Reflection film
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Coconino Community College *
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Course
382
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by SargentIronQuail12
Casey Santorelli
Reflection Paper
Number your responses.
1.
Modern Times(1936). Directed by Chaplin, C. Starring Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard,
Henry Bergman, and Tiny Sanford. Grade A-
Modern Times
deserves the high score I gave it due to its tasteful use of comedy while layering
in important social commentary that left the audience in a thought-provoked stupor of laughter.
This dichotomy of the power struggles of the working man and the economic strife of the
country at the time, paired with Chaplin’s fantastical and whimsical character captures an
audience. It leaves one astounded at the work of art that the chaplain produced given how early
in cinematic history he created it and how the themes and tropes still ring true to this day.
Briefly, in three to five sentences explain why you graded “Modern Times” as you did and
explain what Chaplin is saying about authority figures and/or life in the United States in the
1930s.
Chaplain is diving into a bunch of different themes when it comes to authority figures. A couple
of the key principles I noticed he was highlighting had to be the concepts of accountability,
transparency, and responsibility. Many of the scenes within this film depicted authority figures as
lacking some or all of these qualities. The film hints that authority figures must have these values
in order to fairly represent the individuals they represent and for society to be just and have
equity.
2. Now identify the Buster Keaton movie you watched, and again provide the film’s credits (title
in quotes or italics, year in parenthesis, director, two or three stars in the movie), and grade the
film on an A-F scale.
The general(1926). Directed by Keaton B. Starring Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Charles Henry
Smith, and Fredrick Vroom. Grade B+
In three to five sentences justify the grade and explain how the relationship between the
protagonist and the lead female character reveal something about cultural attitudes of the times.
In other words, what ideas or social behaviors from the time period in which the film was made
influenced the relationship between the protagonist and the lead female character.
I think it’s apparent in these silent films and many others of the era, exactly what the perceptions
and expectations of women and men were given the culture of the time. Men were supposed to
be courageous protectors with physical prowess that lacked any form of “cowardice”, whereas
women were dainty, elegant, damsels in distress that required help or “saving” from men. We can
see these tropes displayed in Busters character as well as Marion Macks's character throughout
the film.
3. While cultural and ideological messages change with the times and countries of origin, there
are elements of the human condition that are universal. In three to five sentences what in
Modern
Times
and in the Buster Keaton film you viewed
are universal? That is, in no more than five
sentences, explain something that happens in each movie that, despite their age and explicit
messages, may be as true today as it was nearly 100 years ago?
There are ideological messages in both films that still ring true to this day. I think this is
especially true of chaplains in modern times. Chaplain covers the concept that the rich and
powerful will benefit themselves at the expense of the poor given the opportunity. This still rings
true in today’s political and economic climate as it did 100 years ago. Keaton’s film Covers
themes of bravery and heroism that are still relevant in today’s culture as it was 100 years ago.
Note: Ideology refers to a body of concepts or ideas about human life and culture.
Grading and Submitting Your Reflection Paper
Keep your response brief and to the point. Follow instructions. Write clearly, concisely, and well.
See the rubric as to how grades will be determined.
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