Truman Show + Related Material

Peter weir’s film “The Truman show” visually communicates his concerns about the power of the media and the impact it has on society and individuals, through the use of many techniques the composer attempts to engage and inform their audience about how through its manipulations the media affects society and individuals. Victor Kelleher uses manipulation of the visual to communicate ideas about his novel “The Ivory Trail” through the book cover.
Peter Weir’s film he Truman show is about how Truman Burbank’s life is being manipulated and is a television reality show. In the opening sequence the main characters in Truman’s life are presented, giving thoughts about what the Truman show means to them. In the introduction, Truman’s wife in the show, his best friend Marlon and Christof the shows director are introduced. Weir uses visual manipulation to show the flow of power within the film. Christof is introduced in a close up shot, with him in centre to show that he has power within the film. Christof also speaks in a very direct tone, while Marlon and Truman’s wife are seen speaking in a very soft and welcoming tone, this is done to show that Christof has the power within the film and to reinforce his superior presence. Also in the opening sequence the shows main character is introduced in a way to highlight the extreme lengths the media is willing to go to in order to maintain its ratings. Truman is seen talking to himself in his bathroom, unaware that he is being filmed through his bathroom mirror, and is being viewed live by a global audience. Through this technique weir is trying to express his concerns about how the media are willing to do anything for ratings, and to highlight the insensitivity it shows towards an individual’s privacy.
In the film The Truman show, weir the director is trying to express his concerns about the power of the media, weir shows how the media can manipulate individuals and change our ideas about who we are and the world that we live