Socialization is a process which occurs to every individual, and it varies depending on the particular environment. Socialization causes people to embrace certain norms and culture and live according to the established ideology (Barkan, 2021). The movie Truman Show demonstrates how society and its culture can influence the behavior of a person and ultimately shape their identity, as well as values and norms, which can be difficult to overcome.
Truman Show is a film which depicts the life of Truman Burbank, who has been living from his birth on an artificial movie set, Seahaven, unknowingly. The life of Truman is controlled by the director, who tells actors, the primary agents of socialization, how to behave in front of the main character. As a result, the showrunners manage to create a culture and impose it on Truman through the process of socialization. For instance, society constantly reminds Truman of the risks of traveling, which instills fear in the main character (Weir, 1998). Essentially, the taboo of traveling outside of Seahaven becomes a cultural universal which Truman embraces, especially after the drowning of his father. The movie also demonstrates how the looking-glass theory works which postulates that individuals rely on the perceptions others have of them to make judgments about themselves (Barkan, 2021). When Truman notices that his attempts to escape Seahaven are prevented by other residents, he begins to change his self-identity, which results in him becoming aware of his special status. Once Truman becomes suspicious, he challenges the norms of society by leaving Seahaven.
Truman Show is a movie which provides viewers with a description of how society can influence individuals and shape their beliefs and actions. Using the looking-glass theory, one can see that Truman constructs his self-identity depending on how other residents of Seahaven act around him. When Truman notices that he receives special treatment from other people, his desire to leave Seahaven becomes even more intense.
References
Barkan, S. (2021). Sociology: Understanding and changing the social world (3d ed.). University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.
Weir, P. (1998). The Truman show. Paramount Pictures.