American Politics & Pop Culture

It is well known that in many aspects the U.S. armed forces was very segregated. The film tried to conceal this reality but there are cues that still stood out.

The most obvious cue is that Sahara had only one black, Sudanese character named Sgt. Tambul, a French fighter. None came from the U.S. army side, which differs from today's U.S. army, where one would probably see a black soldier in every five.

Another cue is that Sgt. Tambul did not hesitate to fall under Sgt. Joe command. They both were allies and were on the same superiority level, but it is easily to tell that Sgt. Tambul was more of a servant to the group of allies. He did not socialize as much as everyone else in the group because there was an obvious sense that he did not measure up to the same level of superiority with them.

If Tambul were a white Sgt., he probably would not have been the one to labor for the water. He was just as thirsty as every other soldier, but being that he was the black one, he knew without asking that he was expected to do the labor.

The Nazi soldier initially resisted Sgt. Tambul as he wanted to search him and he said that he would not allow an inferior race to search him. Such resistance from a prisoner, and even worse the statement, would have been enough to stir a Sergeant’s anger.

In general I would say that the film accomplished its task of making the U.S. Armed forces look good as being humanitarians and strong. Whether or not it was intended to portray a back character as being inferior, racism definitely played a role.

Chimezie Ononenyi

01/31/08

Posted by onon0006 at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to the reading "Good War, Race War," the film Sahara was deemed "radical" because of the way the African American character, Tamdul, was depicted. Not only was he "equal" to the white Americans but he was also a hero for his acts of bravery during the film. This "equality" was unusual to see because during WWII the military was segregated, thus many African Americans who wanted to help the war effort cooked meals, rarely making it to battle.

While the film Sahara shed African Americans in a better light than most WWII films, it still managed to illustrate the racism of that time period, in subtle ways. For example, once captured, the Nazi soldier refuses to be searched by the African American soldier stating, "I don't want to be searched by an inferior race." Later in the movie, Tamdul was confronted about his "multiple wives", a stereotype assumed by the other soldiers in his platoon. Later to find out he had one wife just like them.

After reading "Good War, Race War" and hearing the personal stories of each platoon (specifically Manchester's memoir), it is a shame that the military did not desegregate during WWII. I say this because Manchester's platoon was like a "melting pot" and despite all the different ethnicities of the soldiers, they bonded on such a high level that Manchester said, " [We] didn't fight for [the] flag or [the] country . . . we fought for one another." Author of "Good War, Race War" Gary Gerstle makes the suggestion that if black men and white men had the chance to fight alongside one another in battle, the bond they could have formed may have helped to break down the vicious walls of racism. "When German shells and bombs are raining about them, they do not worry as much about the race or creed of the man next to them, Walter White (NAACP chairmen-1944).

Posted by dollx040 at 09:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In Sahara, there exists a strong undertow of governmental propaganda regarding the American war effort. Humphrey Bogart, himself, represented a tough-as-nails general. His portrayal was consistent with the masculine ideals being propagated by posters and advertisements on the American home front. The issues of the war were portrayed in an inherently biased way. The Germans were continually being vilianized; for example, radio transmissions using terms like “the Germans have wiped out…” and “The Germans took over...” These statements shadowed the reality of Germany’s European invasions during the war. The American way of life is addressed in minute instances: the Texan soldier talking about his hometown and wife, and the Italian’s brother in Pittsburgh, showed America as a land of opportunity and new beginnings for all. Similarly, when Bogart asks the troops if they agree to stay and hold off the Germans, or go home, he has nothing to lose, but t they have families and loved ones. This illustrates the importance on family values held by American’s during the war.
The German’s were consistently snide, ruthless, and untrustworthy in Sahara. As they were shown shooting the Frenchman in the back, stabbing the Italian in the back, and killing their own soldier who cracked under the pressure; the allies were shown burying their men, and Bogart couldn’t leave behind the Italian to die. There was an obvious attempt to completely polarize the compassion of the Allied powers from the heartless Axis powers.
The areas of material supply and civilian responsibility were addressed through the constant shortage portrayed in the film. The men are always in need of something, whether it be food, water, or ammunition. This portrayal was used as a motivator for the home front to continue to do their part in supplying the war effort with the above scarcities. Britain, France, and Italy listened to and obeyed the American general (Bogart), the strong and competent leader reflected the American “we are the world” mentality of military superiority and influence
For the time period, I feel that the non existence of women on the battlefield was appropriate, and did not take away from the film; it simply reflected gender roles at that time. The issue of race was also indicative of society, as all of the men of diverse backgrounds worked together to stop the Germans, however, they were not exactly all treated with the same respect. For instance, the black man was expected to climb down the well and check for water. Although I liked Sahara, it served no other purpose aside from spreading war propaganda.

Posted by joh03704 at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Despite Sahara being predictable and having lame special effects, I was ultimately still able to enjoy the movie. It made me laugh, possibly unintentionally, but regardless I found it humorous. Sahara’s propagandistic purpose was bluntly evident throughout the entire movie, forcing me to classify it strictly as a propaganda piece. It followed practically every theme the government outlined. The issues of war were addressed in a conversation in which one of the characters is telling Bogart’s character how they are better than the enemy because of freedom. It shows the nature of two enemies, German and Italian, in the prisoner’s conversation, in which we are told the German’s are ruthless killers to the soul and are full of hatred, while the Italian’s are just fighting a war out of fear of what will happen to their families if they don’t. The movie obviously lays out the United Nations and the fighting forces by adding the English medical unit, “Frenchy”, and the Sudanese solider to the expedition. Sahara briefly discusses the production front and the home front when the Italian makes reference to his brother-in-law from Pittsburg who works in a steel mill, which could have helped to build the Lulu Belle.

The idea of war evoked depravities is clearly represented in Sahara. One example is when the German prisoner stabs the Italian prisoner in the back for not following orders. Another is when the German commander orders his men to fire on Frenchy, while his back is still turned. Another example of this depravity is when we find out the German prisoner who drank the water was executed for talking to the enemy. The morale consequences of fighting and dying for one’s country are addressed by Bogart’s character Joe Gunn. His speech about staying to stall the enemy being every soliders duty, even though they have families, and how it is most likely that they will all die, shows the consequences of fighting and dying for one’s country so that one’s country wins and protects the ideals they believe in.

The film does not reflect the reality of the emphasis of race in the military at that time, but instead shows a black man being a hero. The purpose of the gallant Sudanese solider was to get minorities to sign up for the war effort in hopes of the same glory that they could never attain due to racism. There was reference to wives and girlfriends back home, but no female characters in the film. This is because at that time the women’s place was not on the battlefield, but rather back home in the factories. This did not significantly take away from the movies persuasive purposes because it still made the point that we, the Americans and our allies, are good and that we will win because we’re smarter and righteous, while the enemy, who is bad and deceitful, will ultimately lose.

Posted by nels5175 at 12:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thought Sahara was a fantastic film. After having it brought to my attention, it was very easy to see the propagandistic attributes of the movie as it progressed from start to finish. As we discussed in class, OWI (the Office of War Information) outlined six basic categories and themes that were to serve as Hollywood's contribution to the war effort. I was able to see each and every one of them at some point within the movie. The movie was out to make the Germans evil and the American/Allied forces righteous. One example of this notion was the scene in which the captured German fighter pilot exclaims, "I don't want to be touched by a man of inferior race." Another example was when the Italian character shouted, "Italians are not like Germans - only the body wears the uniform and not the soul!" Another glaring example would be the two scenes in which the Germans either shot a man in the back or literally stabbed a man in the back! And yet another, slightly more subtle example was when the German P.O.W. continually lied about his ability to speak English. Now on the flip side, there were just as many if not more scenes that shed a light of righteousness upon the American commando/America. For example, the Americans welcomed people of other ethnicities (blacks, "frenchies", and Italians). Even in moments when water was extremely scarce, the Americans would still have the decency to share water with the German P.O.W. Also the Americans were willing to sacrifice their lives even if it meant that it was only going to "slow down" the Axis forces. The men were out there to protect freedom and to die for what they believed in. There are far too many messages and powerful ideas and ideals strew throughout Sahara to list and or articulate them all. Ultimately, I thought the movie was great. It was great because of its ability to present powerful American ideals in such an effective, entertaining, and uplifting way.

Posted by John Erck at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sahara definitely fit the bill for a WW2 era propaganda film, presenting all the aspects intended by the Office of War Information that were outlined by Gerstle. It portrayed the iconic American hero, played by Bogart, taking charge and saving the day. It portrayed bravery and sacrifice, with the unusual crew risking and sometimes losing their lives to advance the greater good. They acted together with members from all the Allied nations to put their duty to their cause and countries above their own life. It also showed the humanity of the American GI, because they risked their own water and rations just to save an enemy from an agonizing death. The film also showed audiences what all were fighting for, as various soldiers displayed pictures and recounted stories of the loved ones back home. The Nazi enemy was portrayed as coldhearted and demonized, with a prisoner going so far as to literally stab his ally in the back to escape. It does not address the civilian side of responsibility and the roles at home directly, but the Frenchman’s account of his civilian life at home does emphasize once again what the troops are fighting for. This is definitely a pro-American film, as Bogart explains that the troop captured victory because “American’s are stronger,” and they “have that extra something” that the Nazi enemy lacks.

This film showed the human depravity that people are capable of that is displayed by the Nazi, but it also emphasizes the courage that it evokes, demonstrated by the soldiers turned heroes when the hard decisions and sacrifices need to be made. It showed that sometimes an individual’s death is not in vain if they lived and die to advance the “good fight,” as this ragtag group did. The film did incorporate the aspect of racism, but it was only displayed by the Nazi enemy. The Allies seemed ready to accept the Sudanese soldier as one of their own, but as Gerstle pointed out, the OWI was careful not to force Americans to address the issue of racial equality in their own forces. The Sudanese soldier even sacrificed himself for the good of the crew, which serves to provide African Americans at home with aspirations of heroism without granting them equality in their ranks. The absence of women in this film is inconsequential, because the war did not include women on the front and definitely not in the ranks. Overall, this film would have served as an ideal propaganda film to accomplish the intended messages the government wished the public to receive.

Posted by schr0845 at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After watching Sahara, I would definitely classify it as a propaganda film. The film touched on several of the points the government used as a guide for war time movies. The issue of war, meaning what American troops were fighting for was one theme touched on in the movie. The character Joe Gunn was the leader for the American platoon, and he quickly became the leader of all the other platoons. Gunn became the selfless leader by letting others drink the newly discovered water before himself while he parented the soldiers by allowing them so much to drink. He was looking out for the safety of the other soldiers before himself. This could help give American viewers the impression that America was fighting for other allied countries freedoms as well as it’s own. Sahara also did a good job of portraying the enemy as a common evil. The Italian prisoner is found first and is shown as a very cowardly, but still likeable character. The German prisoner, however, is shown as cold hearted and back stabbing especially when he stabs the Italian prisoner while trying to escape during the battle. He is only known as a killer. The movie is uplifted a little when his character is killed, which shows how much the filmmakers wanted viewers to get a negative reaction to the Germans from this movie. The movie also incorporates the theme of United Nations because of the union of all the different platoons in the beginning of the movie. They all came together and endured pain together when they were out of food and water and while they later watched their comrades die in battle at the hands of the Germans. The production front and the home front were not mentioned often in the movie other than a glimpse at a letter to or from home. The final theme of fighting forces is also touched on in the movie. It depicts the platoon fleeing from German attack while trying to find refuge. Then, they get caught up in battle where they out-wit the German forces to win their battle. This is an important piece of propaganda because it would demoralize the home front by showing the same platoon on the losing end of the Sahara battle. When they win, it helps boost the morale of the American people.

Posted by kuni0018 at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is almost always at the top of “the best of all time” film lists. Why do think
that is, and would you put it on your own “all time” list?

I don't think I would go as far as to say that Citizen Kane is at the top of "the best of all time" list, but it was a pretty decent movie for its time.
Citizen Kane had many positive elements. For instance, the movie experimented with many different camera angles which made for a more interesting film. Storytelling is a strong aspect of the movie as well. Citizen Kane takes us through the life of one man; his accomplishments and failures, marriages and divorces. It shows everything Kane had to do to achieve the American dream. This made for a more realistic movie, showing how hard one man had to work to get to the top and how lonely it really is up there. I also really enjoyed the symbolism that took place in the movie. Having the viewer unaware of what 'rosebud' meant throughout the film keeps them in suspense until the end when the meaning of 'rosebud' is presented.
I wouldn't put this movie on my top list because even though it was a pretty good movie it was a little too slow moving for me and it was actually quite depressing.

Posted by ruff0046 at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:

1: "Memento"- This movie was really thought provoking. It takes your brain through two hours of confusion and in the end; you still may or may not have figured it out. He has no short-term memory and is trying to figure out the details of his wife's death.

2: "Ratatouille"- What can I say?! This is a feel-good movie, and personally, I really like France, furry things, and cooking, so you can see why this movie drew my interest. Also, it has something that most cartoons do not... Unlike most Disney films, they actually throw in elements of reality which make it interesting to adults too.

3: "Breakfast at Tiffany's": I LOVE Audrey Hepburn. This movie is endearing because it makes me feel like a very independent person compared to her character Holly-Go-Lightly, who tends to leech onto men and use her wit, charm, and good looks to party her way through life.

4. "American History X"- This is a weird favorite because of its neo-nazistic theme. I have a hard time watching this because of the shock value of it, but the first time I did, it opened my eyes to the reality of some hate-mob mentality that I was completely ignorant of.

5. "Abandon"- This is about a girl who is being stalked by a former boyfriend. In the end, however, things aren't quite as they seem. I really like the psychological thrill of this movie.

Artists:

1. Death Cab for Cutie - (favorite album: Transatlanticism) good for sleeping, relaxing, homework-doing

2. Arcade Fire

3. Amy Winehouse- apparently they didn't "try to make her go to rehab" hard enough! Her voice is beautiful in a way that is unexpected and intriguing.

4. R. Kelly- He may have a sketchy past, but the man knows how to make a 'phat' dance song

5. Anna Nalik- "chick music" at its finest

Posted by joh03704 at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I will admit that at first it was hard for me to focus and gain interest in the film Citizen Kane, partially because the films most of us engage in today are far more digitally enhanced and appealing to the eye; for example color vs. black and white. However, once I adjusted to this difference, I was able to see the film for its defiant strengths such as the story line, acting, connections with society, and creative filmmaking considering the limited resources and technology available at the time.
Although the movie was created years ago, it reflects on issues still relative to modern society. This allows people of today’s society the ability to make connections, which is usually an important aspect of films from a viewer’s perspective.
Citizen Kane reflects on the popular belief that having everything one could ever imagine does not always lead to true happiness. Implying that material worth is not what is most important. Americans, then and today, live for this story. It gives the less privileged hope and forces people to empathize and appreciate the non materialistic gifts life has to offer. Making connections and giving most people a better sense of worth.
The constant mystery of trying to figure out the meaning and significance of Charles Kane’s last word, “rosebud,” had me curious and intrigued throughout the entire movie. When the solution to the mystery is solved, revealing the symbolism of rosebud to the loss of Kane’s childhood, it implies that something as significant as one’s childhood is irreplaceable and no material worth can ever fill this void. This is always a popular storyline among modern society and never seems to get old.
I wouldn’t go as far to say that this is the greatest movie of all time. However, I would agree that this is a very excellent film that can still be appreciated today. The positive qualities found in the symbolism, connections, respectable acting, and creativity leave Citizen Kane a film quite deserving of a significant amount of credit.

Posted by munoz047 at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I remember my grandfather saying once that Citizen Kane was the best movie of all times, and that Plan 9 from Outer Space was consistently voted the worst. Personally, I enjoy Plan 9 a lot more than Citizen Kane if only for the fact that it induces some serious laughter. So when I first saw Citizen Kane as a senior in high school, I was left wondering what all the fuss was about. I thought Orson Welles was a good actor and that he made a pretty solid movie but—the best movie of all time? I didn’t think so and I still don’t. However, I don’t agree with this comment (seemingly written by either an old man who is wondering where the good old days disappeared to or some sullen teenager):

“Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message—all things that do not interest film-goers today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care.”

This I find to be very harsh (and also, if that’s all it takes to make a great film, I could make one tomorrow!). I would agree that people don’t care too much about Citizen Kane anymore as it is somewhat dated and a story that isn’t really relevant to your ordinary citizen as most of us aren’t multi-millionaires who can do whatever we want, but I don’t agree that the lack of interest is due to the fact that film-goers don’t care about cinematography, symbolism, or message. We do seem to care as the movies that get nominated to win Academy Awards tend to be fluent in all three of those categories. There’s even an award for best cinematography so someone must care.

Let’s look at the winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006. Personally I was very annoyed that Crash, a story about racism, won over Brokeback Mountain, a story about, well, you know, because I felt Brokeback Mountain was the better film and Crash was nothing new. But I guess the audiences and voters felt different and no doubt it was due to the message of the movie: that racism is still prevalent even if it’s not overt. Take a look at the leading-contender for Best Picture this year, No Country For Old Men, which is seeping with symbolism and has a powerful message of its own. Movie-goers do care about these things, just not so much in out-dated, 60 year old movies.

Posted by bergm150 at 03:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 movies
1. The Shawshank Redemption- I love the chemistry (platonic) between Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, both are tremendous actors. Also the story here is wonderful-- intricate, surprisingy and believable, thanks to Stephen King. Plus the cinematography is gorgeous, Thomas Newman's score complements perfectly, and I always end up with a happy feeling when I finish watching it. "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best thing". I could gush longer but I'll stop here.

2. Lost in Translation- I can really relate to what Scarlett Johansson is going through in this movie, feeling lost and unsure of what to do with her life. Also good music and gorgeous scenery.

3. The Squid and the Whale- This is just a really awesome movie about a dysfunctional family and how divorce affects the two children in the family. The ending is perfect especially with Lou Reed playing as background music.

4. No Country For Old Men- Rarely does a movie end where I think it should. This one does.

5. Pulp Fiction- Probably don't need to say anything on this one. It's clearly a great movie. Best script of all time, I would argue.

Top 5 Artists
(I'm a music lover so this should be difficult)

1. The B-52's- this is a sentimental selection. Plus, they very nearly founded alternative music.

2. Dave Matthews Band- typical college band, but they are very talented and put on the best concerts.

3. Stars/Decemberists/Arcade Fire/New Pornographers/Death Cab for Cutie- Sorry, that's five bands, but they all run in the same "indie" vein.

4. Heartless Bastards- a favorite of today, subject to change. Very powerful, energetic blues-rock band.

5. Tears for Fears- I'm a sucker for melancholic 80s bands.

(honorable mentions? Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, The Who, Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, The Beatles, George Harrison, John Lennon, Thomas Newman, John Williams, Wolf Parade, Wilco, XTC, Tegan and Sara, Damien Rice, Snow Patrol, Jesus and Mary Chain, Muse, Alanis Morissette, Genesis, Collective Soul, Coldplay, New Radicals, The Strokes, The Suburbs, and Sufjan Stevens). (sorry).

Posted by bergm150 at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I wouldn’t list Citizen Kane as one of “the best of all time”. The appeal of the American Dream is not as relevant as it was back then, and I believe it’s just harder for the majority of the population to relate to this as the middle class families have been growing steadily. Although I enjoyed the movie to a certain extent because I do believe that there is much more to life than the American Dream. It is not about the quantity of materials, but the quality and significance of holding such materials, whether it is excessive or not. The difference in the adult’s (Kane’s parents) idea of what happiness is (wealth) compare to a child’s (Charles Foster Kane) idea of what happiness is (family), is significant in the movie as at the end on his deathbed when he mentions the name of his sledge, brings us back to the notion that all the wealth he acquired and the love he bought never filled the void of leaving his family and the simpler times during his childhood. As he acquires wealth and spends money ruthlessly throughout the movie, it is fairly apparent that he was becoming farther and farther from affections he desired. In his final home, his palace, the large fireplace was sparsely furnished, normal conversation was hard to hold (they were shouting in the grand hall or … living room?) and everybody was unhappy. It was ironic how Charles Kane thought wealth could buy back what lacked from him but at the end what mattered to him most was considered worthless when he died and was burnt. It was a good movie and the irony forces people to rethink the concept of the American Dream.

Posted by lungx009 at 08:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 – Katherine Lung

Movies…

Running with Scissors – the dysfunctional family dynamics was funny and the fact that it was a real story.
Finding Neverland – I can’t specifically remember why, but it was enjoyable.
The Illusionist – the twist at the end made me shout out loud.
Perfume – the unexpecting ending and poignant twist to the plot was appealing.
Little Miss Sunshine – another dysfunctional family thing.

Musical artists…

Black Eyed Peas
Marie Digby
Gavin Degraw
Maroon 5
KT Tunstall

Posted by lungx009 at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would like to address several of the questions posed. First of all, as to Citizen Kane being considered the greatest movie of all time, I would have to disagree, although I do think that it was an amazing movie about what is important in life.

As far as this movie not interesting your average movie goer today, I think it wouldn't interest many. The first 5 minutes of the movie where it shows the life of Kane documentary are somewhat annoying in my opinion. Once the regular dialog and characters came into place, the movie become much more interesting. I think the depiction of the "American Dream" not being all that it's cracked up to be is very critical, today probably more so than before. Here is a man who had all the wealth in the world, and the final thing he thinks about on his deathbed is a time when he was with his mother and had a sled. He didn't want to leave as a young child because he desired the love of his mother. Later in life, when he had "gained everything," he had really lost everything in my opinion. The most important thing in life is not the money and things we acquire, rather it is the people in your life. For me it doesn't matter where I am, what I'm doing, or whether or not I am rich or poor, if I am not surrounded with people who care about me. Nothing is more important than this, and oftentimes people forget this in their pursuit of money and power. It is a powerful message about life, and I enjoy the storytelling method where the reporter goes and talks to people who have interacted with Kane in their life. It reminds me of the style of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and has many parallels with it. Both old movies, well ahead of their time, filled with messages that are just as important today as they were in the 1940s.

Posted by marsh401 at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies:

1) Casino. - I'm a big fan of the mob movies and of Pesci and De Niro. there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best Las Vegas/Mobster movie of all time.

2) Braveheart - The definition of an epic movie. First of it's kind and so many more films were inspired from it.

3) Blow - Some unreal Johnny Depp acting, and on top of it all its a true story.

4) The Notebook - I know I'm a guy and shouldn't like this movie, but it is definitely the best romance I have ever seen and an amazing story as well.

5) Superbad - prime example of a satire of mine and I'm sure many others' high school days. Could not stop laughing during the entire movie.

Top 5 Artists:

1) Dave Matthews Band - I'm not a total junkie, but gotta say I love listening and chilling to DMB. I also went to his concert at Alpine Valley this summer.

2) Tech N9ne - In my opinion one of the best and under recognized rappers out there. Been to two of his concerts and absolutely loved them.

3) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - love so many of his songs. Last Dance With Mary Jane, Learning to Fly, American Girl, Free Fallin, Don't Do Me Like That.... I could go on forever.

4) Led Zeppelin - Absolutely love Going to California, Over the Hills and Far Away, Dy'er Maker (which Sean Kingston eloquently ripped off for his song "Me Love") and so many more.

5) Toby Keith - I love some good country, and Toby Keith is pretty much the king. Went and saw him at We Fest in Detroit Lakes this year and had the time of my life.

Posted by marsh401 at 11:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

At first I didn't see how this movie could be rated one of the best movies of all time. Now, I can see why this movie is classic. It has all the elements of the "rags to riches" story. Everyone loves to see the underdog make it. It makes good story because it correlates to people that want to be that person or strive to be that person from rags to riches.

The part that stuck out the most to me is his lost childhood. How he used money, power, and knowledge try to compensate for a childhood that he lost. He was never happy or satisfied with what he had in life, even though became wealthy and powerful. He used it to live his dreams through other people which in the end did him no good. It wasn’t self fulfilling because he was never satisfied. In the end all of things he acquired didn’t hold any value compared to his sled “Rosebud” did. His sled represented simplicity. It was a symbol of freedom and living in the present time.

I think this movie depicts people who get caught up in material possessions and living a lavish life that they forget the simple things in life that should be cherished and remembered. For example, parents who are so occupied working and forgetting that they need to be there for their kids. They don’t get to experience their child growing up and being a big part of their life because they are so occupied worrying about the future and forgetting what is important now.

-Hubert-

Posted by tuazo001 at 11:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The film “Citizen Kane” I must admit, was only mildly entertaining to me. However, I do feel that this movie conveyed an interesting message. The fact that Kane’s financial success was so unfulfilling to him is a message that continues to be a topic of interest today. This can be exemplified by the number of people who seek fame and financial success as an end to being happy. There are a number of recent movies based around the premise of wealth and success not necessarily producing happiness. I find it remarkable that Wells was the first person to present this message to audiences. Although this film was not the most entertaining movie I’ve ever viewed I believe that it does convey a message that is still appealing and holds some resonance with audiences today.

Posted by Martine Schroeder at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had only seen clips of Citizen Kane before watching the entire movie in class last Wednesday. Yes, I still think that it can hold up in today’s world of film because of its very original story line. People in the 1940’s would have been more familiar with the parallel to William Randolph Hearst. That is lost on the generation today that maybe unfamiliar with him.

The plot and storytelling conveyed through the movie is still very compelling. Citizen Kane in comparison to other movies today stands out. Every scene with more than a minute of dialogue could be considered the climax of every other movie that I’ve seen in my opinion. That is why it is still considered the greatest movie of all time.
Another point I couldn’t help but notice was that the people Charles Foster Kane had the most intimate relationships with called him Charlie. His first wife, his best friend Jedediah Leland, and is second wife all called him Charlie. It could be said that perhaps if it had been a different time Kane would never have married his first wife. Maybe he would have been in an openly gay relationship with Jedediah. It was plain to me that originally that’s where Kane’s loyalty and affection lied. After all Kane asked Jed to go to Europe with him and when Jed asked to leave the New York office of the newspaper, Kane followed him to Chicago where he built his second wife a theater. Perhaps a grand gesture to distract from the real reason why he was there? I guess we’ll never know, but it is sure fun to speculate.
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Yes the hollow American Dream does have resonance with the modern film-goer. We’ve witnessed it in a different way. Modern day Charles Foster Kanes are the Ken Lays, Jeffrey Skillings and Enron CEO’s of our hollow American Dream. Instead of ruining one life at a time, our modern Kane’s have ruined thousands of people’s lives. Instead of deceiving a first wife about an affair, modern Kanes duped thousands of people by way of accounting fraud. While Charlie Kane was shown to have a heart in need of love and a yearning for a lost, innocent youth, the modern Kanes cared only for money.

Posted by byro0028 at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 movies - I definately enjoy the chick flick...
1) While You Were Sleeping
2) Father of the Bride
3) Ransom
4) Stepmom
5) Wedding Crashers

Top 5 artists –I basically will listen to any type of music, but these are probably my favorite artists from each genre.
1) Justin Timberlake
2) Dave Matthews Band
3) Mariah Carey
4) Rascal Flatts
5) Bob Dylan

Posted by Martine Schroeder at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've heard a lot of talk about this movie for most of my life, but going into class last Wednesday I honestly had no idea what this movie was about, much less what to expect. I particularly liked the way we learned about Kane through the stories and memories of those closest to him, but none of them knew him well enough to know what Rosebud actually meant. Kane is a tragic character, but brings the tragedy onto himself by succombing to tempatation of wealth and power, making it nearly impossible to sympathize with him.
Although the taste of moviegoers today has drastically changed since the time this movie came out, I don't agree that most people wouldn't care about the symbolism, message, etc, that this movie is based on. While the majority of us wouldn't put this movie in the top 5 list we just made, I believe most of us at least appreciate the differences between Citizen Kane and the dumb humor and redundant action movies that Hollywood wants us to watch. As a capitalist country, most people are concerned with acquiring as much wealth and power as possible, just like Kane does, but nobody really thinks about the consequences of having so much power in the palm of your hand. Therefore, this movie is still relevent in that respect, and probably will be for a long time...unless there is another communist uprising in the near future.

Posted by ross0426 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“If I wasn’t rich I might have been a good man.” Does wealth corrupt good people? I don't think so, but this movie brings up the idea that the quest for money and wealth has the power to turn good people bad. Kane is essentially alone when he dies. He is surrounded by material things that he has purchased in a house empty of family or friends. Sure he has a butler, but everyone in his life at this point, is paid to be in his life. I think that this movie is relevant to our society because so many people do strive for financial success, which is alright, but lose sight of more important things in the process. One problem this movie may have connecting with today's audience is that it was a little slow. Society has become more impatient over time and this could prevent it from being enjoyed by many people. Overall I found it entertaining enough with a refreshing message that money won't solve all problems and that maybe this American Dream that so many strive for is a little overrated.

Posted by Alicia Bjork at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I read the syllabus and noted that we would be screening “Citizen Kane” in class, I had mixed feelings. I knew it was an iconic film, a masterpiece, listed as one of the best, as one of those films you just need to see. My initial hesitancy was that it would be boring, slow, cheesy, and would not live up to all the hype. I have been proven wrong when it comes to classic movies, as “Rebel without a Cause” is one of my favorites, but nonetheless, I was not expecting to like the film. I was even more surprised when I found myself quite captivated by it.

While Kane was certainly flawed, perhaps even despicable, he is also pitiable. I found myself, more than disliking his character, actually feeling bad for him. As we come to learn in the end, that the meaning behind his last utterance, “rosebud,” is a reference to his beloved sled, a relic from his childhood, it shows us how traumatic his separation from his mother, and essentially, his childhood, was. He knew a true kind of love before he was taken away, something he was never able to replicate through domineering behavior or bought affections. Kane died with wealth, but was empty and alone; the adage “money doesn’t buy happiness” certainly rings true in this case.

I do think that the idea of a less idealized depiction of the American Dream does resonate with people in this time. While this comparison is quite possibly sacrilegious, I think there are many similarities between Kane and the “starlets” and “socialites” of today, for instance Britney Spears. Her childhood was, essentially, lost to fame; she grew up quickly with the constant scrutiny of the public. Now, in her mid-twenties, she’s rich, spending some obscene amount of money monthly, and has the attention of the world, but (as we’re constantly reminded) she is in decline. Her career is all but dead, she lost her kids, and she may be battling some addiction/mental health issues. Again, “money doesn’t buy happiness;” she has everything, but nothing, as did Kane.

Posted by palaz012 at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Miles Mendenhall favorite Music and Movies…

Songs: Ohia, the magnolia electric company (one whole album about an electric company that employs a small town)

Joanna Newsom, Y’s (I drove 7 hours to see her backed up by a 28 piece orchestra and have no problem admitting I cried)

Windmill, Puddle City Racing (#1 and #3 are just good enough to excuse any other lack luster track)

Leadbelly, Capitol Record Recordings (Leadbelly is just a cool guy)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Good toe tapping)

The Great Escape ( I modeled most of my masculine characteristics after Steve Mcqueen)

Tekkonkinkreet (Great art, brilliant story, cool name).

Oldboy (Has one of the best plot twists)

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (It’s the scariest movie I’ve ever been made to watch and 75% of the scary things happen during the day)

Zeitgeist (A brilliant and well researched documentary summing up a scary theory and its future consequences. I wish its sources were illegitimate so I didn’t have to believe it)

Citizen Kane Review

Citizen Kane, cited often as one of the greatest movies of all time, holds little mainstream audience in today’s society. First and foremost, consider the differences in cinematography. Welles stretches out his scenes, sometimes going minutes without any substantial dialogue or emotion, a device that, although commendable, would never hold the attention of a generation who grew up on the ADHD inducing 10 second flashy scenes of MTV and action movies. It preaches patience to a distracted culture, and preaches a message that has become trite. Based around the idea that money can’t buy happiness, Kane fails to identify with a culture who has turned such a statement into a sort of mantra, quoting the phrase to anyone who works too much, buys extravagant things etc, etc. Although a progressive thought in the day it was made in, it becomes lost like anything else of worth in the present day, passed up for Die Hard and whatever Harry Potter installment they are on now.

Posted by mende058 at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:

Star Wars - The original trilogy never gets old for me, and the special effects that Lucas uses are incredible for the time. The new movies are also good, but I don't think they can ever be considered classics like the originals.

Tommy Boy - The best performance by one of the funniest men to have ever lived, Chis Farley.

Dazed and Confused - Anybody that has lived through high school can relate to this movie in one way or another.

Boondock Saints - This movie really makes you think about the differences between right and wrong/ good vs. evil and whether ordinary citizens have the right to take the law into their own hands if the law enforcement is less than sufficient. And it's just straight up bad ass.

Girl's 'Yeah Right' - A skateboarding video that turns the sport and the filming of it into a piece of art. The tricks are innovative and technical as hell, great use of special effects (special effects in skate video? yep.), and the audio/video synchronization is amazing (the entire film is perfectly edited so that every trick pops and/or lands on the beat of the song playing in the background). Anyone can appreciate this video, even if you don't skateboard or know anything about the sport.

Music

Operation Ivy - Even though they only recorded one full length album, they completely changed the way punk rock would be played from then on.

Black Keys - A twosome that puts a modern twist on blues rock, but still stays true to the roots.

The Roots - These guys have the best beats in all of hip hop, no questions asked.

Led Zeppelin - I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't put the greatest rock and roll band of all time on my list.

Pennywise - A punk band that plays hard and fast every song. They didn't really change the scene at all like Op Ivy, and after a while all their songs start to sound the same, but I love them nonetheless.

Posted by ross0426 at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Why hello there! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I must say this is a hard topic for me because I love a lot of music albums and movies. It was hard for me to narrow my top fives but I did it. In no particular order…

Music Albums

1) Justin Timberlake: Justified. I really loved Justin’s style and swagger even when he was with N’sync. He has such a great voice and a great dancer. This album just set him apart from your stereotypical pop album that was expected from him. He really showcased R&B in this album. With the help of Timberland, he had great beats and melodies in this album. I can play through the whole album without skipping a song. Every song in my opinion was really good.
2) Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSounds: Okay you guessed it, I’m a Justin Timberlake fan. I really love this album as much as his first ones. Again, showcasing R&B flavor, he made an album worth listening to every song. The song “My Love” was such a hit and it had a unique beat to it. I can never get sick of that song.
3) Lupe Fiasco: The Cool. This is the latest album I just can’t get enough of. He a great lyricist. He is able to relay messages or tell stories vividly through his lyrics. He has this bboy/skater swagger unlike your typical hip hop artist.
4) Dr. Dre – The Chronic. This album will be forever classic. Dr. Dre really pioneered gangster rap through this album in its time. Though the album may be vulgar, it was comedic and informative about what goes on in the “ghetto”. The song “Ain’t nothing but a G thang” will forever be a classic hit in hip/hop. He really put the west coast rap on his back at the time.
5) The Game: The documentary. This is one hot album. For a period of time, west coast hip hop fell off. The rise of southern hip hop dominated the scene. The Game was noted at the “the Savior of West Coast rap”. With Dr. Dre mentoring the Game, they made a classic album. It had all the elements of west coast rap and was able to slow things down with the upbeat of southern rap. Every song on this album was really good!

Movies

1) Bad Boy 1 & 2. My two favorite comedic actors, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence teamed up and made a movie I can never get sick of. They were so funny in this movie. You can tell that they really had chemistry working together to make these movies successful.
2) Dodgeball – I love Ben Stiller and the whole concept of “Dodgeball”. They had funny characters and the movie was exciting from beginning to end.
3) She’s All That – I thought this was a great modern day classic love story. The movie was funny consistently and did a great job displaying the “ugly duckling” story to modern times.
4) Crash – I love the storyline. How in the end each character had a affect on each others lives without even knowing it.
5) Cloverfield – I really like the how they projected the movie in an amateur like filming. It seemed real and you can feel the terror and emotions that were going on at the time. I love how the story unfolds in the end with the relationship of the main character and his crush.

-Hubert-

Posted by tuazo001 at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Music
1. Arctic Monkeys - daily life in Sheffield, England, set to indie/garage rock aesthetics - fast, with amazing beats.
2. The Suicide Machines - hardcore punk/ska band with progressive political/social overtones
3. Muse - dystopia/apocalypse/conspiracy themes, amazing guitar riffs, and a singer with crazy falsetto skills.
4. Nirvana - what do you say about Nirvana? It's Nirvana. I guess that's all you really need to say.
5. White Stripes - Jack White is some sort of eccentric musical mad scientist; simplistic music, that combines country, folk, blues, and garage rock.

Film
1. Amelie - My all-time favorite movie. Wonderfully quirky characters, amazing cinematography, beautiful score.
2. Last King of Scotland - this film gave me chills; the acting is extraordinary. Forest Whitaker is almost indistinguishable from Idi Amin.
3. About A Boy - This film has a surprising amount of depth, considering it's a Hugh Grant vehicle. It deals with issues of redemption, acceptance, commitment, and growth. It also has a great score by Badly Drawn Boy.
4. Pan's Labyrinth - Beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
5. Lord of the Rings/Master & Commander - This is a tie; both of these films launched obsessions, in their own right, and I couldn't bear to eliminate one. The geek in me needed to know everything possible about the making of LOTR, and in doing so, has left me in awe of its grandeur. Master & Commander, another great epic film, reenacted 19th century maritime life with an astonishing amount of detail and brought about my interest in sailing/ships.

Posted by palaz012 at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is one of the best movies of all time because it has various aspects that continue to appeal to many movie goers. The most apparent evidence is observing how the students were willing to spend 10 more minutes to finish the movie. It was captivating because the “Rosebud” word mystery continued throughout the movie. It is human nature to be curious and understand the unknown. Therefore most audiences that saw the movie since the 1940s, -no matter whether the genre of Citizen Kane appealed to them or not- wanted to figure out what Charles Foster Kane was thinking when he chose “Rosebud” as his last word. Citizen Kane is also one of my “all time” list because I too demand explanation for the word.

I do not think that Citizen Kane’s depiction of the American dream resonates with today’s film goers. Not very many people would wish to use their wealth and power the way Charles did. Many people, including the audience of the movie, would probably choose to stay happy while living a regular life than trading wealth for happiness.

I do not fully agree with the statement that nobody would care if I were to show the movie to a random audience because even though the movie is very dated, it still has the curiosity aspect that will continue to captivate its viewers.

Comparing Citizen Kane to movies I see today, there isn’t much angle differences that stand out. However a few differences did show. It seems like there was always a camera zoom in one’s face in order to make one's expression really stand out. Another difference was that none of the characters seemed casual. Everyone was always uptight. The men all wore a suit and the women wore formal dresses.

I think that the portrayal of Charles was fair because it showed that no human being has power over everything no matter how rich they are. Charles was a decent man but he couldn’t use his wealth and power to make his abusive relationship workout with his partner .

Posted by onon0006 at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Cane was a thought provoking movie. The movie never came out and specifically spelled out what I the concepts the movie conveys, but instead subtly alluded to them throughout the entire movie. This caused me to inadvertently think far more about this movie and the meanings behind it than any other movie I have ever watched. This is a large part of the reason why Citizen Cane often appears on the top of the best movies of all time lists. Critics watch hundreds of movies, so a movie that does not let them stop thinking about it obviously appear high in their lists. Also although it is an old and black and white movie the acting as well as the story line was exemplary even if they do not meet up to current standards.
The first major theme was that the American Dream is not necessarily what it is made up to be. Cane as a child had everything that he wanted in his sled and his family. His parents were not able to realize this and so sent him off to a place he could live the American Dream and in so doing took away everything he really wanted. Following in his live Cane gained power and respect which are what many people strive for, yet all he wanted in the end was love and acceptance, things he was never able to buy. Cane never realized this as even when he had a woman who was willing to love him as he continued to try to buy her affection; instead of earning it by the way he acted toward her. In saying rosebud when she left I believe that he realized what he had done by treating her as he did. He had done the same thing to her in buying her everything and removing her from the life that she knew as his parents had to him when they sent him off to live with the well educated man for a better upbringing.
Another theme was how mass media is able to influence public opinion and beliefs.

Posted by andre368 at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MUSIC

Semisonic-Closing Time (has been my favorite song since the first time I heard it years ago and I listen to it on my computer all the time)

Green Day-Boulevard of Broken Dreams (awesome song even though it was originally way overplayed on the radio)

Weird Al-White and Nerdy (I love satire and this was an awesome remake of Riding Dirty)

Chris Rice-The Cartoon Song (Great worship song with a great point)

Trace Adkins-I Ain’t Never Had Too Much Fun (I don’t like very much country but I really get a kick out of this song, I love it when a song makes me laugh)

MOVIES

The Matrix (Love the concept and the whole general movie, had awesome action and plot. Was seriously disappointed by the two following sequels)

Lord of the Rings (all three movies were awesome both in their storyline and their visual quality)

Gladiator (Awesome story of what it is to be a person who sticks to their beliefs and is willing to die for them. I enjoyed the portrayal of the greatness and weakness of the human kind)

Red vs. Blue (very cleverly made inside a video game with voices put to characters. Great satire that needs a good understanding of the game (halo) to understand but is simply hilarious)

Fantastic 4 (The move was very entertaining and I love things that have a hypothetical scientific background that is made to seem believable, even if it is not actually possible. I felt that this movie did an outstanding job of this)

Posted by andre368 at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies:
Almost Famous- I love the spontaneity portrayed throughout this movie and also thoroughly enjoy the soundtrack.
Pulp Fiction- In addition to the numerous amazingly talented actors, this movie also contains an intriuging story line and is an all around excellent movie.
Juno- Recently became one of my favorite movies. I found it to be adorable, touching, and hilarious all at once. The soundtrack is also wonderful.
Dazed and Confused- This movie reminds me so much of my own High School experience and is always a fun one to watch.
Across the Universe- I love musicals and what better music to incorporate than The Beatles.

Top 5 Artists:
This was a very difficult thing for me to do.
Bob Dylan- An extremely gifted artist with amazing lyrics.
Red Hot Chili Peppers- A band I can listen to over and over again and never get sick of them.
The Beatles- Classics that will always be remembered and appreciated by numerous generations.
Norah Jones- I love bluegrass and find her music to be calming and always puts me in a happier mood.
Mason Jennings- Mason's acoustics and lyrics are moving and always make me happy. I grew an even bigger appreciation for his music after seeing him live.

Posted by munoz047 at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Considered one of the greatest films of all-time, Citizen Kane certainly does many things well. First, the film exemplifies that, for some, money simply can't buy happiness. I believe this is a view that resonates with many modern film-goers. Living in a society in which they are exposed to corporate scandal, greed by professional athletes and celebrity vanity on a daily basis, I truly believe that the greater theme of Citizen Kane would ring true for many of today's film-goers. Second, I would have to disagree with the comment posted on the assignment page that no one today would appreciate the magnificence of Kane's cinematography, symbolism and its message. I would argue that while the modern trend in movies is to go bigger and better with visual effects, true film-makers and film-goers are just as concerned with a film's content (cinematography, symbolism and its message) as they are with surface-driven action sequences. Third, there is a stark contrast between Welles' shooting methods with those of today's filmmakers. In Kane, one can observe the long takes imposed by Welles. Often times, a scene will stretch the limits of dialogue or emotion before cutting to another scene. This couldn't be further from the methods of today's producers. Short, concise sequences full of visual stimuli have replaced the longer takes of older films such as Kane. Whether this is a positive or a negative is, in my opinion, still up for debate. Last, I wish to comment on the status of the film as one of the greatest of all-time. For me, Kane is a very good film. It breaks the boundaries of genre, as it could be seen as a mystery, drama or tragedy. Welles deviated from the norms of film-making, as he was among the first artists to depict the affluent lifestyle in a negative manner. In doing so, he took a risk and produced a classic film that stands the test of time. Although I wouldn't put Citizen Kane in my top five films, I can certainly see why others have.

Posted by stap0069 at 09:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What first strikes you in the film Citizen Kane is just the absolute massive scope of everything. From the towering Xanadu to the close ups of the imposing characters, this is a film that really turns a critical eye on the grandeur of the object, and in so doing the American obsession with over indulgence.
While the film could have easily started with Charles Kane as a boy on the streets, it instead starts with a time line of the man's life at his death. Doing this allows Orson Welles to forefront the image, as the opening montage becomes of series of grand structures and scenes. One after the other, each of a more and more massive scale. From the towering Xanadu, to the birds eye shot of the union square as literally a sea of people, Welles puts the idea of the American dream on display from the very beginning. This effect is achieved due to the often used low angle shots to show us the buildings giving ea