| Author |
Topic:
The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 44. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
|
Rogue1-and-a-half
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
10/6/07 8:06pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 74: King Kong
|
|
Norman Bates definitely belongs on the list and a lot higher than 75.
-----signature-----
I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
Without having ever felt sorry for itself.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
|
Date Posted:
10/29/07 9:28pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 74: King Kong
|
Next: 73: The Little Tramp
From Wiki: "The Tramp, also known as The Little Tramp, was Charlie Chaplin's most memorable on-screen character, a recognized icon of world cinema most dominant during the silent film era.
The Tramp, as portrayed by Chaplin, is a bumbling but usually good-hearted character who is most famously presented as a vagrant who endeavors to behave with the manners and dignity of a gentleman despite his actual social status. However, while he is ready to take what paying work that is available, he also uses his cunning to get what he needs to survive and escape the authority figures who will not tolerate his antics. Chaplin's films did not always portray "The Tramp" (or "The Little Fellow," as Chaplin called him) as a vagrant, however. The character was rarely referred to by any names onscreen, although he was sometimes identified as "Charlie" and rarely, as in the original silent version of The Gold Rush, "The Little Tramp".
The Tramp debuted during the silent film era in the Keystone comedy Kid Auto Races at Venice (released on February 7, 1914). Chaplin, with his Little Tramp character, quickly became the most popular star in Keystone director Mack Sennett's company of players. Chaplin continued to play the Tramp through dozens of short films and, later, feature-length productions (in only a handful of other productions did he play characters other than the Tramp).
The Tramp was closely identified with the silent era, and was considered an international character; when the sound era began in the late 1920s, Chaplin refused to make a talkie featuring the character. The 1931 production City Lights featured no dialogue. Chaplin officially retired the character in the film Modern Times (released February 5, 1936), which appropriately ended with the Tramp walking down an endless highway toward the horizon. The film was only a partial talkie and is often called the last silent film. The Tramp remains silent until near the end of the film when, for the first time, his voice is heard. However, what he speaks is in fact a string of gibberish mixed with random Italian and French phrases as part of a song he sings.
Two films Chaplin made in 1915, The Tramp and The Bank, created the characteristics of his screen persona. While in the end the Tramp manages to shake off his disappointment and resume his carefree ways, “the pathos lies in The Tramp's hope for a more permanent transformation through love, and his failure to achieve this.” (Article 21, pg 112)
The physical attributes of the Tramp include a pair of baggy pants, a tight coat, a small derby hat, a large pair of shoes, and the famous small mustache. The Tramp walks strangely and uncomfortably because of the ill-fitting clothing; either he is wearing secondhand clothes, or they are originally his but he can not afford new ones. The Tramp may have seen better days, but he maintains the attitude and demeanor of a high-class individual; as long as he acts like one he can believe that he is one, and is able to keep his hope that some day he actually will be again.
The Tramp was usually the victim of circumstance and coincidence, but sometimes the results worked in his favor. In Modern Times he picks up a red flag that falls off a truck and starts to wave it at the truck in an attempt to return it, and by doing so, unknowingly and inadvertently becomes the leader of group of protesting workers, and ends up in jail because of it. While in jail he accidentally eats “nose powder” - (i.e. cocaine), which causes him to not return to his jail cell; but when he eventually does, he fights off some jail breakers attempting to escape, thus saving the life of the warden. Because of this, the warden offers to let him go, but the Tramp would rather stay in jail because it is better than the outside world.
Chaplin's social commentary, while critical of the faults and excesses created by the capitalist system, also shows support and belief in the “American Dream”. In Modern Times, Chaplin creates a “portrayal consistent with popular leftist stereotypes of wealthy capitalists and oppressed workers in the 1930's.” (Article 22, pg 151) While the Tramp and his fellow workers sweat on the assembly line, the president of the Electro Steel Company works on a puzzle and reads the funnies in the newspaper. The obsession of working with efficiency and assembly line productivity ultimately drives the Tramp mad. This could be seen as “an attack on the capitalist rationalization of production.” (Article 20, pg 152) However, “the film also guardedly affirms American middle-class, particularly its optimism.” (Article 20, pg 153) An example of this is sequence depicting a dream that the Tramp has, in which he and the Gamin live a traditional middle-class lifestyle.
The Tramp and the Gamin find a rundown shack to live in. The Gamin cooks a cheap breakfast, and then the Tramp is off to work, while the Gamin stays to maintain the home. This scene in the rundown shack is an allusion to a middle-class setting. By the ending of Modern Times, “the film seems tailored to please the middle-class optimist.” Due to all of their failings the final scene had the Gamin stating, “What's the use of trying?”, with the Tramp replying with, “Buck up–never say die.” Chaplin was unique among the silent film comedians because of his physical shtick, but also because of the universality of his class struggle humor and his social commentary. “What makes Modern Times decidedly different from Chaplin's previous three films are the political references and social realism that keep intruding into Charlie's world.” (Article 20, pg 150) “No comedian before or after him has spent more energy depicting people in their working lives.” (Article 21, pg 110) “Though there had been films depicting the lives of immigrants and urban workers, no filmmaker before Chaplin had created their experience so humanly and lovingly.” (Article 21, pg 113)
Chaplin used not one, but two similar-looking characters to the Tramp in The Great Dictator (released October 15, 1940); however, this was an all-talking film (Chaplin's first). The film was inspired by the noted similarity between Chaplin's appearance (most notably his small mustache) and that of German dictator Adolf Hitler. Chaplin used this similarity to create a dark version of the Tramp character in parody of the dictator. (In his book My Autobiography, Chaplin stated that he was unaware of the Holocaust when he made the film; if he had been, he writes, he wouldn't have been able to make a comedy satirizing Hitler.) The barber, meanwhile while having many similarities to the Tramp, is not considered a version of that character, although he does engage is several Tramp-like comedy sequences. A noticeable difference is that the barber has a streak of grey in his hair; the Tramp had always been depicted as having dark hair."
In Chaplin's early films, the Tramp is very anti-establishment; he grows innocent as he ages, oddly enough.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Rogue1-and-a-half
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
10/30/07 10:16am
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 73. The Little Tramp
|
|
In the short films and some of the early long films, the Little Tramp is very much anti-establishment, as you say. He gets a little bit more romanticized, but not much more popular as the series progresses.
-----signature-----
I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
Without having ever felt sorry for itself.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Forcefire
Registered:
Jul '00
|
Date Posted:
11/7/07 5:04pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 73. The Little Tramp
|
 I thought I'd gotten something written up for this. Sorry about that. I can see why they put the Little Tramp on there. Actually, I read an article that implied some people feel that Hitler wasn't taken seriously enough earlier on because he reminded people of Charlie Chaplin. Can't speak to the accuracy of that, but it's interesting.
Ah, found it. The article is mostly about the mustache (and is pretty interesting). The Chaplin part is found on page 2.
Moving on:
72: Othello
Category: Theater
In a nutshell: Moorish general who kills his wife and himself over false claims of her unfaithfulness.
What the book says: "Othello's story warns us of the dire consequences of acting on mere appearances because things are often not what they seem to be. His fatal error is a warning to us all: be introspective. Be careful. Be very careful. Verify the information before taking action."
What I say: Shakespeare is responsible for four characters on this list, more than anyone else, and if anyone should be so well represented, it's him. Othello is definitely a landmark character (though Iago could be said to be more "influential," I suppose).
-----signature-----
"Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy.
Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again.
It was the best day ever."
Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
|
Date Posted:
11/7/07 7:01pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 72. "Othello"
|
|
The synopsis skips around the race issue, but that's part of it.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Rogue1-and-a-half
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered:
Nov '00
|
Date Posted:
11/8/07 11:14am
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 72. "Othello"
|
|
I must say I think Iago would be a better choice for the list.
-----signature-----
I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
Without having ever felt sorry for itself.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Forcefire
Registered:
Jul '00
|
Date Posted:
11/15/07 1:57pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 72. "Othello"
- Date Edited:
11/15/07 2:06pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Forcefire
|
71: Hiawatha
Category: Americana
In a nutshell: Native American character whose tribe's prosperity was contingent on his happiness (I guess? The book is a bit vague on the story.)
What the book says: "... Hiawatha dparted from his people, believing that they were safe in the white man's hands.
"But these were not just any white men. These were Puritan Christians, who believed that children needed to be exposed to treatment as harsh as the New England winters they endured themselves. The problems they initiated continue to plague all of us. The Bureau of Indian Affairs still dominates the lives of most of the Indians in the United States. The damage done by condescending white people, comforted by the spirit of Longfellow's creation, persists to this day."
What I say: So I guess what they're suggesting is that The Song of Hiawatha provided something that made white people feel better about the mistreatment of Native Americans. I'm not sure, myself.
-----signature-----
"Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy.
Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again.
It was the best day ever."
Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
|
Date Posted:
11/15/07 2:57pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 71: Hiawatha
|
This list is growing progressively more bizarre.
Hiawatha?
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Forcefire
Registered:
Jul '00
|
Date Posted:
11/15/07 6:29pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 71: Hiawatha
|
|
Yeah, not someone I would have chosen, either. If you want to pick a character to deal with Native American issues, I'd think about James Fenimore Cooper's Natty Bumpo. Not that he's a Native American character, but he's Fenimore Cooper's attempt to negotiate related issues in early American literature.
-----signature-----
"Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy.
Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again.
It was the best day ever."
Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
21st
Registered:
Aug '07
|
Date Posted:
11/15/07 9:07pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 71: Hiawatha
|
Go Othello
"There was a brother by the name of Othello, he liked white women and he liked...green...jello."
-----signature-----
Welcome to text-based Counterstrike!
You are in a dark forest map
>Go North
You are pwned by a grue
-XKCD
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Forcefire
Registered:
Jul '00
|
Date Posted:
11/19/07 9:11pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 71: Hiawatha
|
70: Peter Pan
Category: Children's Literature
In a nutshell: Boy who never grows up, fights pirates in Neverland.
What the book says: "Peter represents that child in all of us who's having too much fun, who doesn't want to grow up."
What I say: I wasn't sure at first, but maybe they have a point in his inclusion. How many characters have their own syndrome? Okay, that's pop psychology, but I think there might be something to the fact that Peter Pan was chosen for the name. So... maybe?
-----signature-----
"Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy.
Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again.
It was the best day ever."
Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Palpateen
Registered:
Apr '00
|
Date Posted:
11/19/07 9:28pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 70. Peter Pan
|
He certainly had an influence on Michael Jackson.
-----signature-----
Whatever happened to Yareal Poof?
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
|
Date Posted:
11/19/07 9:54pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 70. Peter Pan
|
|
Peter Llewellyn-Davies, the kid on whom Peter Pan was based, eventually threw himself in front of a train.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Forcefire
Registered:
Jul '00
|
Date Posted:
11/29/07 8:05am
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 70. Peter Pan
|
70: The Pied Piper
Category: Folktales
In a nutshell: Rat exterminator who doesn't get paid leads children out of town, temporarily or forever depending on the version.
What the book says: No real reasoning given out here, mostly a bunch of fact about the origin of the legend. (It apparently relates to the real disappearance of 130 people.)
What I say: Well, it's hard to argue with their logic when they don't present any. The idea of someone or something being a Pied Piper, leading children astray, has been a pretty popular one. I say keep him.
-----signature-----
"Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy.
Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again.
It was the best day ever."
Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
|
Date Posted:
11/29/07 12:25pm
Subject:
RE: The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: 69. The Pied Piper
|
|
Yes, this is a cultural reference that we all get.
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
