Frame Study of The Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin
Namashkar🙏🏻
This blog is part of thinking activity. The blog is dedicated to examine the frames of the famous movie 'The Great Dictator' by Charlie Chaplin.I hope you will enjoy the subtle way of doing criticism by Chaplin.
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Introduction to the Film:
"The Great Dictator," a movie by Charlie Chaplin from 1940, is a funny and thoughtful American film that doesn't like war. Charlie Chaplin did everything in this film – he wrote it, directed it, made the music, and acted in it. Before this, he usually made movies without talking, but this time he tried using sound. The story is smart and has a radio-style talking part, especially when Hynkel, the leader, is there. It makes fun of how leaders talk on the radio. Chaplin shows how leaders' big speeches and control on the radio can change what people think. "The Great Dictator" is not just funny; it also tells us to think about war and leaders who want too much power.
Examining the frames of the movie
This scene captures the dictator attempting to portray innocence. Throughout history, posing with children has been a common practice seen in both ancient times and the present day. Political leaders, including dictators, frequently use such photos to show a seeming care for children's well-being even if the kids may not understand the circumstances. This custom persists into the 21st century, highlighting the ongoing trend of leaders across generations showcasing a connection with children.
When a dictator talks to people, it means they want all the control, making everyone think what they want. They grab all the power, and everyone has to follow one person's ideas. This often means less freedom, and if someone disagrees, they can't say it out loud. A.C. Ward talked about "Dictatorial intellectualism," saying that leaders can easily control young people who don't ask many questions. This made dictators go after writers or anyone who said things against them, and it created "Dictatorial intellectualism." So, writers started writing things that are not real, using difficult words. For example, James Joyce in "Ulysses" and T.S. Eliot in "The Waste Land" used hard words and tricky storytelling to get away from what was happening in the world.
Hynkel playing with the world using dictatorial ideas shows how leaders can be sneaky and bossy. It means they want to control everything, and that's not good. This happens on a big scale, making things bad for everyone. It tells us that leaders with these ideas care more about what they want than about people's freedom and happiness. It's like a warning about how leaders like this can mess up the whole world.
The picture where a mighty sculpture of Hynkel with a watch signals his control over time and events. It represents his authority to dictate and shape circumstances, indicating power over time's passage. This imagery suggests Hynkel has mastery, emphasizing his ability to control, shape, and manipulate outcomes as he pleases. It underscores his dominance, illustrating command over the progression and timing of various aspects within his influence. The watch becomes a symbol of his influence, portraying a narrative where he directs and determines the unfolding events, showcasing his powerful role in shaping the course of time and outcomes.
This scene with debris flying after a blast shows chaos, destruction, and the immediate harm from violence and conflict. It's like a picture of how war messes things up for the environment and people.
People giving commands instead of working on their own shows a power imbalance. It's like a sign of leaders telling others what to do, not letting them decide. This can mean authority figures have a lot of control, and individuals don't get to make choices. It's like a situation where power makes some people give orders, and others have to follow. This scene highlights how power differences lead to one group having control over what everyone does, showing things aren't equal, and some have more say than others.
In this picture, a shop with a hurtful sign "Jew" represents anti-Semitism and unfair treatment. It points to the past when Jewish communities faced unfairness, bias, and hatred. This picture shows how people were treated badly just because of their religion or where they come from. It's like a clear picture of how some had a strong dislike and intolerance for a particular group. This sign on the shop is like a symbol of hate and unfairness, showing how people were targeted because of their beliefs or ethnicity. It tells a story of discrimination and how certain communities had to endure mistreatment and prejudice.
The police attacking a Jewish person from all sides in this scene symbolizes a system that's unfair, discriminates, and persecutes certain communities. It shows how power is misused and individuals are singled out because of their ethnicity or beliefs. This picture might point to times in the past or now when unfair things happened, violence occurred, and force was used too much against groups that were treated poorly. The image tells a story of injustice, where people faced discrimination and were targeted by those in power, bringing attention to instances where certain groups were treated unfairly and faced disproportionate force.
The end of "The Great Dictator" is a strong message for peace and togetherness. Charlie Chaplin talks about humanity and kindness in a heartfelt speech. The movie finishes with a call to reject hate and embrace our shared humanity. It says we can change for the better and choose love over division. "The Great Dictator" is a reminder to aim for a world where kindness wins, and people come together despite differences.
Thank you.
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