Modern Times Philosophical Analysis
Modern Times – Reflection
The movie Modern Times by Charles Chaplin is a critique of the social structure of his time. This prominent critic is one of Chaplin most famous work and can be well adapted to current days. Many of the critics presented in Chaplin work can be linked to existentialist themes and in more deep form to Nietzsche philosophical arguments. This paper establish such connection in a macro level, taking in account the possible meaning of the entire movie and in a micro level by establishing the connection of existential themes with specific passages of the movie. Nietzsche will be the central point of comparison but when appropriate other existential themes will be presented, in order to reinforce understanding.
The movie as whole presented in certain extent a narrative of life. Although, the timeframe presented is limited to a moment of Chaplin life, it is possible to indicate that author tried to present an examination of life itself. Life is presented as tragic and dependent of chance. What happens to Chaplin throughout the movie seems to bring this into play. He seems to have encounter a “good life” by having a job, then by being in the jail, by becoming an artist and so on. However, it is not by his choice, indeed everything seems to happen due the randomness of life. By chance he becomes something and by chance what he had become is destroyed.
This characteristic of life is commonly used by Nietzsche. The philosopher presents life as random and perhaps purposeless. This way of think differs from other philosophers such as Plato who seek to identify the ways of a noble life, which is beyond humanity and emanates from Eternity. Nietzsche would question why to live why to give up living, when life is so random and the destruction of what one becomes is a blink of eyes.
Indeed the movie brings something similar to Greek tragedies. Niesztche examined Greek tragedies and to him they are a good representation of life. Chaplin a good working
The movie Modern Times by Charles Chaplin is a critique of the social structure of his time. This prominent critic is one of Chaplin most famous work and can be well adapted to current days. Many of the critics presented in Chaplin work can be linked to existentialist themes and in more deep form to Nietzsche philosophical arguments. This paper establish such connection in a macro level, taking in account the possible meaning of the entire movie and in a micro level by establishing the connection of existential themes with specific passages of the movie. Nietzsche will be the central point of comparison but when appropriate other existential themes will be presented, in order to reinforce understanding.
The movie as whole presented in certain extent a narrative of life. Although, the timeframe presented is limited to a moment of Chaplin life, it is possible to indicate that author tried to present an examination of life itself. Life is presented as tragic and dependent of chance. What happens to Chaplin throughout the movie seems to bring this into play. He seems to have encounter a “good life” by having a job, then by being in the jail, by becoming an artist and so on. However, it is not by his choice, indeed everything seems to happen due the randomness of life. By chance he becomes something and by chance what he had become is destroyed.
This characteristic of life is commonly used by Nietzsche. The philosopher presents life as random and perhaps purposeless. This way of think differs from other philosophers such as Plato who seek to identify the ways of a noble life, which is beyond humanity and emanates from Eternity. Nietzsche would question why to live why to give up living, when life is so random and the destruction of what one becomes is a blink of eyes.
Indeed the movie brings something similar to Greek tragedies. Niesztche examined Greek tragedies and to him they are a good representation of life. Chaplin a good working