Christof (Ed Harris), the director and creator of The Truman Show, displays qualities of being both a genius and an exploiter. Christof creates the most successful television show in the world based on the concept of following the life of Truman Burbank from his birth to his death. He constructs an illusionary world for Truman to live in by creating a massive set and hiring actors. He produces and designs a reality for Truman to exist in. Christof, although a creative mastermind in television production, alienates Truman by treating him as a commodity rather than a person.
During an exclusive interview, Christof describes how Truman came to be the star of the acclaimed television show. He explains that of five babies, all from unwanted pregnancies, Truman was the first to be born. He was adopted by the television corporation and was immediately put in front of the cameras. The 30-year run on the television show generates a yearly income that is greater than the gross national product of some small countries. Christof has developed the use of product placement throughout the show to generate profits. The entire show that Christof has created is done so at the expense of Truman. Christof choose the life that Truman was forced to live, and has manipulated every aspect of his life for profits. Truman is treated as a commodity not as a human and Christof is to blame. Any and every person that Truman has ever known or loved, including his wife, parents, and best friends, was all plotted and controlled by Christof.
This way in which Christof treats Truman would be cause for serious concern to philosopher, Martin Buber. In Buber’s book “I and Thou,” he examines human life as it relates to society. Buber asserts that exteriority plays a larger role than other philosophers may have believed. He holds beliefs that humans are all connected to one another. Human’s are not self-sufficient beings, but rather require others to gain an understanding of him or herself. Buber also explains that there are two styles of comportment to other beings in the world, I-Thou and I-It. I-Thou is living one’s life through encounter. In other words, we begin a relationship with a being or object and see it as a whole. We can value this being for all that it is and has to offer. I-It, however, is the breakdown of a being into its sums. When this I-It relationship exists, the being is not seen for all that it is. Distinguishing these comportments is crucial for Buber’s idea known as “the sickness.” Buber believes that humans live in an age of alienation due to everyone treating others as I-It. People do not see each other for their whole beings, but rather only parts of who they are. Christof is a prime example of a human who has “the sickness” based on the way he treats Truman.
In an effort to continue his television show, Christof views Truman in the I-It style. Christsof is willing to force Truman into total alienation. He hires actors and actresses who are only ever able to see Truman in the I-It style. Truman is no more than an object that they trick and control simply to make a profit. Christof’s obsession to continue the show without considering its consequences to Truman proves Christof has only a partial view of Truman. Christof exploits Truman by treating him only as a commodity rather than a person.
Despite his ingenuity in television broadcasting, Christof is a part of “the sickness.” He embodies Buber’s notion of being a person who only looks at the I-It in life. Christof is a self-centered and selfish character. He does not view Truman and his entire being, as a human, but rather as a way to create success. Truman is alienated due to Christof’s selfishness. Christof is responsible for continuing “the sickness” that is alienation.
Katie Gallagher
The Truman Show & Philosophy 