In a dangerous turn, culture in the 21st century has recently shifted focus to the importance of the appearance of the individual rather than sincerity. In Giovanni’s life, there is a lack of tangible authenticity, which leads him to downward spiral into loneliness. For Truman, his single encounter with authenticity allows him to see how truly alone he has been. Rubin and Niccol use their protagonists to draw attention to the faults in 21st century culture related to unauthenticity and it’s direct correlation to loneliness. Both Giovanni and Truman live surrounded by facades, which directly pushes them into loneliness. This cultural cycle is a trademark of 21st century Western life. Truman and Giovanni lack authenticity in both of their lives.
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In The Poser, as Giovanni’s world gets progressively less authentic in Fantasma Falls, Giovanni downward-spirals into loneliness and self inflicted isolation: “I think its best if, for now, you don’t visit” (Rubin 144). Fantasma Falls surrounds Giovanni in more insincerity than ever before, which exemplifies the direct correlation from this inauthenticity to isolation; Giovanni retreats into loneliness and isolation because of the isolation inflicted on him by his surroundings. Mama begins to tell Giovanni that he is just “sympathetic to the bone”, but he quickly cuts her off: “‘I’m not. I’ve never been and never will.’ My heart beat in my throat, and I turned away” (Rubin 153). Giovanni does not like loneliness and does not want to be isolated, but the lack of sincerity in his life drives him to choose …show more content…
Both Rubin and Niccol make the argument that 21st century culture is obsessed with individuality, which diminishes authenticity and renders loneliness. Both The Poser and The Truman Show warn against what will happen if people become too involved in personal appearance rather than human connection. In the 21st century, online profiles and outward appearance are considered reality, even though both of these representations of self are highly edited and not authentic representations of inner self. This idea of facades being whole selves leads to isolation. In the Trobriand Islands of Papua New Guinea, the underlying core principle of their culture is that power is in relationships, and self-definition comes from ones connections to other people. This is an important contrast to Western culture’s idea of seclusion of self. Rubin and Niccol are highlighting this specific aspect in order to question the future outcome of this in terms of the wellbeing of people in a dramaturgical
In The Poser, as Giovanni’s world gets progressively less authentic in Fantasma Falls, Giovanni downward-spirals into loneliness and self inflicted isolation: “I think its best if, for now, you don’t visit” (Rubin 144). Fantasma Falls surrounds Giovanni in more insincerity than ever before, which exemplifies the direct correlation from this inauthenticity to isolation; Giovanni retreats into loneliness and isolation because of the isolation inflicted on him by his surroundings. Mama begins to tell Giovanni that he is just “sympathetic to the bone”, but he quickly cuts her off: “‘I’m not. I’ve never been and never will.’ My heart beat in my throat, and I turned away” (Rubin 153). Giovanni does not like loneliness and does not want to be isolated, but the lack of sincerity in his life drives him to choose …show more content…
Both Rubin and Niccol make the argument that 21st century culture is obsessed with individuality, which diminishes authenticity and renders loneliness. Both The Poser and The Truman Show warn against what will happen if people become too involved in personal appearance rather than human connection. In the 21st century, online profiles and outward appearance are considered reality, even though both of these representations of self are highly edited and not authentic representations of inner self. This idea of facades being whole selves leads to isolation. In the Trobriand Islands of Papua New Guinea, the underlying core principle of their culture is that power is in relationships, and self-definition comes from ones connections to other people. This is an important contrast to Western culture’s idea of seclusion of self. Rubin and Niccol are highlighting this specific aspect in order to question the future outcome of this in terms of the wellbeing of people in a dramaturgical