The Truman Show and the Surveillance Society

We will be meeting at Southeast Regional Library - Room C!

Join us as we explore the theme's behind The Truman Show (1998) featuring Jim Carrey! Discussion Questions below Movie Summary

Please note: We will not be watching the movie during the event, nor is viewing it beforehand required.

## Brief Summary

The Truman Show follows Truman Burbank, a man unknowingly living inside a massive reality TV production where every aspect of his life is staged and broadcast to the world. As he begins to notice cracks in his seemingly perfect reality, Truman struggles with questions of truth, freedom, and authenticity.

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## Philosophical Discussion Questions:

15 Discussion Questions (Accessible Without Seeing the Movie)

### Identity & Authenticity

1. Truman grows up believing his life is normal, but it’s actually staged—how similar is this to the way we curate ourselves on social media?

2. Just as Truman alters his behavior because he’s unknowingly being watched, how does constant online visibility affect the way we act?

3. Truman doesn’t know which parts of his life are real—do we face the same dilemma when our online identity starts to shape who we are offline?

### Truth & Reality in the Digital Age

4. Truman questions his world when he notices inconsistencies—how do we question what’s real today in an era of deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic feeds?

5. Truman must choose between the comfort of his illusion and the uncertainty of freedom—do we make similar choices when we prefer filtered content over harsh realities?

6. Just as Truman’s reality is constructed by producers, how much is our reality online shaped by algorithms, influencers, and media platforms?

### Surveillance & Control

7. Truman’s entire life is monitored for entertainment—what parallels exist with governments and corporations tracking us in the digital age?

8. The showrunner argues Truman’s confinement keeps him safe and happy—is it the same argument used to justify surveillance and data collection today?

9. If Truman never owned his story, who really controlled his life—and who controls our digital lives and personal data now?

### Society, Media & Spectacle

10. Millions watch Truman’s every move—why are we drawn to influencers, livestreams, and reality shows that turn ordinary lives into spectacle?

11. The audience cheers for Truman but also enables his imprisonment—do we share blame when we consume others’ private lives for entertainment?

12. Some viewers of The Truman Show are numb to the fact that it’s manipulation—does constant exposure to content today make us more aware, or less sensitive, to what’s real?