Is Kanye West the modern Charlie Kane?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Citizen Kane
yahko_kun — 10 years ago(February 25, 2016 07:09 AM)
After watching the movie for the first time a few days back. I started to wonder if Kanye West is the modern day Kane. The whole fame, control, the need to be appreciated and acknowledged for being so great. Being misunderstood and doing what only he wants to do.
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wylierichardson-966-922691 — 9 years ago(April 14, 2016 09:38 AM)
If any living person today would be the modern-day "Kane", I would think it would be someone like Rupert Murdoch, or Donald Trump. Kanye West does have a big ego, true, but he is less of a 'businessman' than simply a creative artist with a big following.
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lukeswan3 — 9 years ago(April 20, 2016 04:37 PM)
I'm telling ya
http://www.talon.news/opinions/before-donald-trump-there-was-citizen-kane/
Opinions on movies from a guy you'll never meet: https://swansonaround.wordpress.com -
HarvSoul — 1 month ago(January 31, 2026 03:50 AM)
You’ve tapped into a very popular modern debate! While Kanye West shares some of Kane's DNA, the "Modern Kane" title is often split between several figures depending on which part of the character you're looking at.
Here is how the comparison breaks down across today's public figures:
The Case for Kanye West
Kanye fits the psychological profile of Kane—the tragic "madman" driven by massive ambition yet thwarted by his own demons.
The Name: Fans have noted the name link (Kane vs. Kanye), and Kanye himself once joked in a lyric, "It's Kanye, but some of my plaques still say Kane".
The Political Failure: Like Kane's disastrous run for governor, Kanye’s failed presidential bid was a turning point that highlighted personal and family struggles.
Need for Adoration: Both men seem to confuse "being loved" with "being acknowledged as great." As Susan told Kane: "You want to be loved—that's all you want!".
The Case for Donald Trump
Donald Trump is often cited as the closest match for Kane's public and political arc.
The Fan: Trump has famously called Citizen Kane his favorite movie, viewing it as a story of "great accumulation".
The Narrative of Destiny: Like Kane, Trump has been described as conflating personal wealth with a destiny for power.
The "Rigged" Mentality: The "Fraud at Polls" headline from the movie is frequently used by critics to draw parallels to Trump’s own rhetoric regarding election legitimacy.
The Case for Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch is the closest match for the industry power of the original inspiration, William Randolph Hearst.
The Media Empire: Hearst built the largest newspaper chain of his time to influence journalism. Similarly, Murdoch’s empire has remade the world's political landscape through properties like Fox News.
The Dynasty: The show Succession (based on the Murdochs) even had its protagonist, Logan Roy, reference Rosebud, cementing the link between these media moguls and Kane.
Ultimately, Kanye is the psychological Kane, Murdoch is the professional Kane, and Trump is the political Kane.