Power: Kane's Goal and Ultimate Demise

Citizen Kane is the story of Charles Foster Kane, who is a massively wealthy and famous media personality, and who dies at his estate while holding a snow globe and uttering the words “Rosebud”.  Kane’s death makes newspaper headlines, and reporter Jerry Thompson attempts to unravel Kane’s life and to discover the meaning behind his last word. Thompson interviews all the former members of Kane’s life, and is able to reconstruct the celebrity’s past.   He learns that while Kane enjoyed enormous financial and professional success, he was incapable of leading a cohesive private life for a significant time period. After two divorces and the strange absence of his son, Kane dies alone in his cavernous palace.

Consistently present in the film is the inclusion of thunder and lightning. This ominous foreshadowing is characteristic in drama films and film noir, and represents the dark and elusive life of Kane.

Charles Kane’s enormous wealth leads to his power, and to his abusive nature in his second marriage and his ultimate demise.  Kane himself remarks, “If I hadn’t been really rich, I might have been a really great man.” His drive to succeed and own property was a vicious cycle: once he started buying, he couldn’t stop. Everything for him was about power. He then needed attention, because he was too busy for any personal relationships. Gary Simmons writes in his article Smoke and Mirrors in Citizen Kane: “So the film can also be viewed as a psychological drama, or psychodrama. It is clearly located in the psyche of Kane… The film is a case study of a number of psychological characteristics such as megalomania, hubris, narcissism and delusion…” Leland, Kane’s former employee and friend, remarks about his boss later on to Thompson: “He married for love -- that's why he did everything. That's why he went into politics. It seems we weren't enough. He wanted all the voters to love him, too. All he really wanted out of life was love. That's Charlie's story -- it's the story of how he lost it. You see, he just didn't have any to give. He never believed in anything except Charlie Kane.” The truth is this statement is manifest at every turn in the story. Kane loses two wives because of his inability to reciprocate love. Kane’s first wife leaves him because he never has time for her, but he expects her to shower him with unconditional love anyway. His second wife too divorces him, because it finally dawns upon her that when they married, they became one unit. And that unit was Charles Foster Kane. He forces her to sing, even when she protests and pleads with him; he berates her enjoyment of doing puzzles, and he forces her to accompany him on a picnic. When she finally tries to leave, he slaps her. Although Kane is seen as an enormous success story by the media, in truth, he isn’t. He is physically and publicly a strong character, but emotionally, he is weak and power-hungry, and it leads to his tragic solitary death. He has no friends or family by his side when he dies, and no one personally cares. Ultimately, this film is a story about the corruption of wealth: when Kane became wealthy, he became powerful, and desperate for love and approval.  When he couldn’t reciprocate love in his shallow relationships, his personal life went to pieces, and he died a lonely man.   

The Maltese Falcon and Film Noir

The Maltese Falcon revolves around its namesake, a long-lost valuable bird statuette, and how three devious schemers plot to finally lay their hands on the bird. While researching the so-called disappearance of client Brigid O’Shaughnessy’s sister, private investigator Archer is shot. His partner, Spade, continues his research, when Thursby, the man suspected to be behind the disappearance of O’Shaughnessy’s sister, is also shot. Through dealings with various shady characters, Spade uncovers the mystery behind the murders: a long-lost black falcon statuette. He eventually discovers that O’Shaughnessy is not the innocent schoolgirl that she seems to be; rather, she was behind Archer’s murder in the hope that Thursby would be eliminated, and she would not have to split the proceeds from the falcon with him. O’Shaughnessy tries everything to ingratiate herself to Spade so he won’t turn her into the police when he discovers her schemes, but he is determined to reveal her, and she is taken into custody along with several other crooked men.

The Maltese Falcon emphasizes elements of film noir, which are crime dramas involving cynicism and mystery. Spade is the quintessential “hard-boiled” detective of film noir who has a characteristically tough attitude. He mocks Wilmer and plays on his low self-esteem, and recommends that he be framed as the perpetrator of all the crimes committed and turned in to the police. Additionally, Spade “plays” all the women in his life, and manipulates them all so he can attain his goals and fulfill his personal agenda. For example, he has several pet names for Effie, his secretary, and she is always running at his every beck and call, like when she delivers the falcon to Spade at an ungodly hour. He sleeps with Iva, the wife of his partner, Archer, but when Iva comes to him for help after Archer is shot, Spade ignores her and asks Effie to send flowers to the family as a way to brush off Iva. Last but not least, he “plays” O’Shaughnessy the most. He casually asks for her love, and manipulates her into thinking that he loves her, and so she reciprocates. But he is just after her looks; her schoolgirl, mysterious, untruthful character frustrates him. At the end, when O’Shaughnessy begs for mercy and reminds Spade of his love for her, he kisses her quickly, and turns her in to the police. Although Spade solves the mysteries, he is the ultimate manipulative, devious, hard-boiled detective.

Abigail Jaffe

"What wives don't know won't hurt them."

 Jerry Warriner told his wife Lucy he was going to Florida, but he then vacations somewhere else, while Lucy Warriner is involved with her voice instructor in her husband's absence. Both return to their home, and an argument quickly escalates about the whereabouts of the other. Divorce is suggested, and is quickly pursued. Jerry and Lucy both engage in external, artificial romantic relationships to make the other jealous. Eventually, the couple find themselves together in a cabin, and Jerry apologizes for his foolish behavior. The ending strongly implies that they will reunite and remarry.

The title is one of the first utterances Jerry makes in the film. Jerry's phrase forms the entire fabric of the story, and  foreshadows the forthcoming events of the abrubt and carefree end of the couple's marriage. The essential problem in their marriage is that they don't truly trust each other and live cohesively as a functional unit. They are both leading their own lives while living under the same roof. Jerry takes a solo vacation to "Not-Florida" which is shrowded in mystery and suspicion, while Lucy spends the night at a hotel away from home with her voice instructor. The title embodies the attitude that Jerry has about his marriage, the idea that "I can do my thing, and she'll do hers, and we'll both lead our own independent lives while still being members of the institution of marriage". This kind of attitude in their relationship was so destructive for them, and led to  immense suspicion of the other. The idea that suspicion cannot be sustained in a marriage is constantly repeated by varying parties throughout the film, and Jerry even apologizes for his suspicious behavior at the very end. Thus, the couple living side by side but leading independent lives led to mistrust and suspicion, which quickly culminated in divorce.

42nd Street Response, ENGL 245

            Set in the heart of the Great Depression, the musical “42^nd Street”  represents those living the “better life” during difficult times. The star of the film is Dorothy Brock, whose “angel” Abner Dillon is the show’s financial-backer.

The film begins when Peggy Sawyer, a prospective actress, misses the audition for the performance of “Pretty Lady”.  Sawyer meets women who utilize their connections with Julian Marsh, the broke, ill, and determined producer, and consequently Marsh allows Sawyer to participate in the show. Right before opening night, the star Brock fractures her ankle and is unable to perform. Dillon wants Ann Lowell to be cast as the star, and she in turn convinces Marsh that she is not talented enough to play the role, but that the greenhorn Sawyer is. Brock arrives shortly before the performance begins and wishes Sawyer good luck, and even gives her some advice on how to play the role.

The setting is crucial to the film, as it represents a magical beacon of hope with happy dancers and actors in the turbulent times to which many of the film’s views were subject. But the film is reflexive, with the film’s audience watching a stressed audience of producers viewing the performance. This situation reminds the film’s viewers that they are not alone, that there are so many others out there like them who are suffering too.

Some iconography that can be noted in the film is the dangling cigar and the mustache, indicating wealthy, dissatisfied, and powerful men.

“42^nd Street” was a film which intended to give hope and optimism to its viewers, who were probably seeking catharsis from their plight when they saw the film in the midst of the Great Depression. Aside from merely providing distraction, the film emphasized the American Capitalism Ideology, in which hard work and perseverance can provide one with a happy, satisfying, and fulfilling life. In the film, producer Julian Marsh is just another who is stuck in the vicious cycle of the Depression, and yet through his tireless and vigorous efforts he manages to produce a hit performance in five weeks. Similarly, Peggy Sawyer arrives to audition, with no experience, and through hard work (and albeit sheer luck), she rises to stardom: a typical rags-to-riches scenario. Dorothy Brock continues to star in shows even though she was really only a one-hit wonder, and continuously performs in search of her second lucky break.

 Emphasizing the simple American message of toiling in return for a fulfilling life was encouraging to Americans, and provided them with temporary relief and optimism at seeing the simplicity of the former ethic in “42^nd Street”. 

A Chevron chavaya

It was an interesting shabbat, that's for sure. Sophie and I wanted to use anywhere in Israel but turns out they had a baby and the service wasn't working. So we took a list of families who host people for shabbat and we picked a random name off the list. They could have us, so our shabbat plans were set. We're going to kiryat arba/chevron. On Friday we took a bullet proof bus and when we got there we got off and tried to figure out where to go. So we're walking down the sidewalk when two German shepherds run out, barking and chasing us. it was all I could do not to run for my life. So we quickly backed away and got the hell outta there-the dogs were still watching us from across the street. We were off to a great start.
So eventually we found their house and turns out the host was chavrusahs with my dad 25 years ago. Small world.
On Friday night we walked down to the mearat hamachpelah to daven-only a 12 minute walk. There were guards stationed everywhere on the path down to the cave because on both sides are Arab villages. I was literally walking parallel to Arabs riding donkeys, less than 10 feet away from me. (some of the chayalim wished us shabbat shalom QUITE enthusiastically.)
It was pretty cool davening there on an ordinary Friday night-there were surprisingly absolutely no charedim. Mostly carlbach guys dressed all in white. 
On shabbat morning they required us to get up early (we were warned in advance) and we walked up to this nowheresville that was practically hanging off a cliff (it was a shack with a tablecloth mechitza put up for us) and adjacent to a Jewish family's hut. They actually raise goats. 
So we finished davening early and wandered to the edge of the cliff and when we couldn't go any further we sat down on rocks and hung out. I later  figured out I got sunburned. In late October. 
For lunch our hosts had native Serbs at their table. Seriously. It was a guy visiting his daughter who made aliyah. Anyways, after lunch we walked down to he kazmas which was literally chevron arabville. Loads of armed guards accompanied us-we found them standing on the rooftops and guarding any entrances where they would forbid Arabs from passing through. It was like wlking through the old city- all the same alleys and crevices and tunnels-except there were Muslim kids staring at us from the windows and creepy Arab guys selling produce like in the Arab shuk. The soldiers legitimately walked around cocking their guns at the Arabs passing through. What a chavaya. 
(apologies for lack of coherency and grammatical errors)

Sukkot

All right, I've given into peer pressure.
No, not THAT kind of peer pressure; the intense kind from your parents when they beg you to update your blog.
I guess I'll start from chol hamoed. 
Just my luck, I couldn't sleep on Sunday morning, before I went to the kotel for birkat kohanim. So I was up early anyway. We left around 7 am, and it was already crowded and hot by the time we got there. Lucky for us, we got front row spots on the plaza behind the men, and even got a chair to stand on. It was really awesome to see all the taleisim and lulavim everywhere, and the sudden quiet that descended when they actually began the blessing. For mussaf, when they did it again, my friend tapped me on the shoulder and said, "turn around." I did, and it was absolutely unbelievable.'tens of thousands of people were crammed into the plaza, and they were spilling onto surrounding staircases and rooftops. Something to see. Don't even get me started on how hard it was to get a bus back.
In the afternoon, we went with school to the beach in Ashdod. A separate swimming beach! It was really beautiful. 
On monday I went to an art festival in town with my friend and her sister called and asked us if we wanted a job in the old city for 40 shekel an hour. (we quickly agreed.) when we got there, we saw a gorgeous mansion overlooking the kotel. But we didn't have time to look; they immediately put us to work in the kitchen. From 2:30 pm until 10:30 pm we chopped vegetables and washed dishes and served and cleared food at a dinner party for the family's friends and also for lots of soldiers which they frequently have over for meals. This family has a full time kitchen staff. Sounds nice.
For the second days of yom tov I was in rechavya which is a neighborhood in Jerusalem practically across from the president and prime minister's house at my friend's somewhat distant relatives: an old hungarian holocaust survivor and her incapacitated daughter who uses a wheel chair. It was interesting. Almost everything they served us was "fresh and delicious," they claimed. I was getting suspicious of the "fresh and delicious challah, the best challah you can buy!" which was completely tasteless and fortified with a rubbery and thin crust. Boy do I miss mom's whole grain challah. I finally learned that their definition of the word "fresh" consisted of anything that was bought or made within the past 3 to 4 days. They begged us to eat. It was a trap. When they asked us if we liked it, and we said yes, "then you'll have some more!" was their answer. (but we're stuffed!) how they assumed we were starving 2 hours after a huge meal is beyond me. But then again, I don't understand most Israelis. And I suppose being offered lots of food is better than being starved. And I got to sleep a lot there. Oh-and I went to rabbi berel wein's shul on shabbas! We also raveled at the beautiful Inbal hotel on shemini atzeres and went shul hopping on simchad Torah. Unbelievable. I miss SEHC. at least there, the women aren't segregated into a stuffy and cramped womens section to sit back and watch the men dance. Not that simchas torah is ever fun for women, bt this was pretty sad. Oh well. There are other redeeming factors here. 

A different kind of rosh hashana

Picture this: surrounded in an ocean of black and white (and the occasional gray) clothing, on the second day of rosh hashana, and here you are, wearing the brightest and most colorful skirt in your closet, in the most charedi neighborhood you've ever been to in your life.
All eyes are on you.
Yes, my friends, that was me two days ago.
I'm sitting on the other side of  the berlin wall mechitza, which is also in a separate ROOM than the men.
It was a different universe. 
Fortunately, after being inundated with Hebrew babbling 24/7, with the occasional few English words interjected for me, I'm becoming quicker at ivrit. Oh, wouldn't Mrs. Grun be proud. 
But what I'm getting to, the redeeming quality of yom tov, was the food. I'm going to be dreaming of bourekas and spicy matbucha while I eat peanut butter sandwiches for dinner over the next month. And the cheesecake-nothing like the American stuff. Earlier this week I made cookies- the same nestle tollhouse recipe I use ALL the time at home, and when I tasted them, I couldn't believe they were the same recipe. Weird. Still trying to figure out why the water tastes like ashes and the flour is more floury.