MODULE B ESSAY: CRITICAL STUDY
THROUGH A VISUAL REPRESENTATION EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF THE FRAGILITY OF HUMAN CONDITION IN YOUR PRESCRIBED TEXT
Citizen Kane is an unquestioned masterpiece that explores a variety of concepts to produce an ageless film. The various symbols placed in the visual representation will be discussed through the essay and how they represent these concepts. Through the film’s representation of aspiration, relationships and truth, the concept of the fragility of the human condition is explored thoroughly.
Firstly, unattainable aspiration and the American dream play a big part within the film as well as Kane’s life. The symbol for aspiration used in the visual representation is the stairs, with the fog symbolising something …show more content…
The symbol of relationships is the heather flower, scattered and also lost in the fog to show unattainable love and lost relationships. Kane shares qualities with the typical hero, but is also a tragic failure. We cannot immediately be sure why Kane fails, but Leland is a decisive commentator on Kane’s weaknesses pointing out that he failed to love anyone apart from himself. The film depicts the public and private sides of Kane’s power, through the exploration of his ambition and relationships. Kane’s character emerges more fully through his interaction with others. He only changes due to ebbing fortunes as power is acquired and lost. This transformation is accompanied by a loss of integrity which is explored through the decline of Kane’s friendship with Leland. Kane’s egotism is related to a tragic inability to feel love. This criticism is provided by Leland and also emerges in Susan’s antagonism to Kane. Kane’s loss of childhood is represented by the sledge. The fact that the reporters are unaware of this extends the sense of lost innocence to a wider context. The film also shows how other characters change with age. For instance, Leland and Susan are more knowing as, after the death, they reflect on the meaning of Kane’s life. Leland’s hostility to Kane, after the election, is made stronger by his feeling that Kane has shown aristocratic contempt for the voters with his irresponsibility in the Susan Alexander scandal. For instance, in the exchange between Leland and Kane after the election defeat, Leland criticises Kane’s selfishness: ‘The truth is, Charlie, you just don’t care about anything except you. You just want to convince people that you love them so much that they should love you back. Only you want love on your own terms.’ Kane’s reply, ‘A toast, Jedediah – to love on my own terms. These are the only terms anybody knows – his
THROUGH A VISUAL REPRESENTATION EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF THE FRAGILITY OF HUMAN CONDITION IN YOUR PRESCRIBED TEXT
Citizen Kane is an unquestioned masterpiece that explores a variety of concepts to produce an ageless film. The various symbols placed in the visual representation will be discussed through the essay and how they represent these concepts. Through the film’s representation of aspiration, relationships and truth, the concept of the fragility of the human condition is explored thoroughly.
Firstly, unattainable aspiration and the American dream play a big part within the film as well as Kane’s life. The symbol for aspiration used in the visual representation is the stairs, with the fog symbolising something …show more content…
The symbol of relationships is the heather flower, scattered and also lost in the fog to show unattainable love and lost relationships. Kane shares qualities with the typical hero, but is also a tragic failure. We cannot immediately be sure why Kane fails, but Leland is a decisive commentator on Kane’s weaknesses pointing out that he failed to love anyone apart from himself. The film depicts the public and private sides of Kane’s power, through the exploration of his ambition and relationships. Kane’s character emerges more fully through his interaction with others. He only changes due to ebbing fortunes as power is acquired and lost. This transformation is accompanied by a loss of integrity which is explored through the decline of Kane’s friendship with Leland. Kane’s egotism is related to a tragic inability to feel love. This criticism is provided by Leland and also emerges in Susan’s antagonism to Kane. Kane’s loss of childhood is represented by the sledge. The fact that the reporters are unaware of this extends the sense of lost innocence to a wider context. The film also shows how other characters change with age. For instance, Leland and Susan are more knowing as, after the death, they reflect on the meaning of Kane’s life. Leland’s hostility to Kane, after the election, is made stronger by his feeling that Kane has shown aristocratic contempt for the voters with his irresponsibility in the Susan Alexander scandal. For instance, in the exchange between Leland and Kane after the election defeat, Leland criticises Kane’s selfishness: ‘The truth is, Charlie, you just don’t care about anything except you. You just want to convince people that you love them so much that they should love you back. Only you want love on your own terms.’ Kane’s reply, ‘A toast, Jedediah – to love on my own terms. These are the only terms anybody knows – his