Perception and Reality in "Mad Men", Episode 10, Series 3

Here's a well-written write up of a remarkable episode, "The Color Blue" from Mad Men's Season 3. The episodes deals with the characters perceptions of reality - a post modern idea our class is "looking at" presently with "The Truman Show".


televisionaryblog.com/2009/10/its-not-london-its-not-even-england.html

Do you suffer from "Truman Syndrome"?

The next time you log onto Face-book, and "immerse" yourselves in a hyperreal world of avatars and simulated friendship, consider whether you imagine yourselves to be in a "reality TV show" where everyone is pretending to be your friends.

• How genuine is this "friendship" in hyperspace, particularly from those you have never met?
• Is hyperbole and flattery and a lack of sincerity representative of "real" friendship?
• Do you like to be watched and observed because you think you are important?
• Do you imagine yourself to be in everyday film in which the world around you is your set, with you acting out a role?
• Are you growing increasingly paranoid at being ignored or being observed?
• Do you think you should be a 'celebrity" because you have hidden talents?
• When you are in college do you think you are acting a role or being a version of yourself when you talk with others?
• Do you think your life lacks meaning unless you put on an act?

Then you could be suffering from "Truman Syndrome"!

Roy Greenslade on The Truman Syndrome - with readers comments

A Kodak TV ad from the early 1960s - nostalgia

Was this the inspiration for Don Draper's Kodak Carousel presentation from episode 12 of the first series of "Mad Men"? Examples of Don's nostalgic view of early married life can be found on YouTube. Of course, the audience knows about his life as a serial adulterer.

Advice for AS presentations on institutions and audiences ( Film )

The AS Media Presentations on your case study institutions and audiences.  

General Advice
Mostly use your blogs for the information that you need. If you are producing a Keynote/Power Point use images with key words as much as you can to explain your issues, as lots of bullet points and presentations that are text heavy are boring. You can also include hyperlinks to trailers and post images of the cast, director, producer, film posters, screenshots of the official website, screenshots or hyperlinks to You Tube videos for exchange, etc. Then talk over your images/videos/ links to explain their significance as "issues" for your film institution and how they are intended to connect with audiences. Never lose sight of the importance of how audiences are targeted.


This is important for effective revision for the exam.

How
In pairs or small groups in either mind-map or keynote (Power Point) form

Use images and key terms to help you make your points. Include key terms like synergies and technological convergence where necessary. Some areas like "distribution and marketing" may be covered in more depth than others.


What
Give the key issues your main case study institution and films for:


• production issues
• distribution/marketing issues ( how the institutions targeted specific audiences)
• exhibition issues (Audience)
• exchange issues

See this blog for details more these on issues

From The Truman Show to Survivor: Narrative versus Reality in Fake and Real Reality TV

This is not always an easy read for sixth form level - but it will be rewarding. BTW "a panoptic society" is the idea that our society is under surveillance by thousands of police cameras all the time and that we are little more than prisoners in such a society. The essay focuses on two major theorists, Jean Baudrillard and his ideas about the hyperreality of the image and Michel Foucault's concept of power, surveillance and ideology in the panoptic society.

Click here for an essay by Marie-Laure Ryan

For another article which explains several key ideas about the film you should read this.
The Meaning of The Truman Show

Jean Baudrillard's simulacra is applied intelligently in this article from another blog.
zoominanalysis on The Truman Show Part 1
zoominanalysis The Truman Show Part Two

Exchange - a great example inspired by "Slumdog Millionaire"

Technological Convergence - question and concept map

Click this concept map to enlarge.