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".

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