Utopian Characters In The Island And The Truman Show

Michael Bay the director of The Island and Peter Weir whom is the director of The Truman Show both have created films in a utopian theme. The comparison of the two selected films suggest that they each have false relationships connected to family and friends. Michael Bay aims to portray The Island as a fake world and initiate his characters as products instead of humans.

Peter Weir interprets Truman (Jim Carrey) whom is the main utopian character, as a human in which he is but displays him as a product on a reality TV show for the nation to watch. Peter Weir allocates Christof (Ed Harris) to adopt Truman and own him under the TV show. Michael Bay portrayed Dr Merrick (Sean Bean) as the creator of the infirmary and exhibits the birthing suite of the sacks being grown and birthed, in which suggest Dr Merrick is the owner of the products being produced. Christof creates a world for Truman where he loses all forms of individuality. It is as though he is playing a game of chess against Truman in which he is the only one with the book of rules and can move the pieces in a way to guide Truman’s every counter action.

From viewer’s first sight of Truman, he appears to be exactly like all the other paid actors that surround him; he becomes scripted without knowing so. Truman is not aware of it, but Christof has been making every life decision that, in our reality, is up to free will. Truman is not given any options, where there is an unlimited amount of options in our lives that lead us all along different paths. There may be societal guidelines for us to follow, and times where options seem to dwindle, however we are still creating this life for ourselves.

Not only is Truman stripped of his individuality, but he is also literally trapped in Christof’s man-made set barricaded with walls and falls sets with fake clouds, the temperature is manually controlled and rain and sun also. Traveling is so important in understanding the world, and yet Christof makes sure that this is not an option for Truman. At least he knows that there is more out there in the world to see, but every force around him makes it nearly impossible to leave. Often times in life, these outside forces are actually the reason for travel, or we thrive experience and adventure. Truman lacks all adventure in his life.