22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Charlie Chaplin: The Artist, the Musician, and the "Tramp"
Jennifer R. Gaither
Prof. Shirley McKamie, Faculty Mentor
Charlie Chaplin has been a fixture in the world of cinema ever since his appearance on film in the early twentieth century. One of the main reasons for the timelessness of his work is his fusion of music and movement in the action of the film. The foundation for this synthesis is Chaplin's background in the theatre. He spent much of his childhood immersed in theatre, music, and dance; experience in each area influenced his films. The actuation of the synthesis in Chaplin's films springs from his involvement with all facets of the filmmaking process. Being the only person in the film industry to ever direct, write, act, produce, and score the same film, Charlie Chaplin was in a position to control how movement and music came together in the final product. It is through this commitment and theatrical background that Charlie Chaplin's films are able to captivate audiences today.
Keywords: Charlie Chaplin, cinema, music, silent film, synthesis
Topic(s):Interdisciplinary
Theatre
Music
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 43-4
Location: OP 2113
Time: 2:00