Newsgroup: it.arti.cinema
Titolo: Theology of Truman Show

In Search of True Man:
A Theological Analysis of the Truman Show
by Brian G. Toews
Introduction
  What does it mean to be truly human?	This is one of the most enduring
questions that mankind must wrestle with.  From theologians and philosophers
to the average man on the street, this question begs to be answered in the
human heart.  In the recent movie The Truman Show, screenwriter Andrew Niccol
and director Peter Weir have created a movie which touches on this question
and provides a definite and clear answer to it.  The Truman Show Web page
(
www.trumanshow.com
) suggests that the movie is a "perverse mirror of
millennium America" and that it "speaks directly to our innermost fears and
frustrations."	Truman is preyed upon, trapped in his own life, penned in by
his surreal existence in which he if forced to spend his life (from
www.trumanshow.com
) Also, most reviews of The Truman Show interpret it in
light of television's power over its viewers.  Although on the surface level
this seems to be the case, on a deeper level it seems that Andrew Niccol and
Peter Weir leave a more powerful theological message for the viewer
(intentional or not).  That the movie Gattica (another film written by Andrew
Niccol)  had a opening quotation from Ecclesiastes suggests that Niccol is
able and willing to present his theological ideas in his movie scripts.  This
essay will interpret The Truman Show from two narrative perspectives.  First
the perspective of the characters within the story and second from the
perspective of author to movie-watcher.  Finally, a biblical response to the
theological message of The Truman Show will be supplied.
The Truman Show from Christof to the Television Viewers
  In the many reviews of the movie much has been made of Christof as a
God-like figure.  This may be true in one sense, however, the role that
Christof plays as director of The Truman Show suggests that he plays a
different role, that of evangelist.  It is obvious that names play an
important interpretive role in the movie.  The name Christof is derived from
a Greek word christopher which means "he who brings Christ."  Christof has
created his television show to bring a messiah figure to viewers of the
world.	Truman whose name is a contraction of true + man is the
quintessential man. (I have not chosen gender neutral terminology because the
screenwriter does not)	In the same way that the New Testament presents Jesus
Christ as the second Adam, the perfect and ideal representation of man, so
Truman is presented in his utopian town of Sea Haven as the true man.  Sea
Haven is an edenic-like world which provides a safe haven from the lies and
evils of the "real" world.  Christof's desire for conception to take place
between Truman and his wife suggests that not only does Christof want the
first on-air conception for ratings sake, but also to create a second
generation of true man.  It seems that Christof desires to repopulate Sea
Haven with the offspring of Truman, thus replacing actors with an actual
utopian society.  The appeal to the television viewers is that the world
looks to messianic figures who can provide a glimpse into an idealic world
through their message and hopefully through their actions.  The Truman Show
is not just "good" television, it is the presentation of the good news to
modern (or, post-modern) man.  The Truman Show does not simply demonstrate
the power of television over the lives of its viewers, but the power of the
messianic dreams of people who live in a world of lies and evil.  The world
wants to be truly human in a perfect world.
The Truman Show from Niccol and Weir to the Movie-Watchers in the Theater
  At a different level The Truman Show has a different message to the
movie-goer.  In contrast to the message of The Truman Show to the
television-viewer in the movie, which is a perfectly positive message, the
message of The Truman Show (that is, the movie) to the movie-goer is a
negative one.  In this sense, Christof serves the role of the Creator.	For
example, when Christof introduces himself to Truman, his voice is heard from
the clouds of heaven, "I am the Creator (long pause) of a television show." 
The apparently intentional pause indicates that Christof is being portrayed
in the movie as a God-like figure who has created Truman's world and has
adopted Truman as his only and unique son.  The true man is the son of god. 
For the movie-goer Christof and his Truman Show present a paradox - how can
Christof love Truman as his one and only son, providing him with every good
thing, and at the same time trap him, take away his freedom, and force his
will upon Truman.  In light of this it appears that The Truman Show movie is
a commentary on the age old question of theodicy - How can God be good and
sovereign and allow evil to run its course against humanity?  Actor Ed Harris
recognizes the paradox in Christof, whom he plays in the movie.  Harris
explains the personality of Christof, "I don't think he's necessarily
villainous.  He's raised Truman essentially since he was born.	He cares
about him on a certain level.  But he also cares about his television show -
the show is his life.  He's a complex fellow - a bit of a director, a god,
and a father ..." (From The Truman Show Web site; italics mine).  Christof
plays the role that God has in the biblical book of Job.  On the one hand God
blessed Job with everything; but then God ruins Job to show that he is worthy
to be served by Job.  Truman, then, takes on a Job-like persona.  Like the
biblical Job, Truman is attacked, hedged in, and afflicted by the creator. 
Job does not understand why and the biblical text of Job never explains why,
only that the Creator wanted to know if Job would still serve him after he
had destroyed his life.  Unlike the book of Job which does not answer the
theodicy question, The Truman Show answers it very clearly.  The movie's
complex usage of good and evil can be seen in two important relationships he
has.  These relationships are Truman's relationship between Lauren and his
relationship with his best friend, Marlon.  Lauren is the woman of wisdom who
first introduces Truman with the truth that his life is a staged production
and not reality.  She ironically serves as the Eve figure in the movie, as
the source of the knowledge of good and evil for Truman.  In addition to
this, she is the enemy of Christof.  However, instead of being viewed
negatively as the biblical account does of Eve's actions, she is the heroine
of the story.  Marlon ironically serves as the Judas figure in the movie, in
the sense that he betrays his friendship to Truman as he parrots Christof's
words, "I will never lie to you, Truman."  In the biblical account Judas is
the embodiment of evil, because he betrays the Son of God.  In The Truman
Show Marlon lies to Truman and becomes the embodiment of evil.	However, he
serves Christof, the creator.  The question that overshadows the movie comes
from Lauren's pin, "How is it going to end?"  The question suggests both an
unknown conclusion and a goal to Truman's life..  The climax of the movie
answers this question very clearly.  In the end the significance of The
Truman Show (the televsion show) and The Truman Show (the movie) converge
into one single message.  Truman stands at the door of the world created by
Christof.  The voice of the creator beckons him to stay in his utopian world
and escape the lies and evils of the "real" world.  The television-viewer and
movie-goer watch in great anticipation as to what Truman will do.  The love
of Truman's "father" is not enough to hold him in Sea Haven.  Truman's
freedom from Christof and the manipulations of his life is more important to
him than life in his idealic world.  Truman rejects the words of his creator
and leaves Sea Haven.  At this the world television audience shouts in
jubilation because Truman is free.  This same sentiment is felt by the
movie-goer.  In the end the message of The Truman Show is that the only way
to be a true man is to be free from the Creator.  The answer to the theodicy
question is that although God may appear to be doing good for his creatures,
his good is tainted with evil.	His sovereign rule is laced with evil
motives, which crushes man's spirit, desires, and dreams.  The only way for
man to escape into freedom is to reject the word of the creator and his
perspective of the real world.	Man's independence from the Creator is the
only path for mankind to be truly human.  Andrew Niccol began the movie
Gattica with Ecclesiastes 7:13, "Consider the work of God; for who can
straighten what he has made crooked."  Niccol's answer to that thought is
that only man in his freedom from the Creator can straighten out his life and
correct what God, the crook, has crookened.
A Biblical Perspective of True Man
  It is fascinating that the theology of Genesis 1-3 is as true and relevant
today as it has been since the beginning of time.  The Truman Show is the
antithesis of Genesis 3, the book of Job, and gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Genesis 3 teaches that man rebels against the good Creator by rejecting the
good world and word of the Creator and by fashioning his own path of
existence.  It is the ultimate example of wisdom versus folly.	The wisdom
instruction of Genesis 1-3 is to worship and serve the Creator by listening
to his voice.  This will bring man's good and eternal life.  This is what it
means to be truly human.  The folly of man fashioning his own wisdom is that
he does not and cannot satisfy himself with the good, but instead brings upon
himself disaster and death.  In the book of Job the attack of Satan, the
adversary, is portrayed as a challenge to the integrity of God and the
integrity of Job.  The adversary doubts the worthiness of God to be served
unreservedly.  He also doubts the motives of Job's service to God.  The book
of Job, among other things, sets out to demonstrate that both God and Job can
maintain their integrity.  The climactic chapters of the book, Job 38-42,
reveal that Job will indeed listen to the voice of the Lord and serve him,
even when all has been removed from him by the Creator.  Job truly fears God
for who he is alone, and not for any blessing from his hand.  In this Job
demonstrates that he is a true man.  These chapters also reveal that God's
wise governance of the creation is far beyond man.  If man cannot understand
the creation which is right before him, how could he ever begin to fathom the
depths of the Creator (if it were not for revelation from him)?  Certainly,
such an all-wise and all-powerful Creator is worthy of all glory, and honor,
and praise.  Finally, the gospel of Jesus Christ demonstrates that he is the
true man.  Philippians 2:7-8 explain that Jesus Christ "made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death
- even death on a cross." (NIV) Once again, true humanity is defined in terms
of humble service to the Creator.  Jesus Christ listened to the voice of his
heavenly father and humbly served him and all humanity by obediently going to
the cross to bear mankind's sin and to bear the judgment of God for that sin.
 This is true humanity.
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

In Search of True Man:
A Theological Analysis of the Truman Show
by Dr. Brian G. Toews


by Brian G. Toews
Non fatevi ingannare: due terzi della rece di questo tizio valgono
bene la pena di essere letti.
L'ultimo terzo... ho gia' mandato a chiamare Bernardo Guy.
Quiz teologico: chi trova l'assioma sbagliato di tutto questo
discorso?
R.
Buon sardo non mente
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