American Politics & Pop Culture

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.