Tiffany Tsai

Sociology 1 #51095
Project 1: Video/DVD Analysis
In the finale scene of the musical film Les Miserables, a group of
students and commoners are gathered watching the current kings
parade. The students proceeded to sing the Peoples Song:
(Chorus)
Do

you

hear

Singing
It
Who
When
Echoes
There

the
is

song

the

of

music

will

not

the

beating
a

of
be

beating

the
is

the

life

people

sing?

angry

men?

the

people

slaves

again!

of
of
about

your

heart

the

drums

to

start

When tomorrow comes.

One of the student rushed into the parade and started waving a red
flag, followed by the rest of the rebellion. The guards panicked and
ran away, making the commoners to feel theyve succeeded. But
the guards reformed and came back into the scene, ready to repress
the riot. A gunshot was fired, killing a woman, starting the fight
between the guards and the people. The students began to build a
barricade while others were throwing appliances such as chairs
down into the street to aid in the barricade. The riot continues with
the students firing behind the barricade while guards on horses
were unable to advance.
Comte, Marx, and Durkheim would all see this as a social
change occurring. For Comte, hell look at how the commoners are
working together, as well as the guards, and how the interactions
between commoners and the king lead to this change. Marx will see
the inequality between the opposing sides and how this riot is only
one of the many changes that took or will take place. Marx will view
the king as authoritative and selfish with power, making the
commoner unsatisfied. Durkheim will look at how the role of every

individuals work together and make-up the society. He will also see
how this riot was predictable. The riot is needed in order to have a
better social order. In addition, an interactionist such as Mead will
see this how each individual plays a role in this society. The students
played the role of leading the rebellion, which brought about social
change. The red flag being waved also serve as a symbol that
initiated the riot.
In this video, the theory most exemplified is Marxs conflict
theory society is characterized by tension and struggle between
groups. The king has power because he has resources and he kept
social order through laws enforced by him. Inequality between the
people and the kings guard can also be seen. The guards are clean
and organized, with glamorous clothing and swords, while the
people have ragged clothing, old guns, and dirty. Guards also have
power within this society, since they can punish those who did not
follow the law. Also within the lyrics sung by the people, the line it
is the music of the people who will not be slaves again is an
example of how repressed the people feel. They feel like slaves
working for the king. Everything in the video is calling out inequality.
This riot is something that will create a path for changes. Once the
people have overthrown their king, they can decide on a new social
order.