The age of progress

Modern Times is a film that took place in 1936, where progress and modernity were considered the base of a new era. This movie tries to explain and show the consequences of Industrialism through the great depression that workers and familiy members lived. The most important consequence of this vulnerable period is reflected with workers’ strikes.

Charles Chaplin is the protagonist, who represents a factory worker forced to work hard, fast and productively as if he were a machine.

An evident example of the abuse suffered is when Chaplin was obligated to be the “guinea pig” for the new lunch machine. The machine had technical problems and he suffered the consequences. Unquestionably, his working conditions were awful. In addition, Chaplin looses his job and he is sent to jail where he get accustomed to live in better conditions. Anyway, he is free again. One day, walking down the streets he falls in love with a homeless girl. The girl has a relevant function in the film, because she is an example of the difficulties lived in those times.

Chaplin’s life is very hard like most of the workers in those times.

Im conclusion, I think that Modern Times is a film in which its director tries to show in a funny way what was happening with the majority of workers and families. As a result of the comical elements present in the film, the viewer gets involved completely, like in my case. It also demonstrates how people were able to cope with difficulties in order to have a better life.

Do you think modernity is a blessing or a curse? From workers point of view it is a curse in terms of the abuse suffered against them. They way in which they were treated was humiliating. In contrast, It is also recognized as a blessing for people who had the power in those times. They got benefit from workers’ sacrifices.