Film Discussion Early View of Essay

The natural world allows us to show of more of our individual talents, whereas the urban landscape seems to only allow us to show what is needed of us in terms of industry.

Modern Times echoes these themes and images of the early representation of the modern city. However, the film is much more comedic, but with the same message. For example, the factory scene shows the same monotony. It is comedic, yet it is also representing the dehumanizing of urban workers because of the extreme technological advances (Hicks 2007). This film represents a strange sense of automation taking the life and quality out of production within modern urban environments. There is the incessant need to be faster, and Chaplin's character can't even take a short break. Yet the workplace is not an ideal environment -- the fly that keeps bothering him represents the constant torture the modern worker endures during a daily shift. Still, there is a need to continue to automate processes in order to streamline production processes. The introduction of the machine that is supposed to eliminate the lunch break represents the films parody of how technology is isolating and disenfranchising the modern worker.There is a constant need to "keep ahead of your competitor" (Chaplin 1936). This forces Chaplin's character to eat corn through a device that doesn't work properly and portrays an extremely negative view of technology.

Overall, in both films, there is a sense of separation between the working class and the elite who actually own the means of production alongside a very hostile image of the modern city. Essentially, there is too much going on to really pay attention to the individuals who are most in need. Families are not surviving and the work that is available is unable to care for the families in need. There is an increasing sense of desperation within the working poor; even a meal of bananas is appreciated in such hard times within a harsh urban landscape.

References

Chaplin, Charlie. (1936). Modern Times. USA.

Hicks, Jeremy. (2007). Dziga Vertav: Defining Documentary Film I.B. Tauris.

Marko, Daniel. (2002). The man with the movie camera: Speed of vision, speed of truth? Web. http://www.25hrs.org/vertov.htm

Vertov, Dziga. (1929). The Man….....