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RE: Sorry, but pointless is pointless . . .

Posted by RGA on March 30, 2022 at 16:47:33:
I actually knew this the first time I watched Citizen Kane. It's somewhat the same reason I prefer Shakespeare's comedies to his Tragedies because my worldview doesn't associate greatness with a person's wealth or power. In the UK that is tied to royalty and in the US it is tied to wealthy business people - they are seen as "superior humans" and "chosen by God" to be more successful.

The idea of the tragedy is that we are supposed to feel especially saddened when someone "great" (king or wealthy businessman) has a falls from their high born position. Kane suffers the desire of power through corruption and vanity and long for his childhood innocence which is what Rosebud (his sled) represents.

My favourite play, which is also a sad commentary on the American Dream, is Death of a Salesman which is about a regular Joe six-pack hopelessly trying to achieve the American Dream in a career is hopelessly no good at and will never achieve.

Kane achieves the American Dream but it ultimately didn't make him happy. I see far more happiness and smiles and joy when I go to the Philippines with people living in shacks than I ever witness from Rich Americans - Donald Trump only smiles when he is doing something nasty to someone. Otherwise, he looks miserable - and of course he does - he has to buy his women.

Thematically, Kane should be up my ally - what is important is not found in "The American Dream" and chasing that wealth and power at the expense of your soul will leave you an empty vessel. But it just doesn't work for me - I like the film but I don't "love" the film.

I find it more tragic that the Willy Lomans of the world (middle-class Americans) strive for this American Dream and 99.9% of them will never attain it and they are missing out on life as a result. They're duped. To me that is tragic. Kane's lot was his own doing. It's his sort of media empire that convinces the Willy Loman of the world to keep up with the Joneses. Ultimately, I prefer to watch Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich's version of "Death of a Salesman" over Citizen Kane.

Hey, it's free on youtube too.