Modern times

1. A) ‘’Modern Times’’ examines the culture and economic woes of Americans during the Great
Depression. The two main characters illustrate a story depicting the cost of the depression on
human lives and the lengths to which people went to stay afloat. Whether spending a night
together inside a department store or feigning the life of a happy couple inside a run-down
shack, the two are an endearing yet somber realization of the era. And while the Tramp-
Chaplin’s male character and the gamin lead a life of poverty, frequent arrests, and destitution,
the Tramp’s puzzled nature keeps the mood light. The smile rarely leaves his face and he enters
and exits every situation with the same waggish amusement. And we can see that Chaplin’s
philosophy is peaceful, he looks for fairness and avoid problems. He doesn’t support the new
capitalist ideas, and modern stereotype.
b) The film was set during the Great Depression and it uses deep backgrounds with moving
objects, locations as streets and yards, and other places as restaurants, jail, offices and
houses. This silent movie show mostly non diegetic sound, background music that coincides
with action and movement of the film. It also has a few scenes with sound, for example
when Chaplin is performing at the café. At the Beginning of the film, Charlie Chaplin
implements one important metaphor; the comparison between modern human with the
domestic animals. The idea that Chaplin give us of this “modern” human is the loss of
freedom, modern human accepts been part of a system in which the majority is abused and
controlled by the minority. Furthermore, this film has a scene that depict great differences
between social classes. There's a moment of parallelism between reality and a dream.
c) Modern times was filmed in the beginning of 20s and released in 1936. The most important
element of the film is the Tramp himself. And while the Tramp and the lady lead a life of
poverty, frequent arrests, and destitution, the Tramp’s quizzical nature keeps the mood
light.. Chaplin satires the effects of industry according to how it fails humanist concerns. As a
film director, he shows those qualities in the film “Modern Times”, a realist critic to the
capitalism. Personally, we think Chaplin was wise when merging this genres; comedy and
political discontent. Audience was captured by the comedy, by the “Charles Chaplin”
character. Thanks to comedy, Chaplin gave the message to the audience he wanted. The
main message of the film “Modern Time” is an anti-capitalist movement where modernity is
shown as the chaos; the worker loses everything while government controls it. We can
clearly observe the inequality, the abuse and the impositions established by the rich class in
the film, first the business boss, then the police and finally the government. He also capture
the value of perseverance and tolerance at the end of the film. The final image is him and his
couple walking in straight line, waiting for new problems to confront and overcome, and
facing all those changes that bring the modern times.
d) Modern Times as a whole echoes Chaplin’s discontent about the effects of technology on
industry, culture, and art but acknowledges the inevitability of progress, to which Chaplin
himself would adapt in his future pictures. The Tramp mirrors this optimism about the
 future, despite the present's appearing rather grim. This movie shows how difficult is for
majority to have a “perfect” life under capitalism.

2. A) The symbolism is clear: People live under the tyranny of mechanically measured time--the
dictatorship of the clock. "Time is money,” after all, and people are supposed to hurry. They
strain to keep up with their schedules and deadlines, and with crowds of people on the move.
Workers pour out of a subway station and hurry toward factory gates—much like a herd. The
point is driven home by a shot of running sheep. Under the supervision of the top manager who
observes the entire operation on big television screens, a foreman sets in motion the central
machine and the various assembly lines. We see the nameless protagonist of the story (Charles
Chaplin) at a conveyor belt as he tightens screws on boards that pass by. Like those of his fellow-
workers beside him, his repetitive movements are machine-like and tense. The slightest
distraction would disrupt the even process of production. There is no time to even scratch an
itch. The manager, sitting at his desk, orders a speed-up; the operatives have to redouble their
effort. They do not think, nor pace or control the motions of their bodies. They are extensions of
machines; they are turned into robots. The factory strips them of their humanity.
b) People are machines. The philosophical point is the denunciation of the logic of automation
and total industrialization. In the interest of efficiency and productivity ever more activities
of human beings become either regimented or replaced by the actions of machines. Human
beings are still necessary to keep the automated production process going, but their
activities are more and more subordinated to the requirements and rhythms of automatons.
Although workers are still busy and expending their energies, they become increasingly
passive: they have no opportunity to take real initiatives. Their very activity is passive.
Human spontaneity is incompatible with mass production and modern efficiency. Also, in
‘’Modern Times’’, Chaplin shows that the workers do not have a voice and moreover this
can kill people’s emotions.
c) When it comes to work design, the First major firm to adopt the principles of scientific
management was the Ford Motor Company in 1914. Henry ford believed that the more cars
they produce, the more they can sell. His main objective was to mass-produce. Ford could
employ staff for as cheap as possible and yet keep the quality and efficiency at a satisfactory
level. The difference in the productivity levels was striking. This we can also see in ‘’Modern
Times’’. They cannot afford to lose time and even a small distraction would disrupt the
process and an example of this is the scene with the Tramp and the bee.
d) Homo- economicus is related to utility-maximizing outcomes. If we have to interpret it we
would say that people are not always self-interested nor are they mainly concerned about
maximizing benefits and minimizing costs. We may make decisions under uncertainty with
insufficient knowledge, feedback, and processing capability. Moreover, we sometimes lack
self-control; and our preferences change, often in response to changes in decision contexts.
e) One of Chaplin’s numerous paradoxes was that he was an undaunted cavalier from the 19th
century trying to survive the materialistic, isolating, technologically driven 20th century. The
little Tramp - described in the film credits as “a Factory Worker”- is now one of the millions
coping with the problems of the 1930s, which are not so very different from anxieties of the
 21st century - poverty, unemployment, strikes and strike breakers, political intolerance,
economic inequalities, the tyranny of the machine, narcotics. Modern Times survives as a
commentary on human survival in the industrial, economic and social circumstances of the
20th century society. It remains as relevant, in human terms, for the 21st century.
3. Modern Times, continues to stand the test of time, as slave labor and complete disregard for the
well-being of humans are themes very relevant today. “Modern Times” is perhaps more
meaningful now than at any time since its first release. The twentieth century theme of the film,
presents the struggle to eschew alienation and preserve humanity in a modern, mechanized
world—profoundly reflects issues confronting the twenty-first century. The Tramp’s travails in
“Modern Times” and the comedic chaos that ensues should provide strength and comfort to all
who feel like helpless cogs in a world beyond control. It can be definitely said that the film is
about the nature of modern industry, about the endeavors of an individual in a mass society,
and about the life of all people in modern times. If Charlie thus represents the human condition
in modern times, we see him basically as a helpless being--locked into and dominated by a world
of machines, pushed around by authorities and bureaucratic institutions, victimized by an
economy over which he does not have the slightest control, and deprived of any coherent
understanding of the world in which he and everyone else is trying to secure some sort of
happiness. This film had volumes more to say about culture and humanity than most movies
with words say nowadays. What is more, the only difference that there is between the 20s
century presented in the movie and present time is that now there is hierarchy but also people
are given the chance of freedom and voice. They can easily express what they want and to work
for it. They are not ‘’sheeps’’ anymore. However, we are certainly glad that we watched this
incredible silent movie because Chaplin’s vision truly is timeless and it can be partly seen today.