以存在主义理论为框架分析电影《楚门的世界》

IntroductionResearchonTheTrumanShowhasattractedagreatdealofattention.Someareexplorationsoftheindividual’sprocessofself-explorationundersocialcontrol,whileothersanalyzetherelationshipsbetweenthecharacters,arguingthattheserelationshipsplayanimportantroleintheformationoftheirself-identity.ByanalyzingTruman'sprocessofself-explorationthroughthreetheoreticaltermsofexistentialism—freedom,absurdity,andchoice.Thisthesisenablesadeeperunderstandingofhowkeydialogueshaveexistentialinfluencesonself-discovery.Thisthesisisdividedintothreechapters.Thefirstchapterintroducestheplotofthemovie,informationaboutthecharacters,andanalysisofdomesticandinternationalstudiesonthemovie,layingthefoundationforthelaterexploration.Thenexttwochaptersexploretheimpactofkeydialoguesonthecharactersbyanalyzingthedialoguesofthemaincharactersandcombiningthethreecoreconceptsofexistentialism,andconcludetheimportanceoflanguageintheinnerchangesofthetaskandtheindividual’sself-exploration.Thus,thisisthefirsttimethatexistentialphilosophyhasbeenanalyzedthroughdialogictextsasafigurativeexpressioninfilmandpromotesadeeperunderstandingoftheindividual’ssituationinmodernsociety.

1.AnOverviewoftheFilmTheTrumanShow1.1ThePlotofTheTrumanShowTheTrumanShowisadramafilmdirectedbyPeterWeirandreleasedin1998.Ittellsusthestoryofthemaincharacter,Truman,whoescapesafalseworldinpursuitofrealexistenceandfreedomofchoice.TrumanBurbankischosenfromsixchildrenforadoption,adoptedbyOmnicomTelevisionProductions,andbecomesthestarofaglobally-anticipatedrealityTVshow,spendingthefirstthirtyyearsofhislifetrappedinahugestudiocalledSeahaven.Unawareofallthis,hethoughthewaslivinganordinarymiddle-classlifewithasteadyjobandaseeminglygoodwife.However,everyonearoundhim,fromhisparentsandwife,tohisfriendsandcolleagues,andeveneverypasserbyonthestreet,areallprofessionallytrainedactors.TheyfollowacarefullywrittenscriptthatcentersaroundTrumaninonefalsebutseeminglyreal-lifesceneafteranother.Everymomentofhislifeisrecordedbymorethan5000camerashiddenineverycornerandbroadcastlivetotheworld.EachstepinhisgrowthjourneyismethodicallyunfoldedunderacarefullyscripteddirectionofdirectorChristof.TheSeahaven,wherehelives,appearstobeabeautifulseasidetown,butinreality,itisagiganticscenariowhereeventheweather,seabreezes,andwavesarepreciselycontrolled.Achanceencounterwithhisfather,whohaslongsince“drowned”,bringsTrumantothestreet.Atthatmoment,hismemoriesanddoubtsabouthispastcomefloodingback.However,beforehehastimetothinkaboutit,hisfatherisforciblytakenawaybytheworkers.ThissuddenscenariocausedTrumantobegintohaveahintofdoubttheworldhelivedin.Astimegoeson,thedoubtsinTruman’smindgrowstronger.Hebeginstonoticemoreandmoreanomaliesinhislife.Forexample,everymorningwhenhegoesout,heseesthesamepeopleandthesamecarsappearingatthesametimeandinthesameplace;inhisweddingphotographs,hiswifemakesagesturethatrepresentsalie;andhestumblesintoplaceshenevergoesinto,onlytorealizethatthosearesimplyconstructedsetsandtoseetheworkershidingbehindthem.Truman’sfirstlove,Sylvia,isakeycharacterinhelpingTrumanrevealandescapethefalseworld.SheisdiscoveredbyChristofwhensherevealsthetruthtoTrumanandisimmediatelyterminatedfromtheshowandmadeunabletoseeTrumanagain.AlthoughsheispreventedfromhavingcontactwithTruman,shecontinuestokeepaneyeonhimoutsideoftheshow.ThehintsthatSylviagavehimhavebeenguidingTruman’squestforthetruth,andtheseeventscauseTruman’sinnerdesireforthetruthgrowsstronger,andhedecidestogoonaquesttofindtherealworld,despitethestrangestaresofthosearoundhim,andhisdecisiontriggersapanicinChristof,whocreatesnaturaldisastersandman-madeobstaclesinordertotrytomakeTrumangiveupontheideaofescaping—Truman’sfirstattempttodriveawayfromSeahaven,a“roadconstruction”signedsuddenlyappearsontheroad,sothathechangehisroute,andaradiobroadcastofaleakatthenuclearpowerplantcauseshimtogiveuponhisescape.ThesecondtimeTrumantriedtoleavebyplane,butistoldthattheplanehasbeencanceledforvariousreasons.HekepttryingbutisunabletoescapetheobstaclesthatChristofhasplacedinhisway.Despitethemanyfailuresofhisescapeplan,Trumandoesnotflinch.Withhistenaciouswillanddesireforfreedom,hecreatedamoresophisticatedplan.Hesailsouttoseaasusual,skillfullyescapingtheworker’ssurveillanceontheway.WhenChristofdiscoveredTruman’strueintentions,hehastheworkercreateaviolentstorm,butTrumanisundauntedandfightstenaciouslythroughthestorm,hiseyesshowingdeterminationandresolvetoescapethefalseworldandfindhistrueself,nomatterhowmanydifficultieshefaces.TrumanfoughttenaciouslyagainsttheseobstaclesandfinallymadeittotheedgeofSeahaven—thedoortotheworldbeyond.Whenhetouchedthatdoor,Christofconfessedeverythingtohimovertheradio,revealedthetruthabouthisthirtyyearsoflife,includingthefalsenessofhislife,theidentityoftheactorsaroundhim,andmore.ChristoftriedtopersuadeTrumantostay,toldhimthattheoutsideworldisfullofliesanddeception,andisnotasgoodasthisfalseworldheisin,andheemphasizedthatheknowshimselfbetterthanTrumandoes,andthatinthisplaceTrumanissafeandthecenterofattention.However,TrumanwasnotswayedbyChristof'swords.Herepliedfirmly,“Youneverhadacamerainmyhead.”(01:33:17.36).Heturnedtothehiddencameraintheskywithhisstandardsmileandthenbowedandsaid,“Goodmorning,goodafternoon,andgoodnight”(01:34:53.31),beforeturningandwalkingthroughthedoorthatleadstotherealworldandfreedom.Truman’sdeparturewasnotonlyaquestforfreedom,butalsoanawakeningandexplorationofhisownexistence.Throughhisownexplorationandperseverance,hebreakstheconfinesofafalselifeandbeginsareallifejourneyofhisown.1.2IntroductiontotheProtagonistTrumanBurbankisthecentralcharacterofthefilm,theprotagonistofamajorrealityTVshow,andhehasbeenlivinginacarefullyconstructedfakeworld,Seahaven,sincehewasborn.Everythinghere,fromtheskyandtheoceantothestreetsandthehouses,isfalsescenariocraftedforhim.Heiskind,simpleandoptimistic,andheisfullofgoodwillandenthusiasmforeveryoneandeverythingaroundhim.Despitelivinginamanipulatedworld,hestillmaintainshisloveoflifeandcuriosityabouttheunknown.Hisheartisfulloflongingforfarawayplaces,andhelongstoexploretheoutsideworld.However,Trumanhasaninstinctivelongingfortherealworldwithinhim,andhiscuriositydriveshimtoquestiontheworldhelivesin.Whenherealizesthattherearemanydoubtsinhislife,hebeginstoponderthenatureofexistence.Trumaninthisabsurdworld,hedidnotchoosetocontinuethiscomfortablebutnumblife,hisheartlongsforfreedom,hehasastrongspiritofresistance,hedisregardedhowbeautifulthecomfortzonecreatedforhimbyChristofwas,hestillbravelyandfirmlychosetofindtherealselfandtherealworldofthejourney.Hischoiceisnotonlyanescapefromthefalseworld,butalsoarevoltagainstthefatedefinedbyothers.Herejectsthisfalsedefinitionthatiscontrolledandimposed,andinsteadchoosestoexploreanddefinethemeaningofhisexistencethroughhisownactions.Truman’spursuitoffreedomwasunconditional,andhedidnotflincheveninthefaceofunknownfearsandpossibledangers,forwhichheevenovercamehisfearofseawater.Whenhefinallywalksoutofthedoorthatsymbolizesthewaytotherealworld,hiseyesarefullofdeterminationandcourage.Thischoiceofhisisnotonlyacontrolofhisowndestiny,butalsoanaffirmationofhisfreewill.Truman’simageissublimatedatthismoment.Heisnolongerthelittlemanatthemercyoffate,butbecomesaherowhocangiveupeverythingforfreedom.Hisexperienceconveystotheaudiencethepreciousnessandvalueoffreedom,andencouragespeopletobravelypursuefreedomwithoutbeingboundinreallifeaswell.1.3StudiesofTheTrumanShowatHomeandAbroadIn2001,Marie-LaureRyancomparedTheTrumanShowandSurvivor,introducedthepostmoderntheoryandputforwardthesignificanceoftherelevantinquiryquestions,respectivelyanalyzingthecharacteristicsofTheTrumanShowintermsofmedianarrativeandnatureoftheprogram,aswellasSurvivorintermsofprogramform,narrative,subject,audiencementality,andparticipantinfluence.Bycomparingthedifferentwaysofpresentingrealitybetweenthetwo,ittriggersareflectiononthephenomenonofrealitybecomingalandscape(2-11).In2011,ChristopherFalzonpublishedhisdissertation,whichcentersontheconnectionbetweenPeterWeir’sTheTrumanShowandSartre’sexistentialism,focusingonthecoreofindividualfreedom,analyzingtheSatrethemesembodiedinthefilmfromtheperspectivesofindividualfreedom,freedomandGod,andfreedomandtheothers,andpointedoutthatTruman’squestforself-determinationinthefaceofexternalinfluencesandconstraints,aswellashisaffirmationoffreedomhassimilaritiesanddifferenceswithSartre’sexistentialism.WhilerecognizingtheinfluenceofthesocialenvironmentonTruman,therelationshipbetweenfreedomanddecisionisnotproperlyaddressed,whichissimilartothelimitationsofSartre’searlyexistentialism(17-32).FernandoCanetexploredhowcharactersandnarrativestrategiescanelicitemotionalresponsesfromtheaudienceandthedifferencesincharacterengagementbetweenmoviesandtelevisionseries.Inthemovie,duringtheepisodesofTruman’sconversationwithMaloneandthereturnofhisfather,themeta-audience(thosewhowatchtheTVprograminthemovie)andthegeneralaudience(thosewhowatchthemovieTheTrumanShowoutsideofthemovie)generatedifferentemotionalresponsesbecauseoftheirdifferentintellectualbackgrounds,andChristof’smanipulationalsoinfluencestheaudience’semotions’andintheeventofTruman’seventualescapefromSeahaven,hesucceedintriggeringthemeta-audience’spleasure,andtheaudiencebuildsacloserelationshipwiththecharacterthroughouttheprocess,andatthesametimereflectsthedifferencesbetweenthemovieandtheTVseriesintermsofcharacterinvolvementduetothedifferentlengthsoftime,whichinturnproducesdifferentemotionalexperiences(35-46).FangJingzhipointedoutthatTrumanBurbank’sconfinementtoafalseworldispathetic;directorChristof’suseoftherealityTVshowasamajorsourceoffunding,andhistreatmentofTrumanas“acashcow”ispathetic;andthemanipulationoftheactors’performancesinthefalseworldarealsopathetic.Itisalsosadthattheactorsinthefakeworldaremanipulatedtoperform.ThepurposeofthispaperistoillustratethecomplexityoftheintertwiningoftruthandfalsehoodbyanalyzingthesadnessofthedifferentcharactersandthereasonsforTruman’squestforfreedom(56-57).WangKeandJiangShenganalyzedtheclassicfilmTheTrumanShowastheobjectofanalysisintheirdissertation,thefilm’suniquefilmingtechniques,theplotconceptionoftheuniquealsocombinedwiththephilosophicalthoughtofhumanismshowsthedirector’ssatireontherealityofthesocietyaswellasthecontrastbetweenthetrueandthefalse.ItaimstoinspirepeopletobelikeTruman,whohasthedeterminationtopursuefreedomandthecouragetofacechoices(324).Ingeneral,domesticstudiesofTheTrumanShowaremainlybasedonanalyzingthesituationofdifferentcharactersinthefilm,theuniquewayoffilmingtheprotagonist’sexplorationofthetrueandfalseworld,andcombiningwiththephilosophicalthoughtofhumanismtofurtheranalyzethedifferencesbetweentherealandthefalselives.Foreignstudiesmainlystartfromthesituationoftheprotagonistandanalyzetheimportanceoftheindividual’spursuitoffreedomaswellasrealexistencefromtheperspectiveofexistentialism.Thedifferenceconsistsinthatforeignstudiesfocusmoreonanalyzingtheprotagonist,whiledomesticscholarsaremoreinclinedtoanalyzetheimpactoftheparticipationofindividualcharactersonthewhole2.ASketchofExistentialistTheory2.1OriginandDevelopmentofExistentialismExistentialismoriginatedinDenmarkinthe19thcenturyandflourishedafterWorldWarI.Existentialismdevelopedaspeopleexperiencedthedevastationofwarandsocialupheaval.Existentialismemphasizestheexistenceoftheindividual,thesubjectiveconsciousnessoftheindividual,andthesignificanceofchoice.AfterWorldWarII,existentialismoccupiedanimportantpositioninFrenchthought,andthenexistentialismgraduallyspreadandintermingledwithliterature,art,psychologyandotherfield.Inliterature,the1940sand1950sweretheflourishingperiodofexistentialistliterature,withSartre’sLaNauseaandCamus’sL’Etrangercenteringonabsurdity,freedom,andloneliness,andspreadingthroughoutEurope.Jean-PaulSartrewasakeyfigure,emphasizinginExistentialismisaHumanismthat“existenceprecedesessence”(7)andthatonlywhenapersonexistsandemergescanheorshecreateanessenceforhimselforherselfaccordingtohisorherownchoices(7).2.2MainTermsTherearethreecoretermsthatarecrucialinexistentialisttheory.“ControlandFreedom”arethecoreofexistentialism’sethicalframework,onlybyrefusingtobecontrolledcanapersonbefreetochoosehisorherownbehaviorandwayoflife.“AbsurdityandSpiritofRebellion”istherecognitionandcognizanceofrealityandfalsehood.Thereisanirremovablecontradictionbetweenhumanbeingsandtheworld,whichgivesrisetoabsurdity,butexistentialismencouragespeopletorebelagainstabsurdityinordertogainmeaningfortheirexistence.“Choiceandthemeaningofself-existence”isthekeytoexistentialism.Choiceisnotonlyapersonalchoice,butalsothechoiceofallmankind,anditisonlybytakingresponsibilityforone'sownchoicesthatonewillbeabletofindthevalueoftrueexistenceinthecontinuouschoices.2.2.1ControlandFreedomInexistentialism,theworldisfullofuncertainty,findingneitherareasonforexistencenorawayoutofitspredicament.Thisuncertaintyshattersthesenseofcontrollabilityovertheworldthatpeopletraditionallyperceive.Moreover,traditionalvaluesandbeliefsystemsaregraduallybeingquestionedinthemodernera.Inthepast,peoplemightlooktoreligionorsocialethicsforstandardsandmeaningsofbehavior,however,existentialismpointsoutthattheseso-calledstandardsdonotfullycontrolpeople’sthoughtsandbehaviors.Thisisbecausewhenthesevaluessystemsarere-examined,onerealizesthattheyhavelimitationsandcannotprovideanabsolute,dependableframeworkforindividuals.Existentialismbelievesthattheredoesnotexistanabsolutepowertocontroleverythingabouthumanbeings,andbecauseofthis,humanbeingsarefreeandcannotbecompletelymanipulated.InExistentialismisaHumanismtranslatedbyZhouXuliangandTangYongkang,itissaidthathumansarefree,withoutGod,aloneandwithoutdependence(34).Existentialismemphasizesthatpeoplehaveabsolutefreedominthisseeminglydisorderlyworld,andthisfreedomisembodiedintheshapingoftheindividual—“existenceprecedesessence”(Sartre,7).Freedominexistentialismisnotthetransformationofnaturalknowledgeandtheobjectiveworld,buttheexperienceofindividualsubjectivity;itisnotthedefinitionofafixedessenceatbirth,butthefreedomtochoosethecharacteristicsonepossessesandthekindofpersononebecomes.2.2.2AbsurdityandSpiritofRebellionExistentialismbelievesthattheworldisabsurd,andthisabsurdityisreflectedintheillogicalityandincomprehensibilityoftheworld.InSartre’sLaNausea,Roquentin,feels“nausea”ateverythingaroundhim.This“nausea”comesfromhisdiscoverythattheexistenceoftheworldisaccidentalandgroundless;hesawthedisorderedshapeoftherootsofatreeinthesoil,andrealizedthattheexistenceofthingsasalsoanexpressionoftheabsurdinexistentialism.AlbertCamusoncesaidinTheMythofSisyphusthat“Theworldevadesusbecauseitbecomesitselfagain,thatstagescenerymaskedbyhabitbecomeswhatitis.Itwithdrawsatadistanceformus.Justonething:thatdensenessandthatstrangenessoftheworldistheabsurd.”(18)ForCamus,absurdityarisesfromthegreatdiscrepancybetweenman’srationalexpectationsandthedisorderoftherealworld.Peoplealwayssubconsciouslybelievethattheireffortswillberewardedaccordingly,buttheworldoftenbreaksthisexpectationandrealityconstitutesanimportantpartoftheabsurd.SartrementionedinExistentialismisaHumanismthathumanbeingsactoutoffreechoice,sotheyhavetotakeresponsibility,notonlyfortheconsequencesoftheirbehavior,butalsoforthekindofpersontheybecome.Thisfreechoiceisinfactarebellionagainstexternalconstraints.Sartrebelievesthatpeoplecanchoosedifferentpathsbytheirownwill(11),andheopposestheviewthatpeopleareregardedasapassiveandmanipulatedobject.Thespiritofrebellionistobreakthroughthisconfinement,tomakedecisionsbravelyaccordingtoone’sownwill,andthisspiritofrebellionisnotblinddestruction,itisbasedonthedeepcognitionofthesignificanceofone’sownexistence,anditistodeterminethevalueofone’sownexistencebyrebellinginameaninglessworld.2.2.3ChoiceandtheMeaningofPersonalExistenceInthetheoreticalframeworkofexistentialism,choiceoccupiesanimportantposition.SartreproposedinBeingandNothingnessthat“peoplearefree,peoplearefreedom”(581),revealingtheessentialattributeofpeopleunderexistentialism——freechoice,inSartre’sview,peoplearenotborntobedeterminedbyacertainessence,butshapeshimselfinconstantchoice.Undertheexistentialistperspective,theworldisregardedasabsurdanddisordered,andhumanbeingshaveabsolutefreedominsuchanenvironment.Thisfreedomimpliesthathumanbeingshavetherighttochooseinthefaceofallkindsofsituations,butthisfreedomisnotwithoutconstraints,andeveryonehastobeartheresponsibilityforhisorherownchoices.Inshort,choiceinexistentialismisthekeyforindividualstoconstructthemeaningandessenceoftheirownexistence,andpeoplecreatetheirownvaluesandmeaningsintheabsurdworldthroughcontinuouschoiceandresponsibility.Inexistentialism,itisbelievedthatexistenceprecedesessence.Thismeansthatpeoplefirstexistbeforetheycandefinetheiressencethroughtheirownchoices.Thismeaningofexistenceisnotgiveninadvance,butisgraduallydevelopedasmanfacesanddealswiththeconstantprocessofchoice,responsibility,andfreedom.Sartreemphasizesthatinmakingchoices,manchoosesnotonlyforhimself,butforallhumanity.Anindividual’schoicereflectsajudgmentofhowheshouldexistasahumanbeing,sothemeaningofexistenceis,inSartre’stheory,aprocessinwhichtheindividualshapesanddefineshimselfintheprocessofconstantlychoosingandassumingresponsibility,aprocessfulloftheindividual’ssubjectiveinitiativeandaccompaniedbyanxietyanduneasinessduetoresponsibility.

3.AnalysesofTrumanBurbank’sSelf-DiscoveryunderExistentialism3.1AnalysisBasedonControlandFreedom3.1.1Christof’sManipulationandInterpretationAsthedirectorofTheTrumanShow,ChristofhashadcompletecontroloverTruman’slifesincehewasborn.HeisatalentedandambitioustelevisionproducerwhohasabsolutecontroloverthewholeSeahaven.Heisconvincedthattheprogramhehascreatedisagreatartform,andhebelievesthatthroughthisprogram,peoplecanseeaperson’slifeinitstruestform,whichprovokesthoughtsabouthumannature,societyandlife.Heissosureofthisconceptofhisthatheisblindandstubborn.ThedialogueasTrumanpreparestoleavereflectshisdesiretocontrolTruman.HerearesomeexamplesofChristof’sdialoguewithTrumanreflectinghisdesiretocontrolhim.Example1:Christof:“There’snomoretruthouttherethanthere…ThanthereisintheworldIcreatedforyou.Thesamelies.Thesamedeceit.Butinmyworld…youhavenothingtofear.Iknowyoubetterthanyouknowyourself.”(01:32:53)AsChristofconfrontedTruman,whowasabouttobeoutofhiscontrol,hestillbelievedthatTruman’schoicetostayinSeahavenwasthesafestandmostadvisableoption.Hetriedtohopethat,bydenigratingtheoutsideworld,TrumanwouldcometoregrethisplantoescapeSeahavenfortherealworld.HebecamedisturbedandfearfulbecauseofTruman’sdesiretobreakfreefromhiscontrol,butChristof’sdesireforcontrolmakesTrumanlosethemeaningofhisself-existence.ContinuingtoliveinthisfalseworldwouldonlymakehimadollinChristof’shands,notapersonwithanindependentpersonalityandfreewill.InthefaceofTruman’sdeterminationtogetoutofthefalseworld,ChristofchosetocontrolTrumanthroughhisfeelings,hopingthatTrumanwouldgiveuptheideaofleavingSeahavenonaccountofalltheyearsof“care”hehasgivenhim.Example2:Christof:“It’sok,Truman.Iunderstand.Ihavebeenwatchingyouyourwholelife.Iwaswatchingwhenyouwereborn.Iwaswatchingwhenyoutookyourfirststep.Iwatchedyouonyourfirstdayofschool.Theepisodewhenyouloseyourfirsttooth.Youcan’tleave,Truman.Please,god.Youbelonghere……Youcandoit.Withme.”(01:33:41)Inthisdialogue,Christof’swordsonthesurfaceseemtostrengthenthebondbetweenhimselfandTruman,butinreality,itisanattempttowhitewashhisownimageasamanipulatorofTruman,andalsoimplyingthatTruman’sescapeisonlypossibleduetohisacquiescenceandcontrolasawayofassertinghisownauthorityandcontroloverthefalseworld.Christof,asthecreatorofTheTrumanShow,hasthepowerofinterpretation,andhetriedtousehisownlogictojustifytherationalityofTruman’slifeandtheexistenceofthefalseworld;hisexplanationistomaintainhispositionofcontrolbyconvincingTrumanthatthisworldisthebestchoice,hetriedtomakeTrumanidentifyinghimselfwiththeidentityandlifehewassetuptolivethroughthisexplanation,andtoconsolidatehisownauthorityinthisworld.3.1.2TheDesireforFreedomTrumanwasadoptedbyChristof.Trumanthoughthewouldliveahappylifeafteradoption,butChristofchosetocontrolhislife.ChristofregardedTrumanasa“cashcow”,live-broadcastinghislifetogainprofits.Heexploitedtheaudience’scuriosityaboutotherpeople’slives.ItwasverypatheticthatTruman’slifewasmanipulatedforthirtyyears,ashethoughttheeventsofhislifewerecoincidental,butinreality,theywereplannedonpurpose.Example3:Truman:“I,uh,haveanappointment.Dentist.Or…Yeah.”Lawrence:“You’regoingtolosealotmorethanyourteethifyoudon’tmeetyourquota.Look,Truman.They’remakingcutbacksattheendofthismonth.”Truman:“Cutbacks?”Lawrence:“Yeah.Now,youneedthis.Besides,ahalfhouracrossthebay,alittleseaair…woulddoyougood”Truman:“Hey,thanks.”(00:07:06.72)Hewasarrangedbyhisbosstogoonbusinesstrips,hethoughtitwasalayoffissue,butinfactitwastomovetheplotforwardandaddtotheshow;heattendedpartieswheretheparticipantsandtheflowoftheeventwereallarrangedinadvance,allcreatedasanillusionofnormalsocializing.Andeverytimehetriedtoleave,hewashamperedbyreasonssuchasasold-outairlineticketorahighwaybeingclosedduetoacaraccident.Example4:CustomerService:“HowcanIhelp?”Truman:“IwouldliketobookaflighttoFiJi.”CustomerService:“Whenwouldyouliketoleave.”Truman:“Today.”CustomerService:“I’msorry,Idon’thaveanythingforatleastamonth.”Truman:“Amonth?”CustomerService:“It’sthebusyseason.”(00:43:02.41)Forthethirtyyears,Truman’sneeds,choices,andrightstofreedomhavebeenruthlesslyexploitedbyChristof.However,hispracticalactionsexplainedwhat“freedom”was.Alongwithallthebizarreeventsinlife,Truman’ssearchforthetruthandthedesireforfreedombecamemoreandmoreintense—aseriesofevents,suchasthechanceencounterwithhis“dead”fatherandthe“star”thatsuddenlyfellfromthesky,furtherfueledhiscuriositytoexplorethetruth.Herejectedtheadviceofhisfriends,gotridoftheemotionaltieswithhisrelatives,overcametheobstaclescreatedbyChristof,andfinallystoodatthepeakofhisdesireforfreedom.“Freedom”isthecoreofexistentialism,whichmeansthatexistentialismbelievesthatthepastisnotimportant,butthefutureisimportant,andthatwecanchoosehowtocreateourownlivestoachieveourownfreedom.Absolutefreedomofpeoplereferstothefreedomofpeopletochooseandchangethestatusquo.Therewillalwaysbefreedomtochangethestatusquointheworld,anditisactiveandpositive,acalltofacethetruthofexistence,toseetheessenceofnothingness,nottobeboundbytheessenceofnothingness,andtodeterminedestiny.Thepursuitoffreedomisaprocessofself-realization.Oncethesparkofchangeisignitedwithin,thedesiretochangethestatusquoleadstochoicesforfreedomandmeanwhilesetsgoalsthatmotivateandguideindividualsforward.3.2AnalysisBasedonAbsurdityandSpiritofRebellion3.2.1FindingRealityintheAbsurdityTruman,whosenamealludedtotheconceptofTrue-Man,livedinacompletelyartificialworldwhereeverythingaroundhimwasdesignedtoentertaintheaudience.Thisdystopianenvironmentconfusedanddisturbedhim.AlthoughTrumanlivedaseeminglynormallifeinthisworld,deepdownhealwaysfeltasenseofincongruity,whichwasthecoreoftheabsurdity.InthedialoguesbetweenTrumanandhisfriendMarlon,Marlontriedto