With the emergence of mass media in the twentieth century, generations of Americans have tried to make sense of its immense power, and discern between the gifts and obstacles it presents. Ironically, mass media is often used to criticize itself, acting as the ideological battleground where opinions on the subject are both aimed and fired. The 1941 film, Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles examines one man 's impact on the news industry, ans later pieces such as Edward R. Murrow 's "Chicago Speech to Radio and Television News Directors Association" in 1958 and Barbara Kruger 's 1987 (Untitled) I shop therefore I am print continue the tradition of analyzing why Americans treat mass media in the manner they do. Through these three pieces, …show more content…
In Barbara Kruger 's (Untitled) I shop therefore I am print, she extends her criticism to that of mass media in a broader sense. Her print is a warped version of philosopher René Descartes ' observation "I think, therefore I am." While Descartes ' original statement speaks of finding oneself through the careful consideration of the facts, Kruger 's use of parallelism ironically diminishes the act of contemplation and replaces it with impulsive consumption. Since this phrase has a high historical profile, it has become revered in Western culture with little further deliberation; Kruger builds off this idea of blind acceptance of Descartes ' phrase to reflect how Americans place unwarranted importance on consumption and materialism. A similar theme is found in Citizen Kane: in an effort to find happiness and acceptance Kane attempts to take refuge in collecting mere things rather than establishing secure relationships. This sort of blatant adherence to materialism is a product of capitalism broadcast to Americans by mass media, which was common criticism found in 1980s counterculture. While Kruger 's interpretation of capitalism and the public is severe disapproval, Murrow expresses hope in the relationship between mass media and capitalism. Murrow believes that mass media can become an intelligent means to educate people "inside of the existing framework" and "redound to the credit of those who finance and program it" as well (507). This more optimistic take on capitalism in America is not echoed in Kruger 's piece, however. By having a grayscale, disembodied hand hold the slogan in the print, Kruger creates a sense of anonymity associated with media that feeds people messages
When you watch television, how much time do you consider that television is probably the best medium to get loads of information out to the masses? Well in chapters 7-9 of Postman 's Amusing ourselves to death, Postman explains just how much television is an influence on everyday life among the people who watch it. Whether it 's how the news condenses it 's information into small segments to ensure that the audience will get the most out of the short 20 minute show, how preachers of religions use television to shape their views in order to get the best reaction out of the audience. Or perhaps how politicians use short commercials, slander ads, and self-enhancing ads to make themselves seem as the best candidates, television is a great way to get your face out there, and to get people to follow your cause. This essay will weave all
Some said mass media were inappropriate and made youngsters addicted to daily fun. It is undeniable to say that the widespread of mass media, for instance, movies, radios, newspapers, and magazines during the 1920s created a stupendous impact in the people’s values and views nationwide. The 1920s was distinctive because of the rise of mass media. This was an era of transformation and modernization in assorted fields. Mass communications such as movies, radios, newspapers, and magazines expanded across the nation and appeared in almost all households by the end of the decade.
The Film Citizen Kane was a groundbreaking film in the 1940’s, the way Orson Wells depicts his film with different lighting, cinematography, choice of camera shots and mise-en-scene throughout this movie truly showed the masterpiece that this film is. In the Film Citizen Kane, it was the first movie that went against true Hollywood cinema by introducing flashbacks throughout the movie to show us how Charles Foster Kane changes throughout the movie. Throughout this movie the audience can see how Charles Foster Kane undergoes a variety of physical and emotional changes from when he was just a young boy all the way until his unfortunate death. Power, that’s all that Kane wanted in the start of the film. In the beginning of the film Kane gets ownership of the struggling New York Daily Inquirer, Kane suggests that he wanted to use journalism to apply to the public and protect the interest of ordinary people.
To begin, Bradbury argues that the overuse of technology, especially television, causes members of modern society to become ignorant and self-centered. Harold Bloom describes Bradbury’s warnings about the danger of technology: Technology, according to Beatty, is to blame for the oppressive world around them. Bradbury, through Beatty, is issuing a warning―that unchecked technological development, mindless thrill-seeking in media, and the political anomie of the majority, create in American society a drastic vulnerability to a progressive degeneration of its cultural and intellectual capacities, with a corresponding decay of its democratic political institutions. (29)
Directed by Orson Welles, the 1941 motion picture “Citizen Kane” is the story of the rise and fall of a great, influential man. The opening scenes of “Citizen Kane” are quite different from what follows during the rest of the film. Fading in and out of different landscapes instilled mystery. This mysterious vibe was carried on during Charles Foster Kane’s death through the use of shadows, quiet music, and close up shots. Isolated in his vast empire of a home, Kane uttered only one word before he passed: “rosebud.”
Citizen Kane challenged the traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema mainly in the area of sound. Orson Welles was ahead of his time when he created his works of manipulating sound to transfer meaning in the film Citizen Kane. Welles used concealed hanging microphones to obtain different levels of sound throughout the film. The manner, in which the story was told, from Kane’s death flashbacked to his life of success and ultimate failure, was also a new style of storytelling for films. Welles also used symbolism with his last mumbling word “Rosebud.”
There are many things that make “Citizen Kane” considered as possibly one of the greatest films every made; to the eyes of the passive audience this film may not seem the most amazing, most people being accustomed to the classical Hollywood style, but to the audience with an eye for the complex, “Citizen Kane” breaks the traditional Hollywood mold and forges its own path for the better. Exposition is one of the most key features of a film, it’s meant introduce important characters and give the audience relevant details and and dutifully suppress knowledge in turn. “Citizen Kane” does not follow this Classic Hollywood style exposition, instead going above and beyond to open the film with revealing as little information as possible and confuse/intrigue
Citizen Kane by Orson Welles is a cinematic classic, released in 1941. Citizen Kane challenged traditional narrative and technical elements of classic Hollywood cinema. Kane was narrated by several people that include their take on Kane’s life. The story unfolds by many flashbacks and is told by different perspectives over the years through different narrations. Charles Foster Kane was a millionaire, head of newspapers and died saying “rosebud”.
Universal Design Film Review Does the film fall into any particular genre? Quentin Tarantino 's Pulp Fiction is a mixture of a few different types of genres, it is considered a gangster movie but there are more layers to it than one genre, at the time when it was made it was an independent film (Indie Film), black comedy, Drama and a Thriller. How does the film address the themes/issues of adversity? In general, the film is about American nihilism, the transformation of the characters involved in the movies plot, Jules and butch who 's stories unfurl in non-logical order. Jules starts the film with a narrow view on life, we are first introduced to Jules on a job with another character Vincent who has just arrived back from spending 3
O Brother Where Art Thou? is a film that will take you on a perilous journey with Ulysses Everett McGill and his simpleminded cohorts. This film may be set amidst the early 1930’s Great Depression era, but it still has a Homer’s Odyssey feel to it. Down in the dusty and highly racial south, Everett recruits a couple of dimwitted convicts, Pete Hogwallop and Delmar O’Donnell, to help him retrieve his lost treasure and make it back home before his wife marries another suitor.
Shot Analysis: Citizen Kane Orson Welles, director of “Citizen Kane”, is well known for his unusual directing methods that defied conventional cinematic techniques. Welles provided his audience with original forms of cinematography, narrative structures, and music. The scene I chose to analyze is extremely important to the plot of the film because Kane begins to realize that he is going through some serious financial problems. During the scene, Kane maintains a sarcastic mood, until he finally decides to surrender and signs the papers that transfer the ownership of his media empire to Mr. Thatcher.
The Godfather (1972) is said to be one of the greatest films ever made. When this movie was released in 1972, it was nominated for Ten Academy Awards and it won three: Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was adapted from the book with the same name written by award winning author of mafia fiction, Mario Puzo. This film takes place in a span of ten years following the life of Don Corleone, the head of the Corleone Crime Family. It was a film that changed the history of cinema, introducing a very talented filmmaker and several acting legends in the telling of a story of a Sicilian Crime Family.
Two films, although created years apart yet have a lot in common, including their content of it’s narrative techniques. Both films, even though black and white with strokes of genius of cinema offer a vast stretch for study. I will be looking at Sir Orson Welles “Citizen Kane” (1941) and Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” (1950). We see in Citizen Kane he values for the American life. The three abstract themes that constantly follow through Citizen Kane are Wealth, Power and Love.
Kylie Mawn Professor Rodais CINE 121 Midterm 4 March 2018 Question 1: Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) is a film that is well known for pushing cinematic boundaries in many ways. One commonly recognized technique in Welles’ film is deep focus photography. Deep focus photography is used in films to allow everything in a shot to be in focus at once. Typical, only specific characters or objects are in focus in any given frame in order to guide the audience’s attention in a scene, but deep focus can bring a new level of sophistication to a shot.
According to Baran (2012) mass communication can be defined as “the process of creating shared meaning between the mass media and their audiences.” This essay aims to discuss the degree to which we are shaped by our interaction with the media. In order to achieve the aforementioned aim of this essay I will focus on the following: limited-effects theory, two-step flow theory, attitude change theory and agenda setting. The limited effects theory sets out that media influence is based on individual and social characteristics.