Hello, I’m Priyanshi and also an ardent admirer of the 20th Century, a period that witnessed a whirlwind of changes. This era, marked by the rapid pace of industrialization, the widening rich-poor divide, and the rise of dictators, has always intrigued me. I’m particularly fascinated by the behavioral patterns of the dictators of this time, their rise to power, and their impact on society. My interest extends to the realm of cinema, especially the works of Charlie Chaplin. His films, such as ‘Modern Times’ and ‘The Great Dictator’, serve as a mirror to the socio-economic and political landscape of the 20th Century. They provide a profound understanding of the era, making them an excellent teaching tool for anyone keen to delve into the intricacies of this period.
Through this blog, I aim to explore these themes in depth, drawing connections between the setting of the time and the literature it inspired. Join me as we journey through the tumultuous yet fascinating first half of the 20th Century. Let’s unravel the complexities of this era together.
INTRODUCTION:
Modern Times (1936): “Modern Times” is a part-talkie social comedy film written, directed, and produced by Charlie Chaplin. In this film, Chaplin’s iconic Little Tramp character, in his last performance, struggles to survive in the modern, industrialized world. The film is set during the Great Depression and centers on a luckless factory worker (played by Chaplin) who finds himself at odds with modern technology. The film was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The Great Dictator (1940): “The Great Dictator” is an anti-war political satire black comedy film also written, directed, produced, scored by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. In this film, Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber. The film advanced a stirring condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, fascism, antisemitism, and the Nazis. The film was popular with audiences, becoming Chaplin’s most commercially successful film. Chaplin’s climactic monologue in the film has been praised as perhaps the greatest monologue in film history.
Charlie Chaplin’s Films and the 20th Century Setting
Charlie Chaplin’s films, particularly ‘Modern Times’ and ‘The Great Dictator’, serve as a profound critique of the socio-economic and political landscape of the first half of the 20th century.
Industrialization and Mechanization:
‘Modern Times’ is a critique of the industrialized world. The film depicts the dehumanizing effect of the assembly line on the workers, turning them into mere cogs in the machine. This reflects the concerns of the time about the loss of individuality and craftsmanship due to mass production. The mechanization of human beings under the influence of industrialization is a central theme in the film. It portrays the threat to the death of craftsmanship by mass production at the assembly lines.
Rich-Poor Divide:
Both films highlight the growing disparity between the rich and the poor. The capitalist promise of equal opportunity is shown to be flawed, leading to a wider gap between the wealthy and the impoverished. The films depict the struggle of humans to get basic amenities like food, shelter, and clothing amidst the growing richness of nations. They critique the capitalist promise of providing equal opportunity to all going wrong and hence making the poor poorer and the rich richer.
Dictators and Propaganda:
‘The Great Dictator’ is a direct satire on Adolf Hitler and fascism. The film showcases the manipulative tactics used by dictators to control and mislead the masses through propaganda. It portrays the gimmicks played by world leaders to dissuade their people through propaganda. The film also critiques the egoistic leadership leading towards the massacre of human lives in war.
War and Human Rights:
The films also touch upon the devastating impact of war, the violation of human rights, and the ghettoization of minorities. They underscore the need for peace, freedom, and basic human dignity. The films depict the curbing of basic human rights and the ghettoization of minorities.
Leadership and Rhetoric:
Chaplin’s portrayal of the dictator in ‘The Great Dictator’ highlights the use of rhetoric by leaders to sway public opinion. The gibberish speech in the film symbolizes the often-empty promises made by such leaders. The film portrays the blinding of the minds of the herd/mass/crowd with the help of rhetorical speeches, the words of which are nothing more than gibberish.
In essence, Chaplin’s films serve as a mirror to the era, reflecting the zeitgeist of the first half of the 20th century. They offer valuable insights into the period’s socio-economic-religio-cultural setting, making them an effective tool for understanding the literature and history of the time. The understanding of literature is incomplete if it is not connected with the setting of the time in which it is written. The understanding of the socio-economic-religio-cultural setting is a must for a deeper understanding of the literary text. When it comes to teaching the first half of the Twentieth Century, Charlie Chaplin’s films are the best to serve this purpose. The films like ‘Modern Times’ and ‘The Great Dictator’ serve the purpose and students can get an ‘easy’ understanding of the ‘esoteric’ nature of the literature. They help not only to understand the zeitgeist of the first fifty years of the last century but also to understand the time in which we live.
THANK YOU!!
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