Chaplin

Name: Chaplin
ISBN: 9787508738888

马成China Society Press · ChinaJul 2016

3.6

Word count: 115K words
Chapters: 40
ISBN: 9787508738888

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Summary

He laid the foundation of the modern comedy film and, together with Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, is counted among the world's three great comedians. Chaplin in his round bowler hat and formal suit became almost the representative image of comedy film; his bowler hat and suit turned into a lasting emblem of the genre, and many artists afterwards performed in his manner.

Editor's review

Ma Cheng's Chaplin is not a conventional celebrity biography but a rigorous historical and sociological deconstruction of the comedy master's complex life and artistic achievement. Rather than piling up anecdotes, the author places Chaplin within the tumultuous political, economic, and cultural upheavals of the twentieth century, analyzing the sharp social critique and deep humanistic concern in works such as Modern Times and The Great Dictator. The book's greatest value lies in revealing Chaplin's dual identity as artist and public intellectual: how the laughable tramp Charlot on screen became an enduring symbol of the little man alienated by industrial civilization, and how off screen Chaplin himself became a controversial figure in political storms because of his leftist stance and uncompromising independence. Ma Cheng's solid command of historical sources allows readers to pass through layer upon layer of myth and see a more three-dimensional and real Chaplin, one who struggled under childhood poverty and the shadow of his mother's mental illness, rose and fell in Hollywood's vanity fair, and was ultimately forced into exile in his later years. For readers who wish to go beyond the simple label of 'master of comedy' and understand the interaction between art and society in the twentieth century, this book offers a profoundly rewarding point of entry.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in film history, especially the relationship between comedy and social critique
Researchers seeking a deeper understanding of the complex interaction between twentieth-century cultural figures and their political contexts
Readers dissatisfied with entertainment gossip who crave in-depth biographies
Those interested in exploring the theme of artists' social responsibility and personal destiny

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking only light entertainment or celebrity scandal
Readers impatient with more serious historical and social analysis

Reading tips

Reading alongside Chaplin's classic silent films (such as City Lights and The Gold Rush) is recommended, as it makes the visual language and emotional expression analyzed in the book more directly appreciable
Readers may pay attention to the book's discussion of 'body politics' in Chaplin's films to understand the social metaphors behind his physical comedy
The book can be read in comparison with another Chaplin biography from a different perspective for a more three-dimensional understanding

About the publisher

China Society Press China · Founded in 1989

China Society Press focuses on publishing books in the field of social development, covering categories such as social organizations, social assistance, social work, social welfare, elderly care services, and administrative division and place names. Judging from the books in the database, the press also publishes in history, inspirational growth, and biography. Representative titles include the two-volume Qingming Shanghe Tu: The Palace Museum Collection Edition, Letters from Rockefeller to His Children, biographies of Nietzsche, Leonardo da Vinci, Zhang Daqian, and Wernher von Braun, and How to Win Friends and Influence People. Representative authors include Duan Yongqiang, Wei Mingming, Li Dandan, Miao Jie, Jin Xia, Liu Mingshan, Li Jianxue, and Dale Carnegie. Public information is limited, and the 52 titles in the database are not enough to fully capture the press's entire publishing profile and product lines.

版权信息
写在前面的话
人物简介
童年的磨砺
与电影同期诞生
五岁时就登台表演
与母亲艰难地生活
八岁展现表演天赋
生活是最好的老师
兄弟俩都当了演员
四处碰壁百折不挠
勇敢把握成功机遇
青年的拼搏
创作银幕经典形象
勇于发表个人见解
终于自己做了导演
转入爱赛奈制片公司
技艺渐成熟
展露艺术家的风范
拥有自己的制片厂
组成联美影片公司
与母亲在美国团聚
走向更辉煌
真情感谢影迷拥戴
开始有针对性探索
把喜剧同史诗结合
把喜剧悲剧高度融合
大胆揭露社会弊端
勇敢讽刺纳粹独裁
呼吁开辟第二战场
晚年的成就
勇敢无畏对抗诬陷
离开美国定居瑞士
会见周恩来等伟人
辛辣批判虚假伪善
奋斗到生命最后一刻
附录
经典故事
年谱
名言

FAQ

What is the main difference between this book and common celebrity biographies?

This book focuses more on an academic analysis of Chaplin as a cultural phenomenon and social critic rather than listing anecdotes from his life, with emphasis on the relationship between his artistic creation and social currents.

Does the book cover details of Chaplin's private life?

The author is quite restrained in dealing with private life, mainly selecting events that had a key impact on his artistic creation and public image, in service of the book's framework of social history analysis.

How difficult is this book to read?

The book has a certain academic character and requires readers to have a basic understanding of twentieth-century world history and film art. It is not a light read, but the argument is clear, making it suitable for readers willing to think deeply.

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About the author

马成 Author

Ma Cheng is an author about whom little public information is available; no clear record exists regarding his nationality, dates of birth and death, or educational background. Judging from the eighteen works held in the collection, his writing centers on two areas: popular science and biography. His subjects range across the history of astronomy, ancient calendars, the history of chemistry, physics and biology, the Four Great Inventions, and inventions and discoveries, and he has also written a biography of Charlie Chaplin. Overall, he is skilled at combining abstract scientific knowledge with historical context, explaining the development of disciplines and the origins of major inventions in an accessible way that balances information with readability. His works commonly appear in the categories of popular science, general biography and inspirational growth, and are suitable for general readers who wish to learn about the history of science and invention with ease.