Citizen Kane

 

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Citizen Kane an Orson Welles film released in 1941. Stared Orson Welles as he goes through the stages as a young man, middle aged man, and an old man. Welles had complete control of the movie, something that was unusually for someone who never directed a movie before. The film was a commerical failure due to the film being based on the life of newspaper Mogul William Randolph Hearst. Hearst wasn't pleased that the movies was portrayed about him, and due to that approach, he didn't have any of his newspapers publish ad's or reviews about the film. All that didn't stop the film from receiving nine Oscar nominations including Best original screen play, Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director. The film ended up taking home the award for best screenplay. After Citizens Kane Welles never got a chance to make another film with that kind of control.

 

 

2) Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://www.helium.com/items/309996-visual-symbolism-in-orson-welless-citizen-kane

http://www.helium.com/items/309996-visual-symbolism-in-orson-welless-citizen-kane

 

The article I chosen was a movie analysis on the visual symbolism in Orson Welles Citizen Kane. The article starts off with the introduction about how the author feels about the movie, and how Citizen Kane was a "new era of cinema" that used its visual effects to impact the story . The author continues by stating that the use of lighting was an important theme throughout Citizen Kane. In the beginning of the film Kane's Boyhood is bright, and as he gets older the lighting decreases, showing the audience the downward spiral and corruption that follows Kane's Life. Director Welles also used deep focus photography instead of always having to edit the scenes the pictures were a lot easier. The detailed backgrounds and foregrounds that were used on leading character Kane emphasized isolation and distance from the activities of others around him. The author then explains how composition was a crucial part to storytelling in Citizen Kane. The characters would be placed at opposite ends of the screen to convey distance. Large objects were placed between characters at odds, Signs and fences stressed the feeling of alienation. The author references the scene during Kane's political campaign and the big banner of Kane's face, how it reacts on Kane's importance, while belittling the real man. The author ends the article by stating that Citizen Kane is a study in theatrical film making. Today's audience may find Citizen Kane to be old fashion, but it is important to see the impact of visual symbolism in the film .

 

 

 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

The article gave me a good analysis on the visual aspect of the movie, and how it played an very important aspect in the movie. The lighting of the film was a very important theme throughout Citizen Kane. Each stage of Kane's life was portrayed in a different set of lighting the brighter lighting used for his childhood and dimmer lighting was used as he grew older. As well as Welles using deep focus photography to pursue scenes without the intensity of editing. This was something new and interesting to learn about the film. Welles directing skills were portrayed in the article marvelously. How he placed the characters in some scenes on opposite ends of the screen to convey distance and estrangement, and placed large objects between characters at odds. Everything about the article made me realize how important the visual aspects of the film were ,and without them,the film wouldn't be what it was.

 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Citizen Kane was filled with Mystery, drama, and tragedy. As I was viewing the film, I felt as though I was an detective trying to solve a case. Especially the hidden meaning to the word Rosebud. For a first time movie director Orson Welles did a stupendous job on directing the film. I would of never guessed that it was Welles first movie directing debut.