The Ideology Of Marxism

Marxism is a practical structure for understanding and altering how society thinks and behaves in addition to being a philosophical foundation. It was created in the 19th century by Karl Marx with social engineering as its main objective. However, the originator had to apply critical examination of other proponents, including Hegelian thought, French socialists, and English political economists, in order to develop it (Rahman, Mohammad 2). In fact, the application of Marxism in media studies and other social implementation channels actually appeared differently as a fundamental strategic idea of the philosophical supporters. Significantly, it was used as a systematic way of investigating capitalism and societal behaviors hence acting as a materialist methodology to show media processes and aesthetic activism. Therefore, Marxism, as such, provides a pragmatic way of analyzing things that influence peoples’ lives through the effect of screened media such as films, movies, and television. Indeed, it has become a predominant theme in the analysis of contemporary movies and cinemas.

Many filmmakers use the Marxist’s approach to not only direct but also produce the films. Furthermore, according to studies, its utilization had gained its utmost influence in the late 20th century, but it is dominating the production of films nowadays (Admin 2014). Perhaps to mention, the approach to movie making is referred to as the Marxist film theory. It is one of the oldest forms of filmmaking, where proponents like Sergei Eisenstein used it to express their ideas in the early and mid-1920’s. For example, since the Hollywood movies portrayed individualism and self-centeredness, Sergei incorporated Marxism to eliminate the protagonist though recorded actions and images. His tactic considered a socialist system rather than a written narration. Even supposing, some of the best films influenced by the theory of Marxism include but not limited to Novecento produced (1976), Porcile of 1969, Three Songs about Lenin (1934), Battleship (1925), Dunkirk, the Blade Runner, and the famously recognized Modern Times Charlie Chaplain (1936). This working paper uses The Modern Times as the case scenario to expound more on the Marxist Perspective.

In the 20th century, Charlie Chaplin, the main character in the Modern Times, was a ubiquitous figure (Mooney, James). Besides, he was by far the most popular entertainer of his time and among the richest actors. However, despite these allegations, Charlie remained and has always been an artist of the ordinary person. He is a chronicler of the lower class of individuals who work hard for just a Pulitzer Price. His production steps social issues of the community such as poverty, war, immigration, unemployment, human inequality and labor unrest. After all, the masterpiece is an often watched, hilarious, silly and a profound commentary movie. The first scenes prove such social constructivism where Charlie works on an assembly in a considerably arrogant factory environment. As a result, it expounds a satirical dehumanization and alienation of the ordinary workers, a concept, which is put forth and framed by the prominent sociologist and philosopher, Karl Marx. Additionally, the film is also built on shrewd critiques in not only a social context but also within a political and economic setting. However, for this essay, I prefer to deliberate on the remarkably intelligent dramatization and its relation to the concepts of Karl Marx’s. Most importantly, the critical discussions will be the aspect of people alienation (dehumanization), and the importance of capitalism control over the workers’ time.

Marxist concepts of alienation (Dehumanization)

Typically, there are four kinds of human alienations within the Marxist theory. This film illustrates each of the separations whimsically. For instance, the opening sequence of the modern times depicts the isolation of the casual laborers from work itself. Charlie works on a little trump that does not belong to him but the capitalistic company. In fact, this theory of Marxism is shown where the character tightens the nuts on products that continually pass through a conveyor. In fact, they move at a quick pace such that Charlie misses time to interact with them (Mooney, James). The capitalistic organization, as such, alienates him from the fruits of his labor, a company with capitalists that did not even work at producing the final product. Such a move by Chaplain shows that the poor people will continue to work, but the fruits of their effort will continually pass to their bosses.

The alienation of laborers from working is also depicted. Charlie has no control over the production of the little trump. Indeed, he cannot even monitor the speed of the conveyor. The capitalistic manager, indeed, watches him from the office to ensure that he does not change things to his convenience (Mooney, James). Furthermore, in a humorous scene, the character is seen commanding a speed regulator, but the controller denies Charlie’s request. None of the operations is up to his decision. The capitalist, therefore, turns the omniscient figure into a human machine thus alienating him from the social aspects of work explained by the theory of Marxism (Mooney, James). The workers are also eliminated from their lunch break to increase the productivity of the firm. They are machinated thus reducing their social privileges. As a result, the character is used nowadays to show how laborers are exploited not to their benefits, but the advantages of the organizations. Should there be any compromising employee; joblessness hit their life in the next morning.

The workers are also alienated from themselves. One may wonder how a person can be separated from oneself, but by analyzing the modern times with the theory of Marxism, self-alienation is an issue of our era. Normally, the construction of the little trump is destructive to the well-being of the workers. It eliminates creativity, human intellect and employees’ natural thought. Neither Charlie nor his co-workers decide on the operation. They are limited to the repetitive and monotonous tasks instead of creatively designing the production. In a Marxism social approach, such an act separates people from the sense of oneself.

Finally, the movie also portrays the Marxist theory of worker-to-worker alienation. It is a social aspect, which predominantly affects the 21st century. People are separated from their families by work (Mooney, James). In the firm, workers are denied their social rights of interaction by mechanizing their lunch hours. Professional communication on the operation of the job also becomes problematic. They are limited to work on a fixed job description, a Marxist concept of social prejudice. Despite everything, the movies intention to demonstrate Marx’s theory of Alienation is prosperous. Charlie chaplain shows us a dehumanizing and unappealing human environment. Through the fiction, as well, the exploitation of human due to occupational circumstances was not only evident in the 1930’s. It is still an issue consuming our current society. This portrays the socialist aspects of Karl Marx.

The Marxist’s Concepts of Capitalistic Control

Other funny scenes, some of which are deliberated in the concepts of alienation, underlines the Marxism ideas of capitalists control. For instance, some salespersons try to install a Billow feeding machine in such a way that the workers feed while working. However, due to the malfunction of the prototype, the manager rejects the Billow machine. This signifies the power of managers over the operation of companies. Indeed, as Marx said it, “the overall process belongs to the capitalists anyway.” Additionally, the character also shows how hard it is to find work even in an employed capitalistic system. It relates to the current societies, where people struggle and spend a lot of time trying to find good jobs. Besides, if one finds employment, he/ she performs per the commands of the company. What is more, towards the end of the movie, capitalistic control is evidenced where police quell strikes to break up communism. When one breaks the capitalist's order, he is sent to prison. This depicts the Marxist’s concepts of capitalistic control, a theme that relates to the contemporary world. Modern Times, as such is a vital cinema when it comes to extrapolating the Marxian Perspective.

Works Cited

"Marxist Theory On Films." Film Theory, 2014, http://filmtheory.org/marxist-theory-on-films/.

Mooney, James. "Marx And Modern Times." Filmosophy, 2013, https://filmandphilosophy.com/2013/02/26/modern-times/.

Rahman, Mohammad. Marxist Reading Of Political Cinema: A Case Study On Costagavras’ Films. 1st ed., Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 2016, http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol20-issue7/Version-5/A020750107.pdf.