I wrote a scene, for my class, "Comm. 105: Visual Literacy," for the Charlie Chaplin movie, "Modern Times." If this scene were included in a more recent version of “Modern Times,” it would certainly invoke a very general critique of computer technology. It highlights the fact that a very large amount of the worldwide web’s site hit counts are pornography related. It gives a good example of a common chat room question. The question could be seen as a possible scary aspect of computer literacy and the arrogance of some users. Computer illiteracy is also shown by Charlie’s pointing and gesturing antics, as well as his use of the mouse as a microphone. A good followup scene could show Charlie trying to use a cell phone. The entire film could try to make comic sense of the new world of communications using Charlie’s nonverbal ways and show how difficult it is to learn to use new and invasive technology. Its pretty lame. Click "More" to read the short scene. Comments welcome, as always. :) PEACE!!!

The Tramp (Chaplin) waddles into a room with only a desk, a chair on wheels and a computer sitting on top of the desk. He plops himself onto the edge of the chair and the chair rolls out from under him and into the wall behind him. A subtle “BOOP” sound is heard as he lands on the floor. Stunned and rubbing his sore rear. He retrieves the chair, sits, and the chair comes out from underneath him again. He again retrieves the chair. He successfully sits and stares fixedly at the computer monitor. His eyes are met with a still picture of a scantily clad, smiling woman.
The Tramp first smiles at the woman. She continues to smile. He scratches his forehead and reaches, with his finger, to touch her arm. When his finger meets the monitor, he snaps back, having gotten a shock. A loud ZAP is heard. He shakes his finger several times and looks angrily at the woman. The Tramp reaches for the mouse and picks it up without moving his eyes. He holds the mouse, with the back close to his lips. A subtitle appears, “HELLO? HELLO? THAT HURT!” The woman continues to smile.
The Tramp walks away angrily, flailing his arms. A sound resembling a church bell comes from the computer. He stops, scratches his forehead, pivots on one foot, while the other leg swings around high above the ground. Facing the computer now, e marches to it. He again sits on the edge of the desk and falls on the floor as the chair rolls out from under him. A screen has appeared over half of the woman which reads, “Age? Sex? Location?” His eyebrows go up and his eyes get big. A tighter shot of just “Age?” is shown. He points at his left hand with his right. His left hand flashes four fingers, and then 2 fingers. A tight shot of “Sex?” is shown. The Tramp smiles and nods excitedly. A tight shot of “Location?” is shown. He again looks confused. He simply points at the ground next to him.
A few seconds pass and a new line appears on the monitor, “FINE! Don’t talk to me. Bye.” The Tramp gets a confused but saddened look on his face. He shrugs and waddles out of the room.