The Truman Show, when 60% of the US didn't even use the internet, was almost prophetic about our current culture where everyone is their own reality show celebrity.
7 2018-04-21 by AerationalENT
Somewhat similar to 1984...but perhaps a window in time of the transition to the dystopian state rather than the end result.
I'm watching it right now on Netflix and felt this eerie sense of familiarity. Like the movie was loudly trying to tell me something. Actually this was an issue when the movie came out as well and they even named a disorder after it. But I felt like it was really making a statement about the world, not so much myself.
Then it totally struck me that this movie is a perfect allegory for the way everyone lives their lives through social media, and camera phones being EVERYWHERE always watching. Even if you stay away from it, it's affected every modern culture on the planet. It's no secret what social media does to the brain, and how it puts you in your own bubble. This creates a double whammy because not only does everyone go around feeling like a Truman, but to everyone else people who feel like Truman present like actors in the show because they aren't being their true selves.
Being genuine relaxed and letting down your guard is a rare thing these days. What with cameras everywhere ready to catch all your mistakes everyone walks around stiff, with fake smiles. We have become The freaking Truman Show. Creepy.
I originally posted this in /r/showerthoughts but I get auto screened there so I dunno if it will even show up. So I thought, even though I don't necessarily have a specific conspiracy theory about this, it does give me that special conspiracy feeling.
What do you think?
88 comments
1 KidCharlemagne333 2018-04-21
Solipsism and the Hero's Journey have both been around for centuries, it's a deeply ingrained archetype in us, a tool of the ego.
Not saying you're wrong, it is a decent allegory, but our modern solipsism isn't caused by our technology, our technology is the manifest of it already being inside of us, which is where artful-expressions like Truman come from as well.
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
There is a point in the movie where they actually somewhat cover this. When things start to go weird and he's talking with his friend on the bridge, where his friend is like "we all like to imagine we are the center of the universe from time to time..etc" and Truman insists that it's more than that. You also have to just look at the premise. He's living as someone else's unwitting prisoner so they can watch him for entertainment. The premise itself blows way past "is this real...is it a dream" and lets you know first thing, real guy/ fake world. They didn't make that a twist at the end or something, they didn't leave you wondering because "who knows". You know right from the beginning. They also show several moments where the signs that it's fake are almost overly obvious. Like how could he possibly not have noticed yet? Someone else pointed out this line “people accept the reality that they are presented” and I think that is really key.
So I agree and you aren't wrong but there is another element here that is spookily similar to the way things are right now.
1 TheWiredWorld 2018-04-21
Exactly. Like Truman says - in response to the person you're replying to..... It's more than that.
1 iloveyouKT 2018-04-21
this guy 'Jordan Peterson's
1 KidCharlemagne333 2018-04-21
Lol more of a Sam Harris guy, Jordan is too preachy for me.
1 iloveyouKT 2018-04-21
never heard of Sam Harris. For some reason I totally read your comment in a Jordan Peterson preachy voice. He didn't invent Archetype's, but was my first exposure to them (also he discusses Hero Journey a lot).
1 KidCharlemagne333 2018-04-21
You should listen to the podcast they done together, they sort of clash but they get deep into some epistemology, almost annoyingly so lol.
1 iloveyouKT 2018-04-21
I'll check it out! Thanks for the recommendation :)
1 TheWiredWorld 2018-04-21
Care to link? They've both just been on so many that it's hard to know.
1 jennychan_fla 2018-04-21
Yup. The OP lost me when he wrote " when 60\% of the US didn't even use the internet " as if that has anything to do with Truman Show's old message.
1 Step2TheJep 2018-04-21
Can you elaborate on what you mean by this term in this context?
1 KidCharlemagne333 2018-04-21
Basically what the OP is describing, how we use our technology to further retreat into our personal narrative, and reinforceit.
1 grndzro4645 2018-04-21
That is his best movie IMO. A truly great performance.
1 l1bert1n3 2018-04-21
Definitely a great movie. It resonated deeply with me as well.
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
From 96 to 99 he did The Cable Guy, Liar Liar, The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. That was like the golden age of his career as far as movies with a little more depth to them. Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, Ace Ventura.. all great movies but lacking in a certain depth and more just relying on him being hilarious.
Those 5 years are when he was getting some more well rounded parts, not just "Jim Carrey the dancing clown" roles. Me Myself and Irene is also a good movie but I feel like that was where he kinda jumped the shark. From that movie on everything he does just feels very commercial.
1 Winterheadphones 2018-04-21
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind should be on that list too. Great performance and even better movie.
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
Yeah but that was a standout, those other movies were all back to back. That's why I consider that his "golden age" but yeah Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was crazy deep. It was also a very different role for him, it wasn't a comedy at all. Definitely a great movie that showed his range but you wouldn't really bundle it in as a "Jim Carrey movie" if you know what I mean. You could say the same for Cable Guy I suppose but that was more just a dark comedy and people were used to him being zany.
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
While we're on prophecies...
1 WhydoesNASAlie 2018-04-21
I think it’s more literal. They gave it away with the “people accept the reality that they are presented” line. We have no idea who or where we are, much like Truman.
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
Interestingly they cut to the audience watching the show after he gives that line and they are just sorta numbly nodding in agreement.
1 CollectiveHoney 2018-04-21
This is such a good basic point and I’m so happy to see people who admit it and know that WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO OR WHERE WE ARE.
Does anyone else find it interesting that movies about time travel or world in a world ideas always take us to a 1950s “Leave it to Beaver” environment?
Pleasantville, Truman Show, Back to the Future, Planet 51 (literally the alien planet was in the 1950s).
I think this is a literal message not a metaphor (well a metaphor but a blatant one).
NASA lies bc maybe the earth isn’t flat but maybe because it’s so big and this humanity is one of many groups or maybe NASA lies because they don’t want us to see the way we are in a Petri dish.
The likeliness of Zoo Hypothesis grows for me the more I learn about our reality and how the world has been fabricated.
Even the ancient sites are like scenes on a massive SET. The Sphinx and Stonehenge, large mysteries planted on set because “human curiosity needs mystery as well as some confusion to keep the veil over our origins.” Confusion and fear are the necessary ingredients to keep us with Global Stockholm Syndrome. Even the moon- LOOK AT IT- looks like a massive PROP.
In Captain Underpants the Movie there’s a scene where they show a globe and then the letters on the board spell PROP.
Most people live in a mass delusion, including myself until I woke up to it (which was 3 years into my awakening process which is now ongoing and will be until I die)
1 ghettobx 2018-04-21
What nonsense. Everything about your post is drivel.
1 crusadercountjeff 2018-04-21
Ironic
1 tempuserthrowaway5 2018-04-21
Quite.
1 Patataoh 2018-04-21
Well said.
1 th3allyK4t 2018-04-21
Funny you should mention the shynx and Stonehenge. Many don’t recall the Sphinx having ears. And there are too many stones in Stonehenge now. Or perhaps the think statue may look off to you.
You are along the right lines. The world is nothing like we think it is. It’s so much more and it’ll blow your mind if you see it.
1 Dieghoul 2018-04-21
So you woke to flat earth?
Interesting
1 CollectiveHoney 2018-04-21
I do not believe the earth is flat but I do not believe we have good enough reason to believe it is exactly as they tell us it is. I don’t believe anything.
1 Step2TheJep 2018-04-21
This is a terrific post.
1 LurkPro3000 2018-04-21
I'd give him an A for his movie analysis.
Check out Mark Passio's presentations on "The Matrix" and "The Wizard of Oz". Same vein.
1 TheWiredWorld 2018-04-21
This is awesome.
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
I'm glad there is a place we can go where people are actually interested in stuff like this.
1 fairie_poison 2018-04-21
I first saw this movie on quite a few mushrooms and missed the first 10 minutes where they explained that it is a reality show and it really really fucked me up trying to figure out the mystery of what the fuck is going on
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
Lol
1 TaruNukes 2018-04-21
Lmao this would be a good way to see the film (missing the first 10 minutes, not so much the shrooms, lol)
1 cantbeconnected 2018-04-21
Wait, it explained it in the beginning?!?!?!
I watched this as a kid and was so confused until the very end of it. Actually I'm starting to remember pieces of the beginning but I don't think 8 year old me put it together.
This movie has seriously stuck with me through my life though. Its probably why I have dissociation issues.
1 Dieghoul 2018-04-21
Wow only semi watching it one time already marked you
1 fairie_poison 2018-04-21
yeah they totally set it up and the movie would be MUCH stronger without it.
1 Mineshort 2018-04-21
You should checkout Nosedive-Black mirror, its on Netflix too.
1 IQDeclined 2018-04-21
Conspiracy: I also thought this belonged in Shower Thoughts. Illuminati confirmed?
1 Skyzfallin 2018-04-21
They predicted instahos?
1 TTGG 2018-04-21
For similar "showerthoughts", try this sub: r/C_S_T
1 gaslightlinux 2018-04-21
Rewatch the film in terms of reincarnation and the concept of 7 souls.
1 bat_mayn 2018-04-21
I've watched The Truman Show many times, and I've always consider it a horror movie.
1 Step2TheJep 2018-04-21
Did you notice the overt references to illumination?
1 OT-GOD-IS-DEMIURGE 2018-04-21
I think me own realty show and about 9 other regular posters here, would have the best shows, or we'd join forces to make one super mega reality show filed with redpills, we'd sell supplements, solar panels, heirloom seeds, T-Shirts, hire mercenary groups, etc
1 Where-is-my-brain 2018-04-21
Well, that escalated quickly.
1 OT-GOD-IS-DEMIURGE 2018-04-21
Come and join us
1 Where-is-my-brain 2018-04-21
Sure, why not. My first suggestion is that we name the supplements 'The Red Pill'. My second suggestion is making the pills blue to fuck with people.
1 OT-GOD-IS-DEMIURGE 2018-04-21
We can make the blue pills by 100% Colloidal Atomic Estrogen guaranteed to transform your body and mental performance, with extra Glyphosate, Fluoride, Atrazine, big Pharma run off
1 Where-is-my-brain 2018-04-21
Sounds like instant FDA approval to me!
1 samout 2018-04-21
"I think me own realty show"
1 kzrsosa 2018-04-21
When Facebook first came out and MySpace was kinda of a gimmick for teenage girls, I knew then this is all wrong. Specially in a culture that puts a lot of value on privacy where 10 year neighbors may barely know each other's names. I was shocked at people were jumping in on FB. I totally get the connection part with old high school classmates, but it felt so intrusive and potentially offending to some if you didn't want them to be part of their network or whatever.
1 samout 2018-04-21
Youtube in 2007 when registering or typing a comment: "Remember! NEVER give out your real name on the internet. We will never email you asking for your full name, so if you get asked it is likely a phishing attempt".
1 fuster_cluq 2018-04-21
More like Fahrenheit 451 if you ask me
1 wile_e_chicken 2018-04-21
That scene with the can light labeled "Sirius".. whew. https://boxoff.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/1.jpg?w=849
If you want to know more:
Yuga Cycles, Growing Earth, And The Sirius Connection
1 yelloamerikan 2018-04-21
Great observation. I agree, we do live in a "fabricated reality" for certain.
1 EvitaPuppy 2018-04-21
It feels warm, like about 451 degrees...
1 sweetholymosiah 2018-04-21
F
1 EvitaPuppy 2018-04-21
Ray Bradbury I think started with a fear of book burning due to the McCarthy-ism of the time, but now the book is prophetic about citizens being so self absorbed.
1 killadrix 2018-04-21
I’m confused about the connection between everyone having phones and social media and everyone being in their own reality shows.
Thousands of people are around me with phones/cameras and taking pictures every day and I’m not even aware of it. Who cares if I’m in their pictures? Especially since I’ll never know? What difference does it make?
1 asapcodi 2018-04-21
I have no social media with my face connected. I’m not worried about other people’s cameras. I just live my life without focus on social media so there’s no need to put on a guise.
1 Hesperus_LVX 2018-04-21
same
1 op-return 2018-04-21
It was about the flat earth
1 Patataoh 2018-04-21
NASA lies.
1 ptchinster 2018-04-21
Luckily you can prove the earth is round by staying here on earth. The Egyptions even knew this.
1 Patataoh 2018-04-21
No the Egyptians believed in a closed flat system.
1 notthat0ne 2018-04-21
Yes it was but people don't want to hear that. Best quote from the movie
1 joe_jaywalker 2018-04-21
Many movies are. The first line in Gravity is something like "People can't live in space" or something like that.
1 Jaxraged 2018-04-21
What? People are really passive aggressive about “proving” the flat earth. Genius.
1 MrJDouble 2018-04-21
Quality post
1 weeblybeebly 2018-04-21
I get the same feeling when watching this and a lot of other things, like Netflix’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” there’s little things everywhere in that and it feels like it goes beyond the story and it’s as if the writer is trying to tell people something without coming out and saying it.
For Truman Show, I always thought they were pointing to the fact that there’s so much more we don’t know. Truman could have easily lived where he was the rest of his life and never caught on. But it was his noticing little discrepancies and even chancing sounding crazy to his friends and family. In my 30 years of life I’ve witnessed a few things that just seem so much bigger then random happenings. To me, I hear a “keep searching” message to the whole movie.
1 tempuserthrowaway5 2018-04-21
I think you are 100% spot on with this. Any of us who have ever jumped when a stranger has discussed our post history in the grocery store have known it's there. We'd hoped we were imagining things and that the world wasn't really that integrated.
Unfortunately the only cure for it is the same thing that caused it..which is people.
If we can connect with those who love us, it is the only thing to insulate us from those who don't.
1 Winnardairshows 2018-04-21
Never saw it.
1 joe_jaywalker 2018-04-21
The movie in my opinion, as many other Hollywood productions, seemed highly suggestive of an enclosed world under a dome.
1 Step2TheJep 2018-04-21
So you couldn't even sit through a single movie without needing to post on social media.
We're in a lot of trouble.
1 CaseyDafuq 2018-04-21
It's even spookier when you live 10 minutes from Seaside, FL's "Truman house" and walk around the circle over to the exact same Modica Market shown in the film....
1 dukeontheloose 2018-04-21
https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/6m1j3y/til_a_rothschild_was_assistant_director_and/
1 dukeontheloose 2018-04-21
https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/6m1j3y/til_a_rothschild_was_assistant_director_and/
look at this producer/ assistant director
1 AerationalENT 2018-04-21
Yeah. Given that it was a big budget mainstream movie it's less likely that it was a warning and more of a priming. It just struck me while watching it how different things were when that movie came out, but how similar in many ways the movie is to our current way of life.
1 make_mine_veal 2018-04-21
I still think 1984 is way too prophetic. Anytime i bring this off everyone passes it off like its nothing.
1 urkelisblack 2018-04-21
So, I know this isn't r/movies, but before this was released there were several articles about it being rated r. This is a pg film, I've always been curious as to what the cuts are, and the original version and if it had a more sinister tone.
1 kaylashalayla 2018-04-21
life imitates art...
1 Cummcrust 2018-04-21
Social media doesn’t make people stay in a bubble people choose to stay in a bubble. Saying social media is bad because retards stay within an echo chamber is like saying video games cause people to kill.
1 Slab_Happy 2018-04-21
Unemployed weirdos on YouTube I guess.
1 Turpekal_Thrizz 2018-04-21
Its more about television and reality shows. than internet. Internet is the new tv though.