...LES MISÉRABLES Directed by: TOM HOOPER Les Misérables is the story of four people—Bishop Myriel, Valjean, Fantine, and Marius—who meet, part, and then meet again during the most agitated decades of 19th-century France. It also tells the story of the 1832 revolution and describes the unpleasant side of Paris. The movie is in essence a plea for humane treatment of the poor and for equality among all citizens. Bishop Myriel is a kind and generous bishop who gives Jean Valjean aid when everyone else refuses him. Searching for a place to spend the night, the ex-convict finds that he is a branded man and no inn will let him stay. His last resort is the home of the bishop, who takes him in and treats him as an honored guest. After Valjean steals the silverware and is caught by the police, the bishop protects him by insisting that the silver was actually a gift. The bishop's selfless act inspires Valjean to change his life. Jean Valjean. The chief protagonist is an ex-convict who struggles to redeem himself morally and to find acceptance in a society that rejects him as a former criminal. The change in him became the light of the movie. Fantine is a Parisian “grisette,” or working woman, who falls in love with a student, Félix Tholomyès. Just after Félix breaks off their relationship, she gives birth to a daughter, Cosette. From that point forward her life is a downward spiral. She gives up her child to the mercenary Thénardiers and finds a job in her home town, but is dismissed...
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...Brutalism originated in the mid-1950s and was based on the work of modern architecture pioneer Le Corbusier. It refers to the buildings which having distinct sculptured form, bold geometries and material rigor - usually in rough or textured concrete. Le Corbusier purposed that Architecture ‘is to establish emotional relationships by means of raw materials’. Goldstein Hall as a brutalist buildings with an emphasis on structural expression and extreme material honesty invoked a matter of ‘harmonies’ and ‘a pure creation of the spirit’. Goldstein Hall is designed by Peter Hall, who completed the design of the Sydney Opera House after the resignation of Jørn Utzon. As the idiom of the ‘Sydney School’, Goldstein Hall reflected the natural qualities of the Sydney bushland as well as using materials in an unadorned, “honest” manner. It demonstrates how the Sydney School interpreted Brutalism with expressive use of materials and impressive communal spaces ....
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...It is a story with a long and intricate plot, of the heroic life of a simple and good man in the person of Jean Valjean. He is a very memorable character who is morally upright but guilty of certain thefts for which he feels remorse. To avoid capture and life sentence, he assumes the identity of Monsieur Madeliene, soon becoming the mayor of the small town he has adopted. It is a very beautiful story packed with excitement. You will always try to think what would happen to the characters as they ventured into new frontiers. It talks about man’s struggle to escape the past and reaffirm his humanity in a society wherein poverty and ignorance prevails. Aside from being a superb adventure, it can also be considered as a powerful social document. It shows the inhumane treatment of the convicts and ex-convicts. It also shows how a man can be redeemed by accepting suffering, and by following the dictates of his conscience even if it entails suffering and ostracism from many people. It also talks about the man’s struggle for existence in the case of the principal character, Jean Valjean as he tried to forget the past and go on with his life. He is such a remarkable character distinct to other people we met in our daily undertakings. He’s exceptional and one of a kind. It also dwells with the supernatural power of love, the love to give up one’s freedom for the sake of justice. It is also quite romantic especially on the part of the love affair of Marius and Cosette that tickles your...
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...The convict Jean Valjean is freed from a French prison after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and for his attempts to escape from prison. When Valjean travels to the town of Digne, no one is willing to give him shelter because he is an ex-convict. When Valjean knocks on the door of M. Myriel, a kindly bishop, he invites him in and gives him shelter and food. Valjean repays the bishop by stealing his silverware. When the police arrest Valjean, Myriel covers for him, saying that the silverware was a gift. The police let Valjean go and Myriel makes him promise to become an honest and good man. Willing to fulfill his promise, Valjean masks his identity and enters the town of Montreuil-sur-mer. Under the assumed name of Madeleine, Valjean invents an ingenious manufacturing process that brings the town prosperity. He eventually becomes the town’s mayor. Fantine, is a woman from Montreuil, and lives in Paris. She falls in love with Tholomyès, a wealthy student who seduces and impregnates her and then abandons her. Fantine returns to her home with her daughter, Cosette. On the way to Montreuil, Fantine recognizes that she will never be able to find work if the townspeople know that she has an illegitimate baby. She meets the Thénardiers, a family that runs an inn. The Thénardiers agree to care for Cosette as long as Fantine sends them a monthly allowance. Fantine finds work in Madeleine’s factory. A coworker finds out about Cosette and has Fantine fired. The Thénardiers...
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...Les Misérables By Victor Hugo An Analysis by Neyko Gelo L. Dela Cruz, 3-11 August 3, 2015 INTRODUCTION Victor Hugo Victor Marie Hugo, born on February 26, 1802, was a celebrated French author during the Romantic Movement and is best known for his poetry and his novels including The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables. His father served as a high-ranked officer in Napoleon’s army. Since it is against his mother’s wishes, Hugo married Adele, who was his childhood friend, only after his mother’s death in 1821. Hugo’s oldest daughter, Leopoldine, died of drowning when a boat overturned. He described his grief in his famous poem A Villequier. Thereafter, he continued writing poems about Leopoldine’s life and death, and it seemed like he never really moved on from the tragedy. Along with writing poems about the death of his daughter, he also started writing Les Misérables in private. After 17 years, Les Misérables was finally published in 1862. During his latest years, Hugo’s works focused on darker themes like God, Satan and death. Victor Hugo died in Paris on May 22, 1885 and received a hero’s funeral. Les Misérables Les Misérables is an epic novel, historical fiction authored by Victor Hugo and published in 1862. The novel takes place in 1815 until 1832 during the June Rebellion in Paris. Les Misérables talks about the lives of different characters, and in particular, the...
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...India Lewis Greenwell AP English 30 October 2013 Les Miserables: The Significance of Sacrifice Sacrifice is a prominent part of human living. In order to get what is needed or wanted, sacrifice is necessary, whether it is small or great. In the novel, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, he shows that in society, those with less must often sacrifice more. Hugo conveys sacrifice through the characters Fantine and Jean Valjean, by showing how they sacrifice in order to gain and also how their poverty makes their sacrifice even greater. Poverty pushes Fantine to make sacrifices throughout the book. She is forced to sacrifice raising her child, Cosette, and leaving her to strangers, because poverty has left her no means to take care of her. She left Cosette with the Thenardiers, because she believed she could make enough money to get her back again. “I have eighty francs. That will leave me enough to go into the country if I walk. I will go earn some money there, and as soon as I have I will come back for my little love” (Hugo 46). Fantine sacrificed her only accredited attributes for Cosette. She sacrificed her hair, “My child is no longer cold; I have clothed her with my hair” (Hugo 63). She also sacrificed her incisors to prevent her child from dying from disease. With these many sacrifices, Fantine gave up her dignity, of the few things she had left. She faced ridicule daily in the town she was raised in; from the people she trusted or had faith in, because she chose her...
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...Les Miserables is a movie about people with miserable lives. Each of them has a unique story that portrays why their lives are miserable. The sacrifices and pains of the lead characters in this movie are intense and breathtaking. Jean Valjean is a convict in a French prison. He’s been serving his sentence for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread for the daughter of his sister that was starving to death and trying to escape prison as well. Javert a police inspector is keen enough to hover over prisoner 64201—Valjean. Javert then grants Valjean his parole since his sentence is over. The parole has itineraries for which Valjean must abide at all times. It includes the yellow badge that Valjean shall wear at all times to show people that he is a dangerous man. Depite Valjean’s freedom there is still something missing that he doesn’t seem to find out what could it possibly be. He tried to apply for jobs but was rejected for carrying the badge. He becomes hopeless and even stole a silverware from Myriel—a presiding bishop. Myriel gave refuge to Valjean and covered for his misdeeds. Valjean then hides beneath the name of Madeleine. He then manages and owns a manufacturing company in the town of Montreuil-sur-mer. This made him wealthy enough to try to bring up the town’s prosperity. Fantine fell in love, got pregnant and the man she fell for eventually abandons her and their child. She then traveled to the town of Montfermil with her child, Cosette. She made a deal with Monsieur...
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...Les Misérables: Journal Entries Fantine: * Theme: “You have left a place of suffering. But listen, there will be more joy in heaven over tears of repentant sinner than over the white robes of a hundred good men” (Page 27) * Heaven is gladder when sinners forsake of its sins, than with the good men just being the same all throughout. “He lived peaceable, reassured, and hopeful, having but two thoughts: to conceal his life, and to sanctify his life: to escape from men and to return to God.”(Page 72) * He wanted to change his life, but still the natural man is still part of his mighty change of heart. Every time he would always have two thoughts: which is the desire of changing, and the other is the natural man that wants to rebel again. * Character: “See here! My name is Jean Valjean. I am a convict: I have been nineteen years in the galleys. Four days ago I was set free, …… I went to an inn, and they sent me away on account of my yellow passport …… I am very tired—twelve leagues on foot, and I am so hungry. Can I stay?” (Page 17) * Jean Valjean described himself in this quotation, he sees his life as an empty glass no one is accepting him after hew as set free. He then said, his tired of trying his chance to accommodate himself with people, but people is pushing him away on his yellow passport. “He thought he saw himself, older, doubtless, not precisely the same in features, but alike in attitude and appearance...
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...In 1926, Le Corbusier introduced his five points of architecture, which he had been developing throughout the 1920s; the first of these five points was the use of pilotis (concrete columns which support the building above ground). In Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier uses all of his five points to develop this house including the pilotis and they serve an important function. Of there functions is how they free a space below the building allowing spatial and formal flexibility and increasing the area for circulation and services in the small available area also increasing the green area. In Villa Savoye the increased area for circulation was used as a route for cars where cars driven by chauffeurs could be driven directly to the door and then into parking area and this increased the used area under the house instead of using the space around it. Aesthetically the pilotis also gave a sense of floating and lightness to the architecture itself, which helped, as it would have looked heavy and unappealing as a large cube. They also free up the view so the persons sight is not channeled between the buildings but right beneath the dwellings. Le Corbusier describes in this book “ Towards A New Architecture” from pages 52-61 the “ City Of Towers” which uses the pilotis on a large scale, where they do not hold up a small mass such as a building but a large mass such as whole cities. The circulation space, which was used for cars and other services below the buildings, now serves as an area for...
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...Les Misérables ,as defined by Wikipedia, is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables follows the story of former prisoner Jean Valjean who, after being released from the watchful eye of police officer Javert is unable to find work because of his status as an ex-convict. He eventually steals from a local church, but when apprehended, the priest claims that Valjean was given the valuables. This triggers a change in Valjean, and he constructs a new identity for himself as a pillar of society and a local businessman. Years later, he adopts a young girl named Cosette, whose mother Fantine, a former employee of his, became a prostitute and died a horrible death in the gutters after being fired. As the years progress and the French Revolution begins to foment, a grown Cosette falls for a passionate revolutionary named Marius, while Javert begins to close in again on Valjean's secret past. Les Miserables, as I’ve thought, was just another movie about revolution and rebellion. But I was completely dumbfounded when I saw the twist and turn of events. At first I found the movie a bit strange and queer, mainly because of the portrayal of the character’s lines through singing but, nevertheless, it made the whole story more enticing and interesting especially as the story develops. The...
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...Les Miserables (Reaction Paper) Les Miserables or The Miserable Ones is a musical movie based on the novel of Victor Hugo. It is a story about the hardship, love, sacrifice, humanity, laws, broken dreams, and also the darkest parts of French history during the revolution in 18th century. This movie focusing on the struggles and experiences of redemption of Jean Valjean. The movie begins in 1815 in Digne,France, when Jean Valjean released from 19 years imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread just to feed his sister’s seven starving children, and gave him a parole but he breaks it that makes the ruthless policeman Javert hunted him. Because of being a former convict, the people around him rejected him until he met the Bishop Myriel who helped and encourage him to have a faith in God and to change as a better man. After six years hiding, he becomes a wealthy factory owner in Paris and one of his employees is Fantine. Fantine is a single mother who will do anything in order to support her daughter. She sell her hair, become a prostitute and even her dreams are broken. Valjean helped Fantine to see her daughter and take her to the hospital but later she was die happily when she saw her daughter. Later, he met Cosette, a young girl who is abusing and maltreating by Monsieur and Madame Thenardier. So, Valjean adopts her. After 8 years, Cosette grows into a beautiful woman where Marius falls in love with her. While Eponine, a young daughter of Monsieur and M. Thenardier who was...
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...Fantine: Theme: “Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!”(Pg. 33) This shows how that even though a man went through, metaphorically, hell, he does not have to stay there but can turn to God and become a better man and not let hate and anger swell up within him. “He lived peaceable, reassured, and hopeful, having but two thoughts: to conceal his life, and to sanctify his life: to escape from men and to return to God.”(Pg. 72) It shows that even if a man tries hiding from his past and even if he is trying to become good man by hiding his past and his shame from his face; he is simply digging a hole deeper and deeper for himself as the past will always be there till we face it as it is only concealed, not erased. Character: “See here! My name is Jean Valjean. I am a convict: I have been nineteen years in the galleys. Four days ago I was set free, …… I went to an inn, and they sent me away on account of my yellow passport …… I am very tired—twelve leagues on foot, and I am so hungry. Can I stay?” (Pg. 17) Jean Valjean saw himself as nothing but a yellow piece of paper and is seeking help as none would give him it as he feels lower than the dirt as he bluntly announces it and believes that he will not receive it. “Well” said he¸ ”let us take this course! Let us do our duty! Let us save this...
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...History of the Gibson Les Paul One of the most influential and interesting instruments in history is the electric guitar. The electric guitar is a guitar that is hooked up through a speaker called an amplifier to create a musical sound. One if the most iconic electric guitars is the Gibson Les Paul, or commonly known as the Les Paul. Since its creation, this guitar has left a mark on musical history with its iconic design and sound. The Les Paul is one of the most commonly used electric guitars of all time and is still used today. Some of the most important things to know about the Les Paul are, who created it, the history, the evolution, and the popularity of the guitar. One of the most important things to know about a Les Paul, is the company that manufactures them. “Gibson Guitars was founded by a man named Orville Gibson in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This is the year that the first known recorded instrument Gibson made. Gibson started out making mandolins and acoustic guitars. In 1902 a higher demand for Gibson’s instruments soon became overwhelming, and he was unable to build all of the instruments by himself. He makes a financial agreement with five financiers in order to create the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Company.” Gibson received shares in stock from the company and a lump sum of about $2500 for the patent to the name of the company. Orville Passed away in 1918.” (Gibson Guitars) Essentially, Gibson became a major guitar innovator, with their adjustable truss...
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...UNITE D’HABITATION By the late 1940s Le Corbusier was well established in the CIAM and promoted Modernist architecture for public housing. Unite d’habitation (1947-52) in Marseilles is a large single 12 storey block consisting of 337 apartments, shops, a hotel, a restaurant, a kindergarten, and a rooftop area for leisure and exercise. The Unite illustrates the neo-Platonic Modular system which he developed post 1945, creating careful proportions and bright, spacious apartments. It is comparable to the Villa Savoye, utilising the ‘five points of architecture’ such as the strong pilotis which creates circulation space beneath the building, the free façade’s, and the roof terrace. The beton-brut structure was highly influenced by brutalist work, and Le Corbusier’s direct use of materials and regard for the individuals and communities was to be highly influential on New Brutalism. NOTRE DAME DU HAUT, RONCHAMP At the outset, the church Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp (1950-55) appears to be a clear deviation from his other works, and to an extent this is true. It is an expressionistic, organic, and sculptural architectural work which is highly spiritual; it seems to reject the machine aesthetic. Unlike Corbusier’s typically functional, sterile volumes, this building suggests an irregularity in form with a sloping roof, floor, and walls. It is important to acknowledge that the building is a spiritual one; therefore it inevitably will focus on the importance emotional qualities...
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...Les Demoiselles d’Avignon Artist – Pablo Picasso To compliment this discussion, background of this artist is essential. This artists’ indoctrination into the world of African masks, the Dan Tribe specifically, would revolutionize the art world at the time and has had an impact on artists and viewers to this day. The artist is Pablo Picasso. In June of 1907, Picasso visited the West African masks exhibition at the Trocadero Museum in Paris, France. As he viewed the African mask exhibition, he exclaimed: “The masks, they were not sculptures like the others. Not at all. They were magical things, intercessors… against everything, against unknown, menacing spirits”. (Walker) The influence of African masks can be noticed in a large number of Picasso’s art following this visit to the museum. Picasso’s oil painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon also known as The Maids of Avignon, was painted one year after his museum visit in 1907. This was the first piece of art by Picasso and validated by art critics where incorporation of the essence of an African mask was noticed. From 1907 through 1909, Picasso’s art exhibited a strong African influence. His art became more abstract and he is hailed as having begun Cubism and abstract art era by the art world. If one was to view his three self-portraits the progression of this African influence can be readily noticed. The last self-portrait was painted before his death in 1972 and resembles a Dan Tribe African Death Mask. Although...
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