Essay Introduction - The Truman Show

I was supervising an exam recently and thought I'd give one of the essay questions a go. I haven't studied the film (but have seen it), am not an English teacher by definition and have no real idea of the purpose of the Module, but thought I'd challenge myself for 10 minutes.

Conclusion: it was mighty hard! I have been tutoring students for a while now, but not usually Stage 6 students. I did once tutor a very gifted Stage 6 student who ultimately achieved a Band 6 in English Advanced, but this involved hours of preparation each week and days worth of professional learning. I made no money out of the gig but all of my efforts continue to help me in my EAL/D teaching role, so I don't see it as wasted time. You never stop learning, and what you learn is always transferable to other contexts.

Exam essay question:

An engaging text will skilfully blend ideas, language features and form to generate a considered response. 

Discuss this statement, making close reference to your prescribed text.

My attempt under exam conditions (Introduction only):

Peter Weir's careful composition of the film The Truman Show merges conceptual components with language features and form, resulting in a timeless and meaningful text that continues to challenge its viewers. Significant ideas such as the importance of self-actualisation and human liberty are sensitively conveyed via film techniques and narrative structure. Similarly, the insidious nature of deception, verses the refreshing qualities of compassion and integrity, is adeptly highlighted through casting and camera choices, as well as through flashbacks of Truman's past. Of particular profundity is the cautionary element of corporate-driven storytelling which is infused within the film. This connects directly with contemporary viewers, compelling them to question their own voyeuristic tendencies. The final product is a consciously multilayered text that exposes human strengths and weaknesses, leaving an indelible mark on diverse audiences.

Explanation of Introduction:

OK, so I have no idea of the thrust of the Module and just went out on a limb based solely on the question. That's a vital skill in order to achieve anything above a 'C range' result; you must be able to adapt to the question and fashion your repertoire of knowledge under timed conditions. In this case, I had no knowledge, so could not continue writing. But, I had enough knowledge to write the general statements required for an introduction that addresses the question.

The word engaging in the question is significant as it points to audience response. Word choices related to this are red.

The words skilfully and considered response must also be considered when reading the question because they allude to how well the text is composed to meet its purpose. Related word choices are blue.

The word blend is important to address because it describes the interplay between ideas, film techniques and text structure. Related word choices are pink.

References to ideas are bright green. References to language features are orange. References to form are dark green.

Possible approach to Body Paragraphs:

Body Para 1: The concepts of self-actualisation (Truman's search for meaning) and human liberty (Truman's desire for freedom) should drive this paragraph. In terms of film techniques, you could discuss the camerawork which highlights Truman's growing realisation that he is not living the authentic life he thought he was. In terms of narrative structure, you could discuss the rising tension that is created as Truman questions: his inability to travel, the unresolved relationship with his father, etc.

Body Para 2: The idea of deception verses truth should drive this paragraph. In terms of filmic choices, you could focus on the casting of Truman's best friend, as well as his wife, and how their acting styles reveal their disingenuous relationships with Truman. By contrast, the various close-ups of scenes with Lauren convey the intimacy that Truman has rarely experienced in his life. Flashbacks to these scenes, as well as edits that cut to her perspective as a real-life viewer, provide a powerful insight into the alternative role an audience can assume.

Body Para 3: The concept of corporate-driven storytelling should be the focus of this paragraph. You could comment on Christof's detachment from reality as he pursues commercial success. The ethical issues of a person being adopted by a corporation could be discussed in relation the collective culpability of the feckless viewers. The juxtaposition of the various mises en scène with Truman's vivacity serves to expose the detrimental effects of passive media consumption. Make reference to how the film-going audience is taken from a position of being entertained, to experiencing empathy, to feeling elation by the end of the narrative.

Well, that's just a few ideas anyway. I'd have to actually watch the film to fill in the gaps. Also, never lose sight of the question. Just as I have illustrated with the colour-coding, these threads should be woven right throughout your essay. Imagine the colours scattered within each paragraph. Red and blue should feature heavily in your conclusion.

If you are a senior student who has read this entire blog post (and found it helpful), could you please take a minute to leave me a comment? (anonymous or otherwise) I am trying to gauge whether my blog posts appear in search results. I am charged a nominal sum by Google each year, so think they owe me some exposure on the web. Cheers.

Text by Melanie © 2020