09/06/2019 ~ part 1: enjolras could be terrible

30/6/2019 ~ part 2: enjolras could be terrible

Inked and shaded my second batch of pages~ and growing up on a diet of murder mystery comics might have had an effect on me. Also, trying to draw exactly as Victor Hugo wrote it really drove home for me how violent this scene is.

The Miserables Month - #16 Intrepid

enjolras design!!!

happy barricade day 2026! | @barricadeday

some more amis doodle design below:

This is based on what I know about healthy culture especially in direct actions and civil disobedient situations. I am no expect though and am aware that the stakes Les Amis operate in are much higher. Still I think there are some similarities that we can learn from

- room for disagreement

It’s made clear that the group has a diverse range of opinions and that they feel comfortable discussing disagreements openly. It’s also shown how Enjolras who seems the most steadfast in his belief is changed by keeping company with the others. This is very healthy!

And even if show up supporting Napoleon you are still welcome but you may also be rhetorically slam dunked in one sentence

- No one leader/decentralized structure

Okay so not completely decentralized but I think it’s really nice that it’s shown that all of les amis are capable of carrying out responsibility both during the barricade and in the preparations.

The organization of the baricade is fragmental- the revolt has several barricades with their own leadership who themselves have leaders for smaller sections of the barricade. These positions are fluid though and even someone like Marius can receive the command for a time.

Of course these structures aren’t always super democratic- several times Enjolras calls big shots without consulting the rest of the barricade and he is described as the leader several times. In a less lethal direct action environment I think that would require a very thorough action consensus (which is an agreement by all participants on how the action should be performed before the action starts) to be seen as okay but of course some can feel the need for a more hierarchical chain of command when under this much pressure

At least it seems the role of being in command is somewhat flexible and that responsibility is divided

- You can always leave with no judgement

Enjolras in particular emphasize that people should always know what they go into and only proceed willingly and that those who want to leave can. That’s how it should always be especially when an action entails a risk for the participants.

- they care about each other and comfort each other in hard times

It’s okay to be vulnerable at the barricade! They are facing death, they are in an incredible harsh situation yet they are still soft with each other and allow and give space to emotions.

- space for art

They pass the waiting time by singing, holding speeches, philosophizing or reciting poetry. I think those spontaneous moments of art is a very beautiful part of protest culture that really highlights that activism is powered by joy and love for the world. This also helps build a vision of the future which is very effective. To make change imagination is so important, not just knowing what you are fighting against but what you are fighting for

bottoms tops we all hate cops