Global Village
- Submitted by: brocklaurenson
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- Category: English
- Date Submitted: 06/27/2011 12:05 AM
- Pages: 4
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An individual’s experiences within the global village can exaggerate aspects of our everyday life through the media. This leads to a reshaping of personal identity due to world-wide media linkages. Two texts which show this are Nick Enright’s A Man with Five Children and The Truman Show by Peter Weir.
In A Man with Five Children, Enright employs a variety of techniques to show how the media can exaggerate aspects of our lives and thus reshape identities. Using film, projected image and sound as well as different acting styles, Enright has the opportunity to play with ideas to full sensorial effect.
A Man with Five Children takes place during a time when society was growing and changing. People were excited about the future. Act one raises questions and emotions as the journey of the document unfolds. This act is set between 1972 and 1990. In the early 70’s it was certainly a more rarefied experience to be the subject of a documentary. What is the effect of the presence of the film maker? Does Gerry’s presence alter the so-called reality of the documentary? Does Gerry show actual facts of just ratings winners?
After the interval, the script becomes rather murkier, introducing elements of melodrama and even soap opera into the mix. It presents unpredictable outcomes. A Man with Five Children makes a compelling observation of the times leading up to the current cultural dominance of reality television. It is a perfect example of the cracks in the wall between observation and influence. This is shown through Gerry’s relationships with both Cam and Susannah. Gerry uses the different characters of the five children to represent Australia themselves.
Peter Weir’s film The Truman show visually communicates his concerns about the power of the media and the impact it has on society and individuals, through the use of many techniques the composer attempts to engage and inform their audience about how through its manipulations the media affects society and individuals....
In A Man with Five Children, Enright employs a variety of techniques to show how the media can exaggerate aspects of our lives and thus reshape identities. Using film, projected image and sound as well as different acting styles, Enright has the opportunity to play with ideas to full sensorial effect.
A Man with Five Children takes place during a time when society was growing and changing. People were excited about the future. Act one raises questions and emotions as the journey of the document unfolds. This act is set between 1972 and 1990. In the early 70’s it was certainly a more rarefied experience to be the subject of a documentary. What is the effect of the presence of the film maker? Does Gerry’s presence alter the so-called reality of the documentary? Does Gerry show actual facts of just ratings winners?
After the interval, the script becomes rather murkier, introducing elements of melodrama and even soap opera into the mix. It presents unpredictable outcomes. A Man with Five Children makes a compelling observation of the times leading up to the current cultural dominance of reality television. It is a perfect example of the cracks in the wall between observation and influence. This is shown through Gerry’s relationships with both Cam and Susannah. Gerry uses the different characters of the five children to represent Australia themselves.
Peter Weir’s film The Truman show visually communicates his concerns about the power of the media and the impact it has on society and individuals, through the use of many techniques the composer attempts to engage and inform their audience about how through its manipulations the media affects society and individuals....