Modern Times are Hard Times

Modern Times, A Charlie Chaplin film, is a “story of industry, of individual enterprise-- humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness.” The film focuses on the divide between the boss and the workers of society. It expresses Chaplin’s hatred for a newly developed technology based on work environment, where productivity outweighs skill and craftsmanship. Chaplin wastes no time developing the plot and then introducing the conflict in the film. This linear progression was seen throughout most of classical Hollywood, but this film would not have been nearly as effective if he had done so. His film is radical and expresses an intense personal feeling that Chaplin felt he must express.
With this said, I feel the opening seen, set in the factory, is a strong example of his dislike for the new technological innovations. The characters that he uses in the factory show the diversity of people that can perform the simple tasks that are required to prep the item for the machine that does a majority of the work. He places himself, a small framed man, right next to a much larger to emphasize the lack of strength and skill it takes to perform this minute tasks. Also the all knowing, all seeing boss plays a crucial role, even though he is not shown as much. The idea of being watched constantly from a higher power is what kept the workers moving. For example, When the “little tramp” tries to take a break, he clocks out and goes into the bathroom. Almost instantaneously the screen flashes up with the boss that says get back to work. The differences between the two show in the outfits they are wearing and the amount of physical labor they are each doing. The workers are in work clothes white t shirts, pants, and look dirty and sweaty probably from the heat, the fast paced working environment, and not having breaks. On the other hand, the boss is wearing a suit, sitting behind a desk watching over the workers from a television screen, and exerting no physical activity what so ever. The main focus in this scene is the assembly line/belt and how it functions. If one person slows down the production slows down and if the boss orders them to be sped up the workers must immediately adjust work faster so the assembly line functions efficiently.
This scene is just foreshadowing the central meaning that is expressed throughout the film. The authority of society is vested in a small group of people who control the masses. Their has been a hierarchy instituted in society that formed out of technology. With technology increasing, the need for workers becomes less and the jobs they perform are merely assisting the machines. The people at the top of the hierarchy perform none of the manual labor; they are in charge of hiring and firing at the companies expense and finding people that will work for the lowest wage. Another idea that Chaplin is trying to emphasize is the idea that “time is money.” The faster things get done the more they products they can produce. From an economic standpoint, more products for consumers equal more money companies, but not their workers. The amount of products does not directly affect the people making them, because they don’t get more money if they produce more products., but because jobs were limited workers had to comply with what the bosses wanted in order to stay employed, because unemployment was worse than being in jail. This is represented when Chaplin goes to jail and wishes to stay because in jail, you have the essentials for life, which are not always promised if you were unemployed. In a time where technology is replacing hardworking employees and only the men at the top are reaping the benefits, one must do what is necessary to live.