The Social Network Vs. Citizen Kane

The Social Network is essentially a modern day rags to riches story. A Harvard College kid, Mark Zuckenberg, sits down in his dorm room and creates with his friend, Eduardo Saverin, an algorithm that will forever change world. Making the incarnation of Facebook, then known as "the Facebook" a number of outside influences such as the Napster founder, Sean Parker, corrupted the original ideas set fourth by the friends. Eventually Zuckenberg's power grew as did the website and he no longer needed people like Parker "holding him back".

In an instant Saverin was erased from the company completely going from 30% of the shares to 3%. Of course he was not a fan of this and took legal action. Eventually Zuckenberg's partnership with Parker failed because of the wild lifestyle he lead. Facebook was now Mark's, and the problems were all his.

How does this relate to Citizen Kane? Kane came from nothing, he didn't start as well of as Mark, but got there through adoption. From here, Kane's ambitions sparked a wild ride and lifestyle that was as big as his personality. His industry was newspapers, and he wasn't afraid to buy, sell, hire, and fire anyone in his way to get what he needed. At some point like in the Social Network, Kane hires his best friend virtually because he can.

Both of these men let their business consume them because of how quickly they popularized. They became self-centered and lonely. They may not have necessarily been bad people, but because of their work they became bigger than themselves.

Citizen Kane was an old tale set in the old world of business. The Social Network ironically is about everything that is destroying the papers now.