They Are Often Part of Other Arguments

Advanced Composition Assignment #3 Rough Draft due Thurs. June 12 Truman Show 1000 words

Write an essay in response to the Truman Show. Select one of the topics below or write about a topic of your choice (with my approval). Your essay should include at least one of the following types of arguments, and it may contain a combination. Remember, any claims you make (e.g. Like Truman, we are manipulated with fear perpetuated by media that is as pervasive and powerful as the artificial set of Truman’s life) with supporting evidence (e.g. give examples from the film and from current society). a causal argument. (Arguments that begin with a stated cause and then move to an examination of one or more of its effects. e.g. Truman became a human being with no rights due to network-controlled conditions and actions including …)

 They are often part of other arguments.  They are almost always complex.  They are often definition based.  They usually yield probable rather than absolute conclusions.

Your essay may be an argument of definition (e.g. Christof is very much like God in the film because he, like a God, is …):

 a claim involving a question of definition  an attempt to establish a general definition acceptable to readers (e.g. what is a God)  an examination of the claims in terms of the accepted definition and all its conditions  evidence for every part of the argument  a consideration of alternative views and counter-arguments  a conclusion, drawing out the implications for the argument.

An argument of evaluation (e.g. The modern mall is less sinister than Seaview because ….)

 Formulating Criteria by which to compare--choose criteria you can defend.  Making Claims--use a direct evaluative claim, carefully qualified.  Presenting Evidence--carefully choose and present evidence from the film and from societal situations

Select one of the following topics or develop one of your own (with my approval):

 When Truman finally figures out the world in which he lives is a “lie,” he wants only to escape from the false world. How are our lives like Truman’s in this way? Do we live in a “false world” and how do we, or don’t we, attempt to escape from it?

 Argue how the film shows the journey from naivety to knowledge and truth.

 Is Christof God? How is he like/unlike God?

 The film contains a great deal of Christian symbolism. Analyze some of that symbolism and explain how it helps convey the film’s themes.

 The Truman Show is an allegory for the human condition. Truman is the True Man or Everyman. Argue how the film creates this metaphor.  Some have called the film an indictment of conformity. Argue for or against this with evidence from the film.

 The Truman Show has been called an example of “film noir.” Find a definition of film noir and show whether this movie does or does not fit into the definition.

 "I've lived on either side of this incredible growth spurt of the media monster over the last 20 years, and you can handle it if you know what life was like before. But you have to wonder about the kids who've grown up completely wired by this. I'm not making judgments about what's good or bad for them to see, but simply the bombardment of their senses and their brain all the time. You wonder what it's doing to their perception of what we call reality." (Peter Weir, director) How has television, and the media in general, shaped who we are and our view of reality?

 Is there a distinction between the film audience and the onscreen audience? How are they alike and different?

 How is the film about innocence and betrayal?

 In some ways Truman is treated like a pet. Truman is loved, taken care of, maintained physically, allowed to have a wife, but does he have any rights?

 Just what Is entertainment? What one person sees as entertainment another person may see as dumb, evil, dangerous, funny, essential, tragic or a stupid waste of time. McCluhan said about art. "Art is anything you can get away with." We can say the same thing about entertainment in our world. Has entertainment become anything they can get away with? Write about the Truman Show as entertainment “you can get away with.”

 The Truman Show came out many years prior to reality shows, but there are many similarities. Compare the Truman Show to current reality shows and argue how they are similar and dissimilar, addressing the issue of why this form of entertainment is so appealing to us today.

 One of the prime methods used to manipulate Truman is fear. Truman's fears are created to provide a method to control him. Show how this is done in the film, then argue whether the media in our world also uses fear to control us.

 Truman’s home of Seaview is a façade of seeming perfection and harmony: beneath the façade are deceptions and surveillance. Compare a contemporary mall to Seaview in terms of the illusion of affluence, the underlying surveillance system, deception, etc.

 “The national entertainment state has cocooned our experience, as an insect swaddles its prey.” (Stuart Klawans) Respond to this quote in relation to the Truman Show.

 Christof says in the film, “It's all true. It's all real. Nothing here is fake. Nothing you see on this show is fake. It's merely controlled.” Write an essay responding to Christof’s comments.

The transcript of the Truman Show is available online at http://www.un- official.com/Truman/TrumanShow.html.

Please include a citation in MLA format for any sources you use.