Im sure everyone has heard of Charlie Chaplin! He was one of the greatest and widely loved silent movie stars. From “Easy Street” (1917) to “Modern Times” (1936), he made many of the funniest and most popular films of his time. Ive often wondered how could mime be such a hit with audiences around the world. Without words, we find many a times, miscommunication occurs. How did Charlie Chaplin make sure that people got his intended message? His silent movies were so successful because he was such a perfectionist and he understood that without words, every object, it's placement and any kind of movement would be a focal point for viewers. Hence, he was very particular about everything that was going to be on screen. One would think that it was overdramatic acting that exaggerated emotions that helped but contrary to that, Chaplin found opportunities to control the environment enough to allow subtlety to come through.
In this part of one of Chaplin's movies, though there are words being said, it's not them saying it but a narrator. We tend to watch the characters more closely and let the words just flow over us. We see the huge importance of the background music. It changes according to the situation in the film. It's pace, tone and pitch all vary with different scenes. The use of such Paralinguistics draw us in further into the movie. Every single movement and expression of the characters' is also closely scrutinised by us when we watch it. And we realise there's never too many things going on in one frame allowing us to digest everything chaplin is trying to get across in that particular scene more effectively. i feel that this scene i have put up appeals more to one's logic (logos) instead of the usual emotion-directed pieces (pathos), which is why we can understand that there's some kind of enmity between the workers and the actions they do makes us laugh because we get that the way they fight is non-violent and is done to irritate one another.
I really liked this scene because i found it rather hilarious. And i'm glad i have the ability to make sense of it all even without words to help me.
I'm sure a lot of you would have watched or at least heard about this show. Identity is about the contestant being introduced to 12 strangers and he/she is supposed to match an occupation, hobby, age etc. each of which only applies to one in the 12.
I feel that it is a show that can break stereotypes, change personal constructs and perceptual sets. And it teaches us not to judge people so quickly or to label them based on what we see though i am not saying first impressions do not count at all. It's actually human nature to draw conclusions (nature of the tribe) but what i am trying to say is we should take time to revise our impressions as and when necessary and actually make an effort to know someone more in order to do that revision. There was a particular episode that i'll never forget because they introduced such a unique personality- a nuclear physicist who looked like a biker complete with long hair, huge moustache, leather jacket, the works. It was really awesome! because for me it was like "take that world!"
i do not like it when people judge others based on the littlest things like tatoos, smoking, long hair, dyed hair, piercings, metal music!!!! etc.. (i mean seriously, come on!!) One of my favourite television shows is Miami Ink, even LA ink (because i LOVE Kat Von De! and Chris Garver haha and btw Chris is coming to Singapore soon. woots!) and shows like that give you an inside peek into people's heads and allows you new perspectives. I strongly suggest people watch them! and i do not like it when people listen to some of the songs that i really like and start saying "OMG you're suicidal! the song's so explicit and disgusting. Why do u even like it?" etc etc.. get over it. In my perspective i think it's nice and i see it at a deeper level. That's all. I think sometimes we all should make an effort to respect each other's views.
