Film Art - Modern Times

In Film Art we are exploring the avant-garde cinema and watch a film during each lecture. The first film we watched was related to formalist film theory; Charlie Chaplin's 'Modern Times'.

Released in 1936, Modern Time was the last appearance of Charlie Chaplin's famed character 'The Tramp'. It deals with the economic depression of the time, mirroring current attitudes towards work and money and presents a very unflattering image of the industrial workplace. However, the film seems to support the middle class life, with both The Tramp and The Gamine fantasizing about a white picket fence lifestyle on multiple occasions, with one scene in the couple's run down shack parodying such an ideal.

Personally, I find it difficult to tell whether Modern Times is a criticism of capitalism or if it is in support of the American Dream. It is, of course, entirely possible that it is both, as Chaplin could simply be supportive of the resilience required to pursue the American Dream while simultaneously condemning capitalist ideals.