Sept/13/10

Questions:

Why would William Randolph Hearst fear his life was the inspiration for Charles Foster Kane?  

-You own a newspaper, you can manipulate the whole community.

What examples can you give, from the film, that show this?

-Kane owns newspaper= say why they should only vote for him. Election comes, doesn't win cause truth leaks out.

Are there examples of Yellow Journalism in this film?  What are they?

-Yes. In the beginning they were trying to find facts for the story, so they end up making up lies.

Give an example of a news story that was sensationalized by Kane's paper in order to attract more readers.

- Articles on where his blonde haired wife was a "talented" opera singer when really the audiences didn't like her. (?)

What is a Bully?  What is a pulpit?  What do you think the term 'Bully-Pulpit' means?

-Bully: Beats people up for their own good. 

-Pulpit: Twisting facts and lies around to manipulate groups of people.

-"Bully-Pulpit": someone who is telling the community what to do but also telling you slight bit of the other options you have to choose. 

Does media sometimes go too far?  Are there examples of this in the film?  

-Yes. Yes, in the scene of when Kane's personal life begins to collide with his own newspaper. 

Can you think of any other instances when the media has gone too far?  

- No I can not think of any other instances when the media has gone too far.

Consider the following quote, 

"Four hostile newspapers are to be feared more than a thousand bayonets."

                                                                                 - Napoleon Bonaparte

What is meant by this quote?
- This means that newspapers aren't always true and when read and believed; it can turn into an unpleasant situation.