“Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” a 1936 comedy about the hardships that come with living

in an industrialized world.” (White, 2021) The film humorously criticizes the problems of
modern industrial society. This silent film, filled with Chaplin's classic slapstick humor, shows
how technology can dehumanize people. According to Steffen Steinert in "Technology is a
Laughing Matter," humor often reveals the contradictions in technologies meant to improve our
lives but which often bring new problems and absurdities instead. Chaplin’s "Modern Times"
uses comedy to highlight how technological advancements can lead to alienation,
dehumanization, and a loss of individuality.

One of the most famous scenes in "Modern Times" shows Chaplin's character, the Little Tramp,
getting caught in the gears of a giant machine. This scene visually represents the dehumanizing
nature of industrial work and uses humor to emphasize its absurdity. Steinert notes that humor
can highlight "The very means that are supposed to help us adapt and deal with situations, the
very means that have been created to make our lives easier and more comfortable, have a flip
side”. (Steinert, 2015) Here, the machine, which should help with production and efficiency,
traps and dehumanizes the worker instead. Chaplin's exaggerated physical comedy with his
frantic attempts to keep up with the machine’s crazy pace shows the gap between human abilities
and the demands of modern technology. When the President of the Electro Steel Corp. says
"Section 5, speed her up, 401" (Chaplin, 1936) followed by the Tramp's comedic struggle, shows
the idea of humans becoming a cog in the machine. This scene is both funny and tragic, showing
how workers are reduced to simple parts of the industrial machine. This fits with Steinert's
argument that humor can reveal how technologies meant to make life easier can also create new
forms of oppression and absurdity.

Another key scene is Chaplin’s portrayal of the assembly line. "In one iconic scene, Chaplin's
character, a factory worker, is tasked with tightening bolts on a fast-moving assembly line. By
focusing on slapstick humor and exaggerated gestures, Chaplin critiques the over-reliance on
technology, emphasizing its alienating effects on human interaction, labor conditions, and the
loss of individuality and dignity" (Wu, 2024). The Tramp’s job is to tighten bolts on a conveyor
belt, requiring repetitive, monotonous motion. Chaplin portrays the dehumanizing effects of
assembly line work. His movements become more erratic and exaggerated, leading to a
breakdown where he continues the tightening motion even after leaving the assembly line.
Steinert asserts that humor reveals the flip side of technologies (Steinert, 2015). “Chaplin saw the
assembly line as abusive” (White, 2021), a symbol of industrial efficiency, stripping workers of
their humanity. Henri Bergson highlighted the source of humor from mechanical behavior,
stating, "the attitudes, gestures and movements of the human body are laughable in exact
proportion as that body reminds us of a mere machine" (Bergson, 1900). He believed humor
comes from people acting mechanically. "Modern Times" uses comedy to critique
industrialization, showing how it makes workers behave like robots, which aligns with Bergson's
idea that laughter is a reaction to mechanical behavior in humans. The comedy arises from the
absurdity of a human being reduced to performing a mindless, repetitive task, emphasizing the
dehumanizing effects of industrial technology.

Chaplin further explores technological absurdity with the automatic feeding machine. Designed
to eliminate lunch breaks and increase productivity, the machine seems like a technological
marvel but creates chaos and hilarity in practice. Once again, a scene perfectly illustrating
Steinert's point that "the very means that have been created to make our lives easier and more
comfortable have a flip side" (Steinert, 2015) The quote, "The Billows Feeding Machine will
eliminate the lunch hour, increase your production, and decrease your overhead" (Chaplin,
1936), underscores the absurdity of the situation and critiques the relentless pursuit of efficiency
at the expense of human needs and dignity.

Chaplin’s use of the conveyor belt as a recurring motif in "Modern Times" emphasizes the theme
of alienation and loss of control. The Tramp’s interactions with the conveyor belt are marked by
comedic mishaps, highlighting the disconnect between the human worker and the mechanical
processes they are supposed to control. Steinert’s analysis of humor as a tool to reveal the
contradictions in technology is particularly relevant here.

Chaplin also critiques surveillance technology. In one scene, the factory owner uses a screen to
monitor his employees, even catching the Little Tramp taking a break. The quote, "Quit stalling,
get back to work” (Chaplin, 1936), highlights the in your face nature of such technology. This
scene underscores the loss of privacy and autonomy in the workplace due to technological
advancements.

Towards the end of the film, Chaplin includes a roller-skating scene that serves as a metaphor for
the illusion of freedom in a technologically advanced society. The Tramp skates around a
department store blindfolded, unaware he is dangerously close to falling into an open elevator
shaft. This scene shows Steinert's idea that humor can reveal the contradictions in technology.

In the final scene of "Modern Times," the Tramp and his companion walk down a road towards
an uncertain future. This ending is both hopeful and uncertain, suggesting that despite the
problems with technological progress, humans can still be resilient and adaptable. Chaplin’s
humor throughout the film critiques the belief in a technological utopianism, an idea that
technology can solve all of humanity’s problems. Steinert’s observation that humor can reveal
"the flip side" (Steinert, 2015) of technology is evident here.

Charlie Chaplin’s "Modern Times" is a classic critique of how industrial technology

dehumanizes people. Using humor, Chaplin shows the absurd and contradictory ways society
blindly trusts technology. As Steinert argues in "Technology is a Laughing Matter," humor is an
effective means of revealing the flip side of technologies that are meant to improve our lives but
often introduce new challenges. Chaplin’s film serves as a reminder for the need to balance
technological advancements with their impact on humanity, highlighting the importance of
maintaining our individuality, creativity, and sense of humor in the face of life’s present day
complexities. The analysis of "Modern Times" in The Chronicle shows that the film is still
relevant today. Chaplin's critique of industrialization resonates with modern audiences, reflecting
ongoing concerns about technology in society. The film uses humor to question blind faith in
technological progress and urges viewers to think about the human cost of these advancements.
The slapstick comedy in the assembly line scene entertains while also delivering a strong
message about the loss of individuality and humanity in the face of industrial efficiency.

I recommend watching Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the biographical film
"Chaplin" for a deeper understanding of Chaplin's genius. Personally, I recall watching "Modern
Times" in a high school class, which helped me appreciate the timeless relevance of Chaplin's
critique of technology.

References
Bergson, H. (1900). Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic. Retrieved from Gutenberg:
[Link]
Chaplin, C. (Producer), Chaplin, C. (Writer), & Chaplin, C. (Director). (1936). Modern Times [Motion
Picture]. United States of America. Retrieved from [Link]
v=uY6ItxyNGgA
Modern Times Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2024, from IMDB:
[Link]
Steinert, S. (2015). Technology is a laughing matter: Bergson, the comic. Retrieved June 19, 2024, from
BCIT:
[Link]
[Link]?ou=1034728
White, C. (2021, November 3). Analyzing Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times”. Retrieved from The
Chronicle: [Link]
modern-times/
Wu, S. (2024, June 18). Long Essay Schedule - Group 1 . Retrieved from BCIT:
[Link]

(Modern Times Quotes, n.d.)