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Citizen Kane Meaning

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Citizen Kane is a film ahead of its time with an astounding amount of depth saturating every scene. Orson Welles, director of this film in addition to other well renowned works such as the 1938 radio broadcast, War of the Worlds, and the voodoo based Macbeth in 1935 with the Federal Theatre Project, is known for his bold moves and brilliance in the visual arts. Citizen Kane was born out of the most sought after Hollywood contract that gave Welles complete control of his productions (he was guaranteed two), and an unlimited budget. This offer came after Welles created mass panic in the States with his radio interpretation of H. G. Wells’s novel, and was his first role in Hollywood.
The film itself was a culmination of the best Welles could …show more content…

First I will lay out the opening scene. Next I will identify a few of the dominant pieces and will analyze them to extract their intended meaning. Finally, I will conclude by linking the intended meaning with the intentions of Welles. This will draw out Welles’s desire to challenge and amaze those who watch him, and set a pretense of expectations when continuing the study of the man himself.
Citizen Kane opens on a black and white image of a “No Trespassing” sign attached to a fence. The scene behind is covered with fog, and there are no discernible shapes. The sign takes up over ½ the screen, establishing its importance to the film. The camera pans up the chain linked fence slowly; one type of linked fence transitions to another, and then to an open brick wall. Throughout, ominous music drones on, and even with the openings, the fog continues to block the scenery beyond. The anticipation continues to build through the first transition of images. The brick wall fades slowly down off the screen while the top of a gate with a large “K”, a massive castle atop a hill, and some plant life resonate in the

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