SOCIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT
MODERN TIMES (1936)-A REVIEW
INTRODUCTION:
Today we live in an era replete with all the luxuries of modernity. Indeed coming off traditional lifestyle and moving into modern times brought about great changes both positive and negative. Though the origins of modernity can be traced back a hundred years, it was only in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that recognisably modern societies appeared. Also known as the Great Transformation period there were stark changes and ideas that culminated in this period which eventually gave rise to the modern era. The birth of the modern era can be attributed to some of the features like
• Industrialisation
• Capitalism
• Population growth and migration
• Development of …show more content…
Through the movie we come to terms with the various adversities that were prevalent in the modern era due to hunger, poverty and unemployment that were caused during the Great Depression era. The dehumanising effect of the machines in the industrial era brings a lot of pain to the workers and we feel pity for them. Though the world was experiencing a lot of changes most of them were far from beneficial as foreseen by Chaplin. We are also introduced to another character who is on the same lines as Chaplin a “Gamin” who has nothing other than the will to live. Together they try to conquer the adversities life poses to them in the modern era and are hopeful about building a future for themselves. The film portrays the pitfalls of modernity laced with subtle …show more content…
As discussed in the above paragraph the modern era was replete with all forms of development and changes. But one cannot completely ignore the havoc created by the industrial era amongst the people as is rightly shown in the movie by Chaplin. A story of industry and individual enterprise, humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness, the film opens with a flock of sheep jostling and rushing through their den. This scene is a mockery of how the workers are rushing for work in a similar manner. This instance explains to us the people living by the clock as is obvious to us right from the very beginning scene as the clock face shows 6ó clock. This feature can also be explained when the workers are entitled to short timely breaks in between and do their works with clock-like tempo and precision. This scene illustrates the American Factory’s obsession with time and precision. They lead a mechanised life the consequences of which are larger. In fact, the workers do not even have privacy as is depicted in the scene where the President looks through the washrooms of the workers and cautions Chaplin to get back to work soon. The concept of living as a slave/worker is shown explicitly here. At workplace a new feeding machine is endorsed by the salesmen to the President which is designed to reduce the lunch hour to increase the work efficiency and production. This scene explains us the
MODERN TIMES (1936)-A REVIEW
INTRODUCTION:
Today we live in an era replete with all the luxuries of modernity. Indeed coming off traditional lifestyle and moving into modern times brought about great changes both positive and negative. Though the origins of modernity can be traced back a hundred years, it was only in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that recognisably modern societies appeared. Also known as the Great Transformation period there were stark changes and ideas that culminated in this period which eventually gave rise to the modern era. The birth of the modern era can be attributed to some of the features like
• Industrialisation
• Capitalism
• Population growth and migration
• Development of …show more content…
Through the movie we come to terms with the various adversities that were prevalent in the modern era due to hunger, poverty and unemployment that were caused during the Great Depression era. The dehumanising effect of the machines in the industrial era brings a lot of pain to the workers and we feel pity for them. Though the world was experiencing a lot of changes most of them were far from beneficial as foreseen by Chaplin. We are also introduced to another character who is on the same lines as Chaplin a “Gamin” who has nothing other than the will to live. Together they try to conquer the adversities life poses to them in the modern era and are hopeful about building a future for themselves. The film portrays the pitfalls of modernity laced with subtle …show more content…
As discussed in the above paragraph the modern era was replete with all forms of development and changes. But one cannot completely ignore the havoc created by the industrial era amongst the people as is rightly shown in the movie by Chaplin. A story of industry and individual enterprise, humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness, the film opens with a flock of sheep jostling and rushing through their den. This scene is a mockery of how the workers are rushing for work in a similar manner. This instance explains to us the people living by the clock as is obvious to us right from the very beginning scene as the clock face shows 6ó clock. This feature can also be explained when the workers are entitled to short timely breaks in between and do their works with clock-like tempo and precision. This scene illustrates the American Factory’s obsession with time and precision. They lead a mechanised life the consequences of which are larger. In fact, the workers do not even have privacy as is depicted in the scene where the President looks through the washrooms of the workers and cautions Chaplin to get back to work soon. The concept of living as a slave/worker is shown explicitly here. At workplace a new feeding machine is endorsed by the salesmen to the President which is designed to reduce the lunch hour to increase the work efficiency and production. This scene explains us the