2019 ETA HSC Study Day

Module C
Close Study of Text
The Truman Show
Sascha Ogilvy – Head Teacher EAL/D
Fairfield High School
 Examination Day of Module C and Module B

Friday 18th October, 2019 at 9.25am

➢1 hour Exam

➢Allocate 30 minutes for each Module – obtain marks from both Modules

➢Arrive early in school uniform – school rules still apply!

➢Refer to the 2019 Higher School Certificate Rules and Procedures Guide
SYLLABUS - What? Why worry about it?
• students develop an informed understanding, knowledge and
appreciation of a substantial text

• students explore information, ideas, attitudes and values that are

communicated in and through the text

• students examine and reflect on the ways in which the content, form
and language of the text have been composed and assembled.
 Syllabus links
Explore Information
• What information does the film
The Truman Show provide the
audience?

Explore Ideas
• What ideas are presented through
the film The Truman show?
 Syllabus links
Explore Attitudes
• What attitudes and whose
attitudes are presented in and
through the movie by who?

Explore Values
• What values are presented in
and through the movie by the
director Weir and characters in
the film
 Module C – Syllabus Rubric
Your answer will be assessed on how
well you:
● demonstrate understanding of a text’s
distinctive qualities and how these
shape meaning
● organise, develop and express ideas
using language appropriate to audience,
purpose and form
Band 6
demonstrates extensive
knowledge, insightful
understanding and
sophisticated evaluation of
the ways meanings are
shaped and changed by
context, medium of
production and the
influences that produce
different responses to texts
 Audience – who is watching who?
• The films audience watching
the TV show ‘The Truman
Show’
• The audience (us) watching
the film ‘The Truman Show’
• Consider the type of
audience that is watching
the TV show. Are they
representative of a real life
audience who watched the
film?
 Information/idea/value/attitude?
• Consider this question?
• What is the director saying about Commercialism in our Society? How
does it relate to us the film audience? How can we explore this idea?
 Information/idea/value/attitude?
• What is the Director saying
about how the Mass Media
influences Society?
• 1 person? choosing all aspects
of what we see on TV/screens?
• Constructed images to show
emotion/feelings to create a
connection? Commercialism?
• Something/somewhere else is
better?
 Information/idea/value/attitude?
Why can’t people just up and leave
or change their lives for a Utopian
type society?

Dialogue from Marlon: “We have

mortgage payments, Truman. We
have car payments. What? We're
just going to walk away from our
financial obligations?”
 Information/idea/value/attitude?
Truman’s emotions and reactions are genuine compared to his carefully
manufactured ‘Utopian’ environment
Who is watching you and who are you watching?
 Film Techniques - Create Meaning
• Show a wide range of film
techniques – do not just use
camera shots and angles!

• Setting
• Costume
• Lighting
• Body language (action)
• Props (items in the shot)
 Film Techniques – Lighting and Framing
Framing of characters

• Background frame of
Truman

• Lighting of Truman – a
shadow but larger
than Christof

• Christof framed by
reality television
‘executive’ team
 Film Techniques – Camera Angles and Shots
• Point of View camera
shot/low angle camera
shots
• Creates the illusion that
the audience (us) are
watching the reality TV
show just like the
viewers in the show
• What is the effect of
this? Why did the
Director choose to do
this?
 Film Techniques - Dialogue
Truman: It's when I’m
unpredictable...that’s when…they
can’t… (claps) Anything happen?

TV Show Presenter: "Show me the

Way to go Home." A hymn of
praise to small town life where we
learn that you don't have to leave
home to discover what the world's
all about. And that no one's poor
who has friends.
 Section II – Module C: Close Study of Texts
The Truman Show HSC EXAM
Write a response that address the focus question – there will be a
question that will require “a sustained response”.
Consider what the question is asking you to write in a sustained
response
Example 1: “Good texts have the power to influence our attitudes and
values through the ideas presented in them”
Example 2: “Explain how your prescribed text invites us to reflect on
ourselves and our world”
Section II – Module C: Close Study of Texts
HSC Assessment Rubric
You will be assessed on how well you:
• Demonstrate understanding of a text’s distinctive qualities and how
these shape meaning
• Organise, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to
audience, purpose and form

• How do you decide what text type to respond to? Essay, Review,
online Article, School Newsletter? What are the language demands of
these texts? PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, CONTEXT