed as an ordinary man who is ignorant of the fact that his life is being controlled by the media. Truman thus represents ordinary people like us who do not realise that the media influences us and our discussions. The people in the show watching his life play out can identify with his situations and emotions.

Like the media affects our lives (by affecting our perceptions and decisions), it affects Truman’s life as well. Truman’s father’s drowning is staged in front of Truman to make sure he develops a phobia of water. This will guarantee that Truman would not leave. Truman has a fake wife, a fake friend, employers etc, who are all agents of the media trying to influence him and the course his life takes. This is all planned and executed by the producer of the show to ensure the continuity of the show and to add flavour to it. Truman shows that media influences and ordinary man and that we cannot do anything in front of the media. Media is a powerful force and it is widespread. Media’s power is shown by the fact that it can control Truman (an ordinary man). It shows how easy it is for media to control and influence us and we are helpless in front of this growing power. Every time Truman tries to leave Seahaven, his plans are foiled. Just like Truman, we cannot run away from the influences of the media as media exerts power everywhere and in various forms. Truman shows his and our helplessness. The director of the show, symbolizing the media, controls how Truman’s life runs. He plans things and makes sure that everything runs smoothly the way he wants it to run. Isn’t the media trying to control our lives too? It tries to influence our choices; what we buy? What we eat? What right and what wrong? All these choices are influenced by the media. Truman shows how media is trying to assume the figure akin to god in an ordinary man’s life. Truman, as an ordinary man, brings out the influences of the media to us.

By: Evelyn, YingHin, Mansi, Yihui, Emily (09S03K)