Postmodern Practices in The Truman’s Show.

(1998)

This Essay will be exploring Postmodernism practices and its connections to the text The
Truman’s Show.
Postmodernism is hard to define as it can be considered a beginning from different points in
time due to events that have occurred but nonetheless these subjects provide an
understanding.
First of all The Enlightenment Project is an attempt to define or explain human
predicaments by using scientific methods and to achieve mastery using it, this began in the
eighteenth century in France and is an example of a transformation in society called
Secularisation by the close identification with religion and its values going towards more of
a non-religious value for example more historical or theoretical.
Post -Structuralism is Critical theories regarding things such as Linguistics and Phycology and
any other fields that interpret these structures. It is an extension of a critique especially if
that includes cultural textural analysis for example this idea that objectivity is impossible.
Deconstruction seeks to show the problematic notions of meaning’s we have created and
our knowledge we have gained around things such as identity. This is by showing the
artificial construction and also the structures of power that have declared how things should
be for not just themselves but also everyone under them for example DWEM’s and
Phallocentric power and exclusions that have been made.
The Derrida Virus, this is significant to Derrida the philosopher but also Relativism which
seeks to find truth itself is always relative to different standpoints for those who are also
judging. “Its strategy is to make an unsuspecting host ingest it, in order to maximise the
possibility of infecting new hosts. Deconstruction erases normal ways of thinking. It may
appear incomprehensible but is effective as it erases any forms of coherent thoughts.”
(Architecture’s New Scientific Foundations,2018)
Because there is no unified whole it means people begin to question and understand the
complexity of the argument.
To understand Post-Modernism, it is needed to understand Modernism.
Modernity otherwise known as the Modern age is defined as post traditional or even post-
medieval. Emancipation which is being set free from legal, social or political restrictions
were specific to things such as the hegemony of Christianity and the consequent, in other
words result of Secularisation.
Post Modernism is hard to talk about due to peoples beliefs but also things such as The
Unreliable Narrator, Just like the Unreliable narrator language can never claim that is exactly
how things truly are and the reason for this is because the narrator’s credibility has been
compromised and this is goes back to Post Structuralism because reading from one man’s
perspective may not be true of all other men if there is a claimed truth. For example,
Sigmund Freud. Also, another huge thing is Language as it is not neutral because it is
reflected on by culture and to provide organisation. Everything is understood by its
opposite, but the problematic part is one side is likely more dominating than the other and
this allows problems like hidden assumptions and presumptions and blind spots and makes
it harder for people to read between the lines as it is bias culturally for example western
ideologies and Capitalism. Also the problem of language being Irreducible so final definitions
are not possible and cannot be trusted and it’s even more difficult when we need language
and meaning cannot be reduced from language from simplification.
Jean Baudrillard Claims that modern society has replaced all reality and meanings with
symbols and signs. so, in turn entertainment, information and the hyper real become more
intense than the normal everyday life that we live. Also that “Postmodernity is said to be a
culture of fragmentary sensations, eclectic nostalgia, disposable simulacra, and promiscuous
superficiality, in which the traditionally valued qualities of depth, coherence, meaning
,originality, and authenticity are evacuated or dissolved amidst the random swirl of empty
signals.” ( A-Z Quotes,2018)
Hyper-Realism, this is an exaggerated comparison to that of reality and could be considered
an artistic representation because of this it can be extremely realistic in detail which is
similar to things such as Photorealism due to its high-level resolution advancement.
Simulacra includes three orders, first it is recognised as an illusion, second the distinction
between the image and representation has been breaking down this can be seen from the
likeliness of mass production or copies that threaten to replace the real world. Then three
when there is no longer any distinction between reality and its representation, there is only
the fake. For example, Pornification, Advertising, Culture in an attempt to become hyper-
real. This is to connote an idea of a better world and provides this saturation of people’s
over-expectations as a consumer. America/Hollywood is advertised as a dream and this
preference to the hyper real causes people to find real life more disappointing.
Simulation, this is an imitation of a situation or real-world process or system it is a deception
and an act of pretending. Borgmann believes that “ An imbalance is emerging whereby
technical information overpowers concrete “reality.” (Pages.gseis.ucla.edu, 2018)
Fake News is a type of yellow journalism or a type of propaganda that has deliberate
misinformation which is spread from broadcast news, social media and traditional print.
The Truman’s show is dismantling the metaphorical and rhetorical structures that are at
work and not in order to not reject them necessarily but to reflect on it as a result of our
own human behaviour reflectivity is massive in terms of Postmodernism.
Christof played by Ed Harris is controlling Truman’s Life like a Reality Show.
Hyper Realism America- Christof’s ideology of a world that he is building is trying to be
hyper real as it is more saturated cleaner and more ‘perfect’ in terms of the way America
advertises itself. He is also in control of how he lives how we are controlled by people in
power who have authority over things like fake news and how our culture begins to act to
these things. This is an image which clearly shows the “idea of every size fits all” with
everyone in this suburbia including the actors live in this copy world but just like history
itself has shown in architecture does not satisfy the consumer forever that is living in this
hyper real world and the reason for this is that whilst it may be seen as at its most pure and
form follows function practicality, when we are aware of things that are not real we can
sometimes be disappointed over the illusion or deceit as you no longer know what to
believe. How can Christof claim this to be the perfect world if he is going with what he
thinks America should be when that is his own perception which is not always true of
everyone else just like the Unreliable Narrator one has more power than the other and
Truman is an example of the Postmodern as he doesn’t agree with this world in the end.
 Fig.1

Simulacra- Truman believes in the world that is presented to him at first and everything
around him is a chosen representation from Christof of someone or something trying to
meet expectations and of course to simply entertain the audience watching not caring
about the expense of artificiality. For example the scene where Truman is sad at the beach
and Christof controls a narrative device being Pathetic Fallacy when the weather reflects the
mood and this is to entertain the audience watching whilst comedically following Truman
everywhere he goes it is only covering Truman causing a focus to its own falseness Christof
is also following guidelines that are expected narrative media codes and this means he is
using a traditional form of film-making which also reinforces this idea of un-originality and
structure being very engrained into what we watch and how it would be uncomfortable not
to have this e.g. uncomfortable to show postmodern film-making and it is not film-making
language we would have been exposed to long enough.
 Fig2.

As the show goes on Truman begins to notice the behind the scenes jobs and the repetition
of his daily life beginning to become not only suspicious but also an unsatisfactory imitation
which cannot substitute for what he truly desires and that is a free world where things are
more real. And as he realises it isn’t real the life he is living his reflectivity begins to come
out in scenes when he is looking in the mirror and breaking the fourth wall to an extent,
another postmodern trait is breaking the structure within the film, a completely improvised
scene by Jim Carrey connoting the fact this world he is in is built around him. Claiming the
planet he has landed on to be called Trumania when he looks straight at the Surveillance
around him this also questions the privacy being excluded and this idea of relativism as the
truth can only be found from more than one standpoint. Scenes start to become more
about Truman’s awareness of this world of chosen representations being forced onto him
and that’s when we start to see the bigger picture.
 Fig3.
There is Product Placement which draws attention to this false reality also as it is a 24hr live
show and this also directs itself at the consumer as well as other little merchandising which
question our consumerism based upon the people producing the content. For example the
badge How’s it going to end?. You could argue this focus on entertainment and this hyper-
real world people are enjoying watching is because the claims of Jean Baudrillard are true
due to this modern society taking the show so seriously it has taken up more of an interest
than there daily lives and also relies on this mass production that uses signs and symbols,
also what Jean Baudrillard claims.

Fig.4
For example, Truman has become a star and the audience as seen above are so committed
to this show they have a pillow of Truman’s face and are clearly more invested in Truman’s
fake life than their own as this icon of Truman has got a meaning for them. And the symbols
being shown to them are influencing their behaviour Passively due to the no breaks in the
show the advertising might not even be noticed as advertising. This could be a critique in
itself by being Post structuralism as there is certain elements a reality show needs to include
and this is questioning why we even have structures like this as it is focusing on the comedy
aspect almost making these mode of address scenes not just reflectivity of ourselves but
also to poke fun at it being pushed in our faces.

Fig.5
Whilst this is the stereotypical representation of advertising there is also much more subtle
hints but again the power over this film set, Christof can position the camera however
needed to get the audience to look where he wants them and working on their
subconscious just like the media does to us on the daily for example This scene where
Truman is pushed up against the billboard another signification we should question the way
in which we live and questioning these things that are traditional is considered Postmodern.
 Fig.6
The idea of a simulation is seen a lot in the Truman’s show especially when Truman is trying
to escape this world, and this is because the repetition of the simulation day to day begins
to break as they find out he is not following his role. For example, when the cars all go in
front of Truman they break they’re routine but still try to remain in character and routine to
not cause suspicion this also causes us to see evidence of predictability and control whilst
this normal queuing everyday process is to keep people enticed and stuck in this world that
has been provided to them and anyone who tries to break this structure is seen as a threat
in other words Postmodernism.
Fig.7
 Fig.8
By Truman becoming more and more aware and the extent of which Christof goes to stop
Truman there is a question of morality and if things have gone way too far and the stairwell
exit provides his escape the ending is left open, we never see what happens to him or where
he goes and whether it is better than this fake life but that’s what postmodernism is it is open
and doesn’t have a set in stone answer as itself it is rhetorical of everything including what
we are specific about this open ending and also the “good evening, good afternoon and
goodnight” Is very direct language that is speaking not just to the audience in the film but you
could argue also the audience watching the film this provides the simulation even more as we
are watching other people watch a show. Jim Carrey’s Exaggeration and linguistic provide a
rather comedic and generalised attitude similar to that of a very fake actor or performer that is
there to fulfil only the role that was given to him in the first place. Which proves as an
example of Postmodernism as Truman you could argue is the Derrida Virus in the sense that
he is trying to seek the Truth his name is also ironic in the sense he is called Truman but
everything this man has been living is false like True-man. And this way of life is true in
terms of some of us. Whilst Truman is deconstructing this false architecture world around
him he is also proclaiming that this ideology Christof has is unstable and is also no longer
being ingested and this allows no unified whole as people are forced to rid of anything
coherent they thought before and questions if we are even capable of a ‘correct’ and valid
reasoning for this behaviour and control as seen in the Truman show and even for the things
we also inherit in our lives that were shown within it. This Nostalgic idea of America
becomes a disposable simulacrum, representation and these traditional values of reality tv and
its meaning and these fragments of cultural sensation as described by Jean Baudrillard are
evacuated by Truman and this. In conclusion it has become evident that Postmodernism
practice is seen in the film The Truman show and includes the research and claims of the
broader subject even to the smallest of details in this text. Christof keeps the reality show
structured in a way that uses traditional film codes and by the ending not having closure
that also evacuates this idea of structure and puts us back in an uncomfortable and more
ambiguous position. And it is also evident that Borgmann’s claims of Hyper reality is
overpowered by technical information and overpowering the concrete reality is that of the
narrative of The Truman’s Show as this technological information that Christof is providing
and using to create this simulation does at first succeed in confusing the meaning of a
concrete reality as technology and non-real simulation is trying to meet our expectations
more than our ordinary life and is becoming more and more advanced and this is what is
causing the audience to use escapism by watching the Truman’s Show but also that they are
aiming for a more real than real approach for example how lots of things that are
composited are edited a certain way, we are told or shown how we should feel or think and
act how we are programmed to and this could be arguable because of this advancement at
creating the imaginary is actually providing a safe haven from reality for example when
Christof says Truman will not have to experience fear where he is. And the technology that
is controlling the world of Seahaven itself is technological providing a kind of VR experience.

Fig.9
This figure shows the moment in which Christof has a Death of the Author feeling and this is
due to him being the director of this world, who cannot create or understand the meaning
of his work as he no longer has control of both Truman and the audience’s interest and the
meaning then falls onto someone else being the destination so in this case the audience.
Because his work has become invaluable for example Roland Barthes says that “every
subject escape, the trap that is already lost, beginning with the very identity of the body
that writes.” (Goodreads.com,2018) Truman has escaped the trap of Seahaven that was
already lost and that all began with Christof and his world creation and this ending forces
Christof to wonder what it was he actually accomplished and also the audience are forced to
try and construct their own closure or meaning which is outside of this structuralised
control that Christof no longer has and so both him and Truman are trying to find that of an
identity and questioning of one’s self and one’s life and provides unanswered questions that
we cannot control causing the text to be very Postmodern as it is free from the restrictions
that were once put upon it and people become frustrated that they cannot pinpoint an
answer or a truth to whether that life could still be considered part of Truman’s reality and
even part of our reality as we are experiencing a consciousness to what we may not have
been so conscious of before like we are Truman and are the same ourselves.
Bibliography-
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at:
http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/709071/22585752/1367372200473/truman-
shower.gif?token=5FT6JNxR3Q3V805joZ4DtHcfYgc%3D
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://sites.psu.edu/aspsy/wp-
content/uploads/sites/8070/2015/04/film_five_most-1.jpg
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://cdn.brightlightsfilm.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/05/5-14-14-truman-show-conforming-houses.jpg
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://vindicatemj.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/the-
truman-show-the-viewers.jpg
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://giveitanudge.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/09/The_Truman_Show_-_Product_Placement_-_YouTube-
1024x572.png
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sTEOrXi0D2I/hqdefault.jpg
Architecture's New Scientific Foundations. (2018). Part 11. The Derrida Virus.
[online] Available at: https://patterns.architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-172779
A-Z Quotes. (2018). TOP 25 QUOTES BY JEAN BAUDRILLARD (of 180) | A-Z Quotes. [online]
Pages.gseis.ucla.edu. (2018). [online] Available at:
https://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/essays/reviewofborgmann.pdf
Slideplayer.com. (2018). “We accept the reality with which we are presented.” - ppt video
online download. [online] Available at: https://slideplayer.com/slide/7926104/
Goodreads.com. (2018). The Death of the Author Quotes by Roland Barthes. [online]
Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/16217337-le-bruissement-de-la-
langue-essais-critiques-4