Comparative cultural studies: The Power of Media in Creating Illusions of the Real World in The Truman Show

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor of Persian language and literature, Department of Persian language and literature, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran

Abstract

Comparative cultural study is the new, field in comparative literature. One of the areas that is examined in this interdisciplinary field is media studies, and the analysis of the diverse forms of media in their historical, cultural, and political contexts. Media and culture studies utilize a wide range of cultural theories with a focus on the functions of media within a diverse and global cultural environment.

Media, as a powerful tool, can manipulate signs and change values, influencing the perceptions of its audience, acting as an empty subject of individuality. This study examines the role of media in creating individual and collective illusions, reconstructing and presenting a fictional world based on the film The Truman Show in the field of comparative cultural studies. The creators of The Truman Show strive to create the illusion of the world for Truman, using all the resources and modern technology available. In addition to exploring the power of the media in constructing a fake world and implementing psychological operations by the show's creators to enhance the illusion of the real world, the writer examines the show's creators' strategies for maintaining the credibility and control of this illusion in Truman's mind. It also analyzes the impact of media power on the audience based on the analysis of the details of the show's viewers and their behavior being mechanized. Finally, the writer demonstrates how The Truman Show challenges not only the display of media power in controlling public minds but also its influence and performance.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Sun, Ying, Leng, Ke, and Xiong Haitao. (2022). “Research on the Influencing Factors of Consumers’ Green Purchase Behavior in the Post-pandemic Era. ’’Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103118.
Totosy de Zepetnek, Steven (1998). Comparative Literature: Theory, Method, Application, Preface by F. Elizabeth Dahab. Amsterdam: Rodopi. 
Totosy de Zepetne, Steven (1999). “From Comparative Literature Today Toward Comparative Cultural Studies.” Comparative Literature and Culture, 1:3, pp. 1-15.  https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.1041>
Tötösy de Zepetnek, Steven (2013). A Companion to Comparative Literature, World Literatures, and Comparative Cultural Studies. New Delhi: Cambridge UP India.
Webster, Frank (2011). Nazariyehāye Jamee-ye Ettelāāti (Information Society Theories). Translated by Esmāeil Ghadimi, Tehrān: Amirkabir. [in Persian]
 همچنین نک به:
 Tötösy de Zepetnek, Steven (2013) “Companion to Comparative Literature, World Literatures, and Comparative Cultural Studies”
References:
Alavizadeh, Farzanehsadat (fall and winter 2021). “Motaleāte mianreshtei-ye adābiate tatbighi, roikardhāye ravesh shenasi-e ān va bohāne hoviate adabiāte tatbighi.” (Interdisciplinary studies of comparative literature, its methodological approaches and the identity crisis of comparative literature”) Nashriy-e adābiate tatbighi, 13: 25, pp. 179-207. [in Persian] doi: 10.22103/jcl.2021.17648.3282
Alsaadi, Awatif Jassim. (2009). “Autour de la littérature compare.” Al-Mustansiriya Journal of Arts, 51, pp. 1-16.
Anushirvāni, Alirezā (Fall and Winter 2012). “Seir-e tahavolāt-e Nazari-e adabiāt-e tatbighi.” (“The theoretical developments in comparative literature”) Adabiāt-e Tatbighi. 3:2, pp. 3-7. [in Persian] 
Anushirvāni, Alireza (Spring and Summer 2013). “Motaleāt-e beināreshtei-e adabiāt-e tatbighi.” (“Interdisciplinary studies of comparative literature”) Adabiāt-e tatbighi-e Nāme Farhangestān. 1:7, p. 1. [in Persian]
Baudrillard. Jean. (1994). Simulacra and Simulation. Michigan University press.
Biāban navard, Alirezā (2004). “Maāni-e teorik-e amaliāt-e ravāni dar olgohāy-e olom-e ejtemāei, tabārshenisi-e mafhome solte dar zehniathay-e pishmodern, modern va pasāmodern,” (“Theoretical foundations of psychological operations in social science models, genealogy of the concept of dominance in premodern, modern and postmodern mentalities”) Faslnāme y-e amaliāte ravāni, 7, pp. 95-162. [in Persian] ISSN: 2008-3181
Brunel, Pierre et Pichois, Claude et Rousseau, André-Michel (1997). Qu’est-ce que la littérature comparée? Paris: Armand Colin.
Cornea, Paul. (2008). “La Littérature comparée dans la deuxième moitié du XXe siècle”. Points de repèr,, Newsletter,  29, pp. 17-33.
Eivazi, Mohammad Rahim (2008). “Bohrān shenasi-ye resānei: resāni ghodrate narme gharne 21,” (“Media Critique: Media, soft power of the 21st century”) Pazhoheshhāye ertebāti, 55, pp. 55-80. [in Persian] https://doi.org/10.22082/cr.2008.24029
Hosseini, Seyed Mohammad hāmed (2011). “Kārborde raānshenasi dar amaliyāte ravāni, avāmele moaffaghiat dar ān va erae-ye rahkarhā.” (“Application of psychology in psychological operations, success factors in it and providing solutions”) Faslnāme y-e amaliāte ravāni, 8:20, pp. 129-146. [in Persian] ISSN: 2008-3181
Hoyer, W. D. & Brown, S.  P.  (1990). “Effects of brand awareness on choice for a common, repeat- purchase product”. Journal of Consumer Research, 17: 2, pp. 141-148.  https://doi.org/10.1086/208544 
Kietzmann, Jan and Angell, Ian (2010). “Panopticon Revisited.” Communications of the ACM.  53:6, pp. 135-138. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/35340
Lamp, Christopher J. (2005), Review of Psychological Operations: Lesson Learned from Recent Operations Experience, Washington. D.C: National Defense University Press. 
Māhpishāniān, Mahsā (2002). “Goftemāne jange majāzi va resānehāye gorohi.” (“The discourse of virtual war and mass media”) Motāleate amaliāte ravni, 6, pp. 79-106. [in Persian]
Mansoriān, Soheilā (2013). “Honar va haghighate resāne dar rozegāre postmodern, barasi resāne be masābe-e tolidkonnde-ye vānamāei az manzare Jean Baudrillard.” (“The art and truth of media in the post-modern era, examining the media as a producer of images from the perspective of Jean Baudrillard”) Kimiāye honar, 2:8, pp. 59-72. [in Persian] http://kimiahonar.ir/article-1-145-fa.html
Merton, Robert K. (1957). Social Theory and Social Structure, New York: Glecoe, IL: Free Press. 
Nyaman, Basil (2003). The Three waves of Multimedia. New Routes.
Pageaux, Daniel-Henri (1998). “Littérature comparée et comparaisons.” Revue de littérature comparée, 72:3, pp. 285-308.    https://sflgc.org/bibliotheque/pageaux-daniel-henri-litterature-comparee-et-comparaisons/
Remak, Hanri (fall and winter 2012). “Tarif va amalkarde adabiāte tatbighi.” (“Definition and function of comparative literature”). Translated by Farzaneh Alavizadeh, Adabiāt-e tatbighi-e Nāme Farhangestān, 1:5, pp. 21-71. [in Persian]
Sandlin, Jennifer A. (2004). “Consumerism, Consumption, and a Critical Consumer Education for Adults.” New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 102, pp. 25-34. DOI:10.1002/ace.135
Smith, Anthony (1985). Geopolitic-e Etelaat (geopolitics of information). Translated by Fereidon Shirāzi, Tehrān: Sorosh. [in Persian]
Sedigh Sarvestani, Rahmatollah and Hashemi, Seyed Reza (2002). “Gorohha-ye marja dar jamee shenasi va ravanshenasi-ye ejtemāyi ba takid bar nazariehaye Merton va Festinger.” (“Reference groups in sociology and social psychology with emphasis on the theories of Merten and Festinger”) Nāme-ye olome ejtemayi, 20, pp. 149-167. [in Persian]
Solomon, M. R., Polegato, R., and Zaichkowsky, J. L. (2008). Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having,  and Being. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Sun, Ying, Leng, Ke, and Xiong Haitao. (2022). “Research on the Influencing Factors of Consumers’ Green Purchase Behavior in the Post-pandemic Era. ’’Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022. 103118.
Totosy de Zepetnek, Steven (1998). Comparative Literature: Theory, Method, Application, Preface by F. Elizabeth Dahab. Amsterdam: Rodopi. 
Totosy de Zepetne, Steven (1999). “From Comparative Literature Today Toward Comparative Cultural Studies.” Comparative Literature and Culture, 1:3, pp. 1-15.  https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.1041>
Tötösy de Zepetnek, Steven (2013). A Companion to Comparative Literature, World Literatures, and Comparative Cultural Studies. New Delhi: Cambridge UP India.
Webster, Frank (2011). Nazariyehāye jamee-ye ettelāāti (Information society theories). Translated by Esmāeil Ghadimi, Tehrān: Amirkabir. [in Persian]