Examples Of Existentialism In The Truman Show

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In addition, Existentialism forces one to consider the reality of life as a manipulated idea. One is exposed to numerous influences that can determine ones outcome in life. There is much diversity in today’s world which impacts the variety of choices one can make. Upon being born, one is thrust into its harsh reality. The fortune that surrounds this child is merely circumstantial. They may face a loving family, or find themselves neglected or abused. Through that lifestyle, their knowledge is formed by their surroundings, and thus, their views typically reflect those of their family. Because of this, one’s reality consists only of what they know to be true. The reality of life is explained through the 1998 movie directed by Peter Weir entitled…show more content…
Unbeknownst to Truman, his entire existence is being manipulated for the sake of television. Millions of people have been following his every move since he was in the womb, and he has remained oblivious to this. This has left him numb to the world around him. He is still able to make his own choices. Truman’s reality, including his way of life and perspective, has been created, thus influencing how he reacts to the situations put before him. In the movie, the director of The Truman Show, Christof, explains his purpose for creating the show (The Truman Show). He says, “We accept the reality of the world with which we're presented” (“The Truman Show” 1). This statement could not be closer to the truth. Christof understands that by altering Truman’s perception, he comes to believe it. He knows nothing else, so he doesn’t question his existence (ConfoundJR 1). Over time though, Truman does notice the repetitiveness in his world and responds by making his first life-changing choice by escaping from his world at the conclusion of the movie (The Truman…show more content…
Traditional philosophers “tried to produce principles of knowledge that would be objective, universally true, and certain” (Soll 338). Existentialists rejected these ideas stating that there is no universal truth. At this point, one might argue the idea of relativism. Relativism, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “the belief that different things are true, right, etc., for different people or at different times”. Facts are merely based on whether or not you believe in them. In this sense, they cease to be facts, and become opinions In a religious sense, Existentialists “argue that the problem of religious belief is not a problem involving proof or disproof, but a decision, which, like other human decisions, must be made separately by each individual in the absence of conclusive evidence” (Soll 338). This statement would support with the idea of relativism in the respect that absolute truth does not exist. However, there is absolute truth. When an individual looks around, truth surrounds him or her. One universal truth that has been disputed for years is the existence of God. To acknowledge God’s existence, first, one has to possess faith. Faith makes it possible, to believe in the impossible. Without faith, the belief in God could not withstand over 2,000
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