Friday 30 September 2011

Citizen Kane



When I first found out that we were to be watching Citizen Kane in our HCJ lecture, I was a little bit worried that it would bore me to tears, having heard so much negative feedback from anyone that has ever watched it (even including the American sitcom 'Firends'). However, it was not as boring as expected, and I was actually pleasantly surprised (it wasn't no Fast and Furious, but it was still interesting).




The way I saw the film was that it was a news reporter trying to figure out what 'Citizen Kane's' dying words 'rosebud' had meant - and the film dealt with many flashbacks in order to go over Kane's life as this journalist questioned different people who new Kane, and what they thought it may have to do with.

Charles Foster Kane surged to power in the journalistic world, by taking over at a struggling newspaper, 'The Enquirer', to which his former parental guardian had run. He then went about his way to highlight anything and everything that could be seen interesting or scandalous to the public, and maybe even at times over-dramatised things to make them more interesting in order to get a higher circulation and earn more money. He even went to a larger newspaper, with a higher reputation then his own, and 'headhunted' or stole their employees, in order to have a formidable news writing team.

The more the film goes on we find out that Kane is his own worst enemy, in that he is extremely arrogant, reckless, attention seeking and has little to no morals. The way in which we are shown examples of his arrogance is in the way in which he talks to Thatcher, the once owner of The Enquirer and his parental guardian. He is always out to wind him up or annoy him in one way or another, the bit that stuck out to me like a sore thumb was the conversation on how to run a newspaper; Thatcher tells Kane that he has lost a million dollars this year, and Kane goes on to tell him, he expects to lose another million this year, and next, and then with a smug grin pronounces that at this rate he will have to close the paper in...60 years.

He seeks attention from everyone and anyone throughout the film, and he wants everyone to like and love him. A prime example of this, is when he brings in all the entertainers when the writers of the newspaper are having a meal, and he wants the everyone to see how great he is, and how much he does for them, but really all he wants is not to give to them but to make them like who he is. He even runs for Governor, to make himself be heard, and for an even wider audience to love him. I think that Kane's relentless search for love, is mainly due to him being placed in a boarding school at a young age, maybe feeling his mothers rejection had this adverse affect on him.

The film ends with his demise when he finally loses his beloved second wife, who feels that she has been let down by her husband, and he recognises that he is incapable of loving anyone else but himself. She shouts at him, exclaiming she has never given her anything. Now he had given her jewellery, clothes, a magnificent home and even an Opera House, but what she s referring to is emotional. Kane has never given her anything emotional, like his love for example.

I think Citizen Kane links in well to what we are going to learn further on in our HCJ lectures as it is from the times of modernism, when we are aware of the fear and 'angst' of the world.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Eastleigh FC


After a fairly promising season last year, Eastleigh looked to be picking up where they left off during the pre-season period, losing only twice out of the nine warm-up matches. They also picked up a couple of notable wins agains a Reading and Southampton XI. However, after an eight place finish last year, missing out on the play-offs by only four points, the start to their seventh successive campaign in the Blue Square South looks slightly bleak, with only two wins from a possible ten. It is still early days, but the next ten or so games will be crucial in defining how the season will pan out for Eastleigh; will it be a relegation battle, or another push for promotion.

Eastleigh were relatively quiet in the transfer market this season, with the main moves being out with Shaun McCauley signing for local rivals Basingstoke on a one year deal. This being said, there have been some new arrivals at the Silverlake Stadium, in the shape of ex-Bristol Rovers Goalkeeper Mike Green and Winger Ryan O'hara who has played for the likes of Scottish outfit Dundee United and Forest Green Rovers. They have also recently extended the loan spell of Norwegian utility player Henrik Breimyr. He is a midfielder by trade but he has proved his worth by filling in at right-back a few times, including the best spell of the season so far for the Spitfires towards the end of August where they were unbeaten in three an recorded back-to-back wins against Dorchester and Weston-super-Mare. It is still unsure as to whether Breimyr will return to Aldershot Town after his loan spell, or sign on a permanent basi with Eastleigh.

This weekend brings an early season 'six-pointer' against fellow strugglers Staines Town, with home advantage, it is key that Eastleigh take this opportunity and build from here onwards if they want any chance of promotion this year.

Ones to watch:

Tom Jordan (Defender) - Captain Fantastic! had a great season last year, the rock of the Spitfires defence. Only Eastleigh player to make it into the leagues team of the year.

Jamie Slabber (Striker) - averages over a goal every two games, and seems like he could be key to the Spitfires promotion hopes this year.

Richard Gillespie (Striker) - has proven prolific for previous clubs, and finished top scorer for Eastleigh in the 2009/10 season, with only injury thwarting his efforts last year, as long as he keeps fit and injury free, his partnership with Slabber could prove priceless