A great tool in satire is to not exaggerate that a lot. As a substitute, take the topic and push it to its logical subsequent step. That is what “The Truman Present” does for tv. Whereas tv’s content material is inherently pretend, the medium’s leisure worth comes from spellbinding the viewers with illusions so convincing that they neglect that. On the earth of “The Truman Present,” that is now not sufficient.
Within the first line of the film, Christof declares, “We have change into tired of watching actors give us phony feelings.” So, the following logical step is so as to add additional authenticity by way of a “actual” most important character who is not performed by an actor, who does not know he is on movie, and whose persona, actions, and reactions are all real. Certainly, with exceptional prescience, “The Truman Present” premiered in 1998, simply earlier than the fact TV growth of the early aughts.
Why do the audiences of this world hold tuning into Truman? The identical motive they watch TV in the actual world. The sequence is “actual” sufficient to be attention-grabbing however managed and formulaic sufficient to be comforting. There is no true threat, solely the phantasm of it — which makes for a enjoyable fantasy after we stay lives filled with threat and uncertainty.
Nonetheless, that perspective breeds indifference. Nearly nobody, barring the previous additional/present “Free Truman” advocate Sylvia (Natascha McElhone), cares concerning the immorality of protecting a person caged as a result of they love watching The Truman Present an excessive amount of. Even after the grand finale, the place Truman walks “off-stage,” it is thirty seconds of cheering earlier than they alter the channel.
The rote routine of tv additionally applies to Truman’s place on the earth as effectively. That is why his character arc is all about concern and threat.
