“The Truman Show” and the awakening of consciousness

About to celebrate twenty years since its production, “The Truman Show” (1998, Peter Weir) continues to be a pedagogical reference for addressing specific topics in philosophy and psychology. Using the media and symbols, this film clearly reflects a process as complex as the awakening of consciousness.

Consciousness and consciousness, woven with the same thread

To understand what the awakening of consciousness is, we have to be clear about what consciousness is and what consciousness is. According to the RAE, conscience is the mental activity of the subject itself that allows one to feel present in the world and in reality. For its part, consciousness is the psychic act by which a subject perceives himself in the world. Therefore, the awakening of consciousness occurs when the person is not only aware that he is present in the world, that it exists, but that it is something or someone in relation to it.

We can also understand this as realizing our transcendence. At that moment, a spark lights up in us that makes us doubt everything we have been told. And at that point, We can settle for what we know, or overcome our fears and insecurities to get out of the “cave.”

The myth of “The cave”

The allegory of “The Cave” was created by the Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) to symbolize human knowledge. According to this theory, The man would be like a prisoner in a cave, and what he knows is only a reflection or shadow of reality. The real is outside the cave, something is difficult to understand when we have never left it and we have become accustomed to using and working with shadows. In this sense, we do not know the existence of reality or we are afraid of it.

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What is our cave? The family home or the environment in which we have grown up. The normal thing is that since childhood we have been instilled with a series of values, ranging from religious to political. When we are born in a community, we grow up with traditions that give us identity. Thus, many people are reluctant to do anything new for fear of losing that identity.

As security-seeking human beings, there is a certain tendency within us to embrace the known customs practiced by the people we love, in this sense. Neither society nor the family teaches us to “look” (although we can observe). Critical opinion is not encouraged. Few children have environments that encourage them to analyze, compare and have their own opinion, as well as practice self-awareness.

The awakening of conscience in Truman

The main character of this movie, Truman is a man who has not been able to decide anything in his life.. Since he was born, he was bought by the television program of which he is the protagonist, and all the decisions he makes (having a girlfriend, getting married, buying a house, working…) are not chosen by him, but are actions guided by him. creator of the program (who in this case, is compared to a god).

Truman lives happily and oblivious to everything, inside the enormous dome that they have built for him as a city. And when he suspects something or he has a hint of doubt, He cannot leave that world because it is controlled by fears. and insecurities that have been induced in his childhood (for example, the sea and the trauma with his father). But there comes a time when he can no longer ignore his doubts, because his world is not the same as before.

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Truly, we are all Truman. The only option we have to be authentic is when that spark, that awakening of consciousness, occurs in us. AND Only our will helps us overcome the fear that the scenario that awaits us may arouse.

The purest act of freedom is to think

When this awakening of consciousness occurs in us, we acquire energy and determination to leave our comfort zone and our environment, encouraged by the feeling that Moving away we will see things clearer… and then, from within ourselves, ask ourselves: What do I want to do with my life? Do my beliefs still fulfill me? What do I believe or trust? What is my truth?

Your answers must have more value for you than the opinions of others, since they are perfect for you; They are made to your measure and not to that of others. It is easy to think that we are not free, since we all have responsibilities (family, studies, work), but the truth is that The most accessible and purest act of freedom is thinking. We are free to think and imagine what we want, just as we are free to decide accordingly. Truman is also given the opportunity to learn the truth.

When we stay with the same as always, only with what we have been taught, we prevent evolution from occurring. On the other hand, when we overcome the fear of the unknown and seek our own knowledge, we begin to walk along a path in which we acquire our own principles, values and beliefs, which are healthier and more authentic, less dissonant. Definitely, Improving yourself will lead you to be freer and to achieve this, two ingredients are always, always necessary: an awakening and an exercise in courage.