The Life Beyond Black and White: Contrast and Perception in Chaplin Films Emily Turner College

Slapstick comedy warrants more than two chuckles and a snort, courtesy of Chaplin’s decades of work that gave the world humorous content packed with a philosophical punch. Regardless of liking him or not, his films irrefutably remain some of the most influential in the field. Chaplin revolutionized cinema with his iconic Tramp character and general knack for melodramatic pantomime; his humor intertwines with ironic elements, channeling his social criticism. The two films, The Gold Rush and The Great Dictator, represent his ability to navigate the power of silence and voice, use humor as a tool to imply larger-scale social issues, and integrate philosophy into his characters. The irony in Chaplin’s films reflects the contrast in humanity, specifically in the opposition of thought and intentions; furthermore, Chaplin uses ironic situations to reflect how individual perception dictates reality.

Chaplin integrates contrast in “The Great Dictator” by means of exploring opposing thoughts. Furthermore, the films argue that nothing is black in white and that humans exist within the gray. Upon further research, I learned that Chaplin improvised much of his films, not relying on written scripts and experimenting with his beloved...