Lesson Five - The Truman Show
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca 🍁 |
| Course: | English Lang Arts 10-1 |
| Book: | Lesson Five - The Truman Show |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Monday, 8 September 2025, 2:49 PM |
Introduction
Lesson Five - The Truman Show
Duration - 6 blocks (6 x 80 min + homework)
"It's all truth. It's all real. Nothing here is fake. Nothing you see, on this show, is false. It's merely controlled." - Marlon, in "The Truman Show"
The Truman Show is a major film by Australian director Peter Weir. It sets up the conceit of a 'reality TV' show about an innocent called Truman Burbank, who doesn't even know that his whole life is a carefully scripted fiction, beamed out to millions of viewers around the world. When the truth dawns on Truman, he challenges the god-like creator of 'The Truman Show', and makes his escape into the real world. This fascinating satire on media manipulation is both engrossing and relevant to contemporary trends.
The Truman Show is a commentary on modem society. Many of the issues which arise in this film were considered in the previous lesson - issues such as the media's influence on individuals, the individual's acceptance of the world with which he or she is presented, and even what is real.
Lesson: Part 1
In order to complete this lesson, you will have to borrow or purchase a copy of the DVD (or video) of The Truman Show. Check the discounted bins at places like Wal-Mart and Superstore to buy, or your local library to borrow. It may also be available on Netflix.
Viewing the film (one day)
- View The Truman Show in its entirety to get a fluent sense of the film.
- Read the analysis of the film.
Responding to the film (three days)
- View the movie a second time, paying attention to the moments where Truman begins to become aware of his situation.
- Make notes of these incidents which illustrate Truman's gradual awakening.
- During these incidents, what is he thinking? What is he discovering about his situation? What is he discovering about himself?
Assignment 1
(100 marks)
Open a new Word document. Label it E101U2L5surname
In this document, write the good copy of your personal response to text as outlined below.
Submit this assignment using the Dropbox for U2L5 Truman Journals
- Adopting Truman's persona, write a series of at least five journal entries (each one at least ten sentences long) where he describes an incident that happens in the film, and comments about it.
- What is he thinking? What is he discovering about his situation? What is he discovering about himself?
Lesson: Part 2
"The Truman Show offers a grand metaphor for contemporary American culture. Its message is that we are immersed in a media landscape of lifelike fantasies that serves the interests of those in power. If we want to be free and have a chance at an authentic life, it tells us, we will have to distance ourselves from the safety and comforts of our media-saturated culture, and be willing to live in the world as it is." - Ken Sanes, Metro Boston
"Peter Weir in an interview, revealed that the 1998 movie, The Truman Show was based on Michael Jackson. 'You watch The Truman Show and, I mean, Jim Carrey did a fantastic job, but Michael Jackson is Truman. He's who I based him on and he is the nearest thing to Truman.' Weir also says the movie Simone was based on Michael. And Michael Jackson, he is also the real life Victor in Simone. He had a talent and all he wanted was to share this and bring people happiness and escapism through entertainment. And people turn it around, they make it about the individual rather than the creation. It is the actual films, the actual music - that's what it's all about... People lose sight of this and the media make it all about the celebrity." - popdirt.com
What is The Truman Show all about, actually? What does it say about US?
Explore the websites on the Resources: Part 2 page.
- How similar is our world to that of The Truman Show?
- Consider the reality TV, product placement and advertising, security cameras, and the cult of celebrity.
- How much is "reality TV" contrived? How much are we manipulated?
Review your notes on the "Five Paragraph Essay".
Assignment 2
ASSIGNMENT (100 marks)
Open a new Word document. Label it E101U2L5.2surname
In this document, write the good copy of your personal response to text as outlined below.
Submit this assignment using the Dropbox for U2L5 Truman Essay
Write a personal essay in response to the film The Truman Show and the two websites you have explored. Your essay will address the question "How similar is our world to that of The Truman Show?"
Within your essay, you should discuss reality TV, product placement / advertising, security cameras, and the cult of celebrity.
Your essay must be at least five paragraphs long.
Be sure that EACH body paragraph in your essay follows the pattern below, ensuring that you are following the "principle of thirds": (NEXT)
- New idea - answer the question and provide a statement of theme (thesis) for the paragraph
- Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or paraphrase from the story to support your statement
- eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves your thesis to be true
- Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or paraphrase from the story to support your statement
- eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves your thesis to be true
- Evidence - provide evidence in the form of a strong quotation or paraphrase from the story to support your statement
- eXplanation - explain how the detail you have chosen proves your thesis to be true
- Transition - provide a transition from this paragraph to the next
Conclusion
"The movie isn't only a satire of television and other forms of media. It aims many of its most pointed barbs at us, the audience. After all, as we watch the characters hanging on Truman's every expression so they can feel something, that is us we see depicted on the screen. We are the one's who make this system possible, the movie tells us. The willingness of the audience to exploit Truman so it can enjoy his life as entertainment is our own willingness to exploit an endless parade of human victims of news and reality programming because they have the misfortune to be part of some "newsworthy" event. And both the audience and Truman portray our willingness to experience an easier and more exciting substitute for life, which is what fuels the media machine." - Ken Sanes