Spring Break
Stop neglecting America's artistic heritage
Notes from Underground
Adam Roberts
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Opinion
In humanities class, we watched some awful biopic about Beethoven's love life instead of doing something useful, like screening "2001: A Space Odyssey."
But, if there's only room in the curriculum for one cinematic masterpiece, "Citizen Kane" is the one to choose. Apart from its grammatical and technical importance, "Kane" is a story that could only be told in America. It is a story about the American Dream - money, meritocracy, media, materialism - and its failure to satisfy.
Sixty-seven years later, uniquely American figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson and Bill Gates are best explained by pointing toward Charles Foster Kane. The original title of the screenplay of "Citizen Kane"? "The American."
It's been suggested to me that many people might avoid seeing "Citizen Kane" precisely because of its accolades. There's something a bit stuffy about renting a film practically subtitled "The Greatest Movie of All Time."
This is understandable.
"Hamlet" is much more boring when your teacher assigns you a five-page paper about it than it would be if you just happened to stumble across it at the bookstore.
This is also unfortunate.
"Kane" is far from boring. Set up as a mystery story, we learn the details of Charles Foster Kane's rise from virtually nothing, his role in starting a war, his run for governor, his love affairs and ultimately his collapse under his own power.
"Kane" features a fantastic cast, headed by Welles himself, who directed the film - his first - at age 24. "Kane" essentially codified film grammar and pioneered techniques of focus and editing. It created a new style of filmmaking that fundamentally changed every piece of cinema made afterward.
However, the movie is easily accessible to all audiences, not just to film buffs. Two hours spent watching an essential classic is not too much to ask of high school graduates.
If you want to know anything about America, you have to know about movies. And if you want to know anything about movies, you have to see "Citizen Kane."
Adam Roberts is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Monday.
But, if there's only room in the curriculum for one cinematic masterpiece, "Citizen Kane" is the one to choose. Apart from its grammatical and technical importance, "Kane" is a story that could only be told in America. It is a story about the American Dream - money, meritocracy, media, materialism - and its failure to satisfy.
Sixty-seven years later, uniquely American figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson and Bill Gates are best explained by pointing toward Charles Foster Kane. The original title of the screenplay of "Citizen Kane"? "The American."
It's been suggested to me that many people might avoid seeing "Citizen Kane" precisely because of its accolades. There's something a bit stuffy about renting a film practically subtitled "The Greatest Movie of All Time."
This is understandable.
"Hamlet" is much more boring when your teacher assigns you a five-page paper about it than it would be if you just happened to stumble across it at the bookstore.
This is also unfortunate.
"Kane" is far from boring. Set up as a mystery story, we learn the details of Charles Foster Kane's rise from virtually nothing, his role in starting a war, his run for governor, his love affairs and ultimately his collapse under his own power.
"Kane" features a fantastic cast, headed by Welles himself, who directed the film - his first - at age 24. "Kane" essentially codified film grammar and pioneered techniques of focus and editing. It created a new style of filmmaking that fundamentally changed every piece of cinema made afterward.
However, the movie is easily accessible to all audiences, not just to film buffs. Two hours spent watching an essential classic is not too much to ask of high school graduates.
If you want to know anything about America, you have to know about movies. And if you want to know anything about movies, you have to see "Citizen Kane."
Adam Roberts is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Monday.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Becky
posted 12/01/08 @ 2:51 PM CST
I have watched this movie, but it has been years! Perhaps it is time to review? Thanks for your insight once again.
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