what horizon...?
putting les amis de l'abc in a timeloop (aka writing a play !!). mostly here for the les mis but also occasionally losing my mind over shakespeare. Extremely Normal about metatheatre.
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it's so fascinating how we joke about barricade day like it’s a time loop. are any other fandom holidays treated as such? are other holidays in general celebrated this way? every year by our own fanaticism it resets and we go down the same path and make the same jokes. "surely this year the people will rise." but that's the point isn't it ? we keep on going, just as the stage show is performed again and again. revolution does not end. injustice persists, the fight for change persists, and therefore so does our need for this story. "So long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use" and such...
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today i am thinking about the eight bullets that kill enjolras, and how i always see people saying they represent his eight friends to die at the barricade, but when i first read his death what came to my mind was the eight men to escape the barricade alive: valjean, marius, javert, and the five men who are given the national guard uniforms. i think of those eight bullets being meant for those eight men, and enjolras taking them all. he did not change the world in the way he meant, but he changed the world for eight men, and that has to be enough.
this is an invitation to infodump. i would LOVE to hear the thoughts you have on beggars at the feast, should you want to talk about them
AUGH ok ok let's see how well I can articulate...anything
OK so first: In the Letters server lately we've been talking a bit about how , in the book, Thenardier is WAY more the Human Nemesis than Javert is. He shows up earlier than Javert does; he's able to be a threat in ways Javert can't be, and to people Javert can't and wouldn't even try to touch ; he shares a TON of paralleling symbolism and class-blurring roles with JVJ; he's the last Personal Threat remaining in the novel, and the last thing we hear about him is that he's not only thriving , he's committing worse atrocities on a grander scale than anything we saw in the book, and getting nothing but social approval for it.
Thenardier is a nightmare, and he's triumphant, and as such he's a condemnation of society in an equal and opposing way to Jean Valjean. Valjean's story (and Fantine's , and the Thenardier siblings' ,. and the Amis , etc) says "look what we're destroying, look at the actions we punish". Thenardier's ultimate triumph as a literal slave trader flips it around and says "look what we support, look at what we endorse, look at what we elevate and approve."
(now within the book I could take this farther , I could point out that the only thing within the novel that breaks any of the miserables free of their oppression to any degree is crime of some kind, be it revolution or theft or Being an Accomplice or exploitation, and the only thing that costs the (relatively) privileged their security and power is to truly ally with the miserables, but !! I'm talking about the musical)
In the musical Thenardier is softened a lot. Like... a LOT. The Thenardiers' exploitation of Fantine is barely mentioned ; their violent abuse of Cosette is turned into a joke; their abuse of Eponine is minimized (and their other kids are either Not Appearing in this Play or not obviously connected to them) ; and that final doomstrike epilogue, Thenardier becoming a slave trader, is gone. He's no longer the primary and most dangerous human antagonist; as in many other adaptations, that's now Javert.
So there's a different arc but it's there : From Master of the House and the Robbery , when he largely comes across as a gross but funny Comic Villain ; to the Attack on the Rue Plumet, where we finally see a bit of danger to him; to Dog Eats Dog, where he is really just acting on the same philosophy we saw in MotH but now doing something most people have a more immediate revulsion to, and the mask is really off; to , finally, Beggars at the Feast.
If Beggars at the Feast is done RIGHT, This is Where The Villains Win.
They've gotten knocked around, sure, but they've also just gotten a ton of money, and, if done right, they are either blending in with the society party or, in the best staging * , they end up leading the dance. It's Master of the House all over again, only this time we're not being invited to laugh along with Thenardier's "band of soaks" ; this isn't the dregs of society, an easily stigmatized lower-class punchline.
This is Society, capital S Society, and they're just as ready to go along with him-- MORE ready to go along with him, even, because at least some of his inn customers usually get to be affronted and argue a little, but arguing with him risks some Unpleasantness, and isn't everything in Society so pleasant? Isn't it nice here, at the party? Let's not argue with the openly hateful people singing about how they want to destroy us all; look, they're dancing and singing! Let's just follow their lead. Won't that be nice.
And without getting into modern politics just because it's ALWAYS so current and I could never update the references frantically enough, I'll say that this is where Stage!Thenardier most echoes those Book!Thenardier Napoleon III vibes. Hugo knew what this dance looked like. He fell for it at one point.
(and hey, maybe it even raises some unease in audience members who laughed at MoTH and the child abuse and the Robbery without thinking about it-- maybe some people realize Oh Shit, We Fell For It Too. Not necessarily, but maybe?? )
And so it's fitting that it's this scene that has IMO a very clear sense of the book's incredibly specific political message ("Parisians, France, Please Overthrow Napoleon III, Probably With Barricades" ) , albeit in reverse. The Thenardiers gloat "Clear away the barricades and we're still here!" -- to them, a brag on how they endure all the changes around them.
But also implying: don't clear away the damn barricades. If you don't want the Thenardiers to run the show , help shore up that furniture wall and fight (for a modern international audience, this is probably going to be Not AS Specifically Involving Barricades).
So yeah. I'm not gonna say it's the most important song in the whole show , but it's important in ways I rarely see critics or commenters notice.
...Or it's just a funny musical reprise and you can have the Thenardiers be immediately thrown out of the wedding as frauds bc hahaha the poors thought they could play with their betters, good thing we're all so much smarter and cooler than that in the upper crust. That's fine too.
HI LES MIS FANDOM do you want to hear about my les amis play !! I promise it's not all metatheatre; there's lots of Revolutionary Talk and french history and les amis being silly :D come to barricades con this weekend!! there's still time to get tickets!
The time is near! Barricades 2024 is happening THIS WEEKEND, July 12-14 , all online!
We have the final schedule available on the website at barricadescon.com or right here, on this post! A more detailed schedule including descriptions is available in text under the Keep Reading break!
BarricadesCon 2024 Program
A full programming schedule of all the panels, their content, their presenters, their times, and whether they will be recorded.
All times are in UTC, and can be converted to your local time zone at this link.
Key to types of Panels:
Convention Administration panels: Panels run by the Con Committee, to open and end the convention.
Guest of Honor: Special panels from our guests of honor. This year, our guests of honor are Jean Baptiste Hugo, a descendant of Victor Hugo who will discuss his project photograph his ancestor’s house; Christina Soontornvat, the author of the award-winning Les Mis retelling “A Wish in the Dark;” and Luciano Muriel, playwright of the 2018 musical play “Grantaire.”
Fan/Academic Panel Presentations: Panels on history, fandom, or analysis of Les Mis. Scholars will share historical research, fans will share hobby projects, and the audience may get an opportunity to ask questions.
Social Meetups: Casual unstructured time to meet up over video call and chat!
Social Games: Games and activities.
Friday, June 12th
Discord Server Opens: Friday Morning UTC
Read through the rules, explore the channels, and chat with other congoers.
Welcome Session
Friday, 17:00-17:30 UTC
Session Type: Convention Administration
Presented by: Convention Committee
Recorded: No
In this session, Concom 2024 will kick off BarricadesCon 2024 and welcome everyone. Concom will also walk everyone through some basic information and FAQs to help ensure a fun and interesting con for everyone.
The Cats of Les Misérables
Friday, 17:30-18:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Meetup
Presented by: Melannen
Recorded: No
A laid-back social panel to meet your fellow attendees, share pictures of your pets (or have them join you in the panel!) and chat about pets and Les Mis fandom generally.
(Guest of Honor) From Paris to Bangkok: a Thai-inspired retelling of Les Misérables
Friday, 18:00-19:00 UTC
Session Type: Guest of Honor
Presented by: Christina Soontornvat
Recorded: Yes
Christina Soontornvat’s Newbery Honor-winning children’s novel, A Wish in the Dark, is a Les Misérables adaptation set in a magical Thai-inspired world. Christina will discuss the inspiration for the book, how she decided when to be faithful to the original, and how Hugo’s powerful themes of compassion and forgiveness resonate across age ranges and cultures.
Learn more about Christina’s work at soontornvat.com.
The Yellow Passport: Surveillance and Control in 19th Century France
Friday, 19:00- 20:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: David Montgomery, creator of the Siecle History Podcast
Recorded: Yes
Les Misérables takes place in a France of police spies, intercepted mail, travel restrictions and other elements of a 19th Century police state. What exactly were these ways French governments surveilled and controlled their citizens? How did they work? And how did people get around them?
Meetup: Fan Creators
Friday, 19:00-20:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Meetup
Presented by: Eli
Recorded: No
Come meet fellow fan creators! Casual unstructured time to chat with other fans. A good place for people who spend a lot of time on Ao3.
Break
20:00-21:00 UTC
Early Transformative Works: The First Les Miserables Fanart, Fanfics, and AUS
Friday, 21:00-22:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Psalm
Recorded: Yes
This presentation will give you an overview of the earliest works inspired by Les Misérables – including illustrations, comics, poems, pamphlets, and novels. Which ones will stand the test of time? And what can these works tell us about the book’s reception and impact? Come learn about the forgotten, but fascinating first transformative works about Les Misérables.
Black and Pink International
Friday, 21:00-22:00 UTC
Session Type: Panel Presentation
Presented by: Darryl Brown Jr. (he/him), Senior Director of Programs and Advocacy, Black and Pink National. Kenna Barnes (she/they), Advocacy Manager, Black and Pink National
Recorded: Yes
This year, Barricades Con is donating all profits to Black and Pink International.
Black & Pink National is a prison abolitionist organization dedicated to abolishing the criminal punishment system and liberating LGBTQIA2S+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are affected by that system through advocacy, support, and organizing. Programming includes wrap-around services for those coming out of the carceral system such as but not limited to workforce development, transitional housing, newsletters to inside members and penpal matching, nationwide Chapters, youth-led research about young people living with HIV, and programming for and by people who do sex work.
Sex work as an issue sits clearly at the intersection of reproductive justice, prison abolition, and trans and queer liberation. Black trans women who engage in sex work face some of the highest rates of policing and surveillance, directly interfering with their ability to access safety and autonomy. We know that when we center the needs of Black trans women, especially those who engage in sex work, we are inherently able to address the needs of other system-impacted people along the way.
The Sex Worker Liberation Project (SWLP) is a collaboration between Black and Pink National and a network of current and former LGBTQIA2S+ people who do sex work across the country. This sex worker led group moves with the intention of building community, providing resources, and cultivating self advocacy tools.The SWLP is on a mission to tackle the urgent and multifaceted issues confronting sex workers, with a specific emphasis on the challenges faced by Black and Brown LGBTQIA2S+ sex workers.
Meetup: Brick Readers
Friday, 22:00-23:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Meetup
Presented by: Mellow
Recorded: No
Come meet up and hang out with your fellow Brick readers! Let’s talk about weird nonsense from the book.
Beat by Beat: a Les Mis 2012 Deconstruction
Friday, 22:00-23:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Eli
Recorded: Yes
To quote Eli: “As an avid Les Mis fan and also someone with an MFA in screenwriting, I find the script for the Les Mis 2012 movie absolutely fascinating. The choices they made, the added brick scenes, the added song, the pacing, the dialogue, the shots selection—all of it contributes to a very interesting adaptation that our fandom owes a huge debt of gratitude to (whether we like it or not 🥲). I would like to take an audience through the 9 major beats of a screenplay, apply it to Les Mis 2012, and share my thoughts on what the filmmakers did right for this adaptation and what they did wrong. I’ll compare it to the Les Mis musical (the direct source material) as well as the Brick (the secondary source material) for insight on the choices they made!”
History Researcher Meetup
Friday, 23:00-24:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Meetup
Presented by: David Montgomery
Recorded: No
A chance for history researchers to meet up and discuss their research!
Atonement: A Theatrical Piece for One Actor, Based on Segments from Hugo’s Les Miserables
Friday, 23:00-24:00 UTC
Session Type: Panel Presentation
Presented by: Alexiel de Ravenswood
Recorded: Yes
This theatrical piece is a dramatic adaptation of scenes from Book 1 of the novel, focusing on the Bishop of Digne. Following the piece, actor Alexiel de Ravenswood will engage in q&a on the creative process and the themes explored.
Saturday, June 13th
Guest of Honor: The Photography of Jean Baptiste Hugo
Saturday, 15:00-16:00 UTC
Session Type: Guest of Honor
Presented by: Jean Baptiste Hugo
Recorded: yes
Jean Baptiste Hugo is the great-great-grandson of Victor Hugo. He has extensively photographed Hugo’s home in exile on Guernsey, which Victor Hugo decorated following his own aesthetic philosophies–in particular, the journey from darkness into light, which we see reflected throughout Hugo’s literary career. M. Hugo will share his photographs and discuss Hauteville House as a physical realization of his ancestor’s ideas.
Reflecting on Directing Les Mis
Saturday, 16:00-17:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Cait
Recorded: yes
In Cait’s words: “I directed an amateur production of Les Mis at the end of last year, and would love to talk about how that went and share snippets from the show and behind the scenes. This will include talking about adapting Les Mis for the space and budget, approaches to certain scenes, dual casting lead roles, and probably raving about my lovely cast.”
The Fallibility of History in Les Misérables
Saturday, 16:00-17:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Syrup
Recorded: yes
Throughout Les Misérables, Hugo often reminds readers that what they are reading is derived from some form of documentation or hearsay. While this serves to provide credibility to the tales he is sharing, there are certain moments where Hugo opts out of describing exact details, despite his efforts at a historically-accurate record. In this panel, I will take a look at these instances where Hugo either addresses or obfuscates these events, and how by doing so, he reveals the fallibility of history, and highlights how history documentations are not always as reliable as they seem. Thesis: By crafting Les Misérables as a form of historical documentation, Hugo reveals the fallibility of history, and readers are able to understand how history and history documentation are not always as reliable as they seem.
Break
Saturday, 17:00-18:00 UTC
What Horizon: Tragedies, Time Loops, and the Hopefulness of Les Amis
Saturday, 18:00-18:30 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Percy
Recorded: yes
In Percy’s words: “I have directed a staged reading of the play and will have video clips to show! My play is focused on the rebellion and Les Amis; it aims to give the barricades the attention they often lack in adaptation and develop the individual characters of the insurgents. I’m working to make this episode of the Hugo novel and its historical context accessible to audience members who may not be familiar with the source material, while hopefully also bringing something new to the story for longtime fans.
One aspect of the story I’m particularly interested in examining is the persistent sense of hope associated with the barricades, despite the insurgents’ eventual defeat and the previous failure of the July Revolution. Linking the seemingly cyclical process of revolution and restoration, the metatheatrical tradition of tragedies aware of their own repetition in performance before the audience, and the nature of Les Misérables itself as a story that has been told and retold countless times, I hope to show the audience the worth of the insurgents’ struggle and the importance of their continued efforts. Many adaptations construe the rebellion as futile or as solely a tragic story, so I would like my adaptation to counter that idea, as Les Amis grapple with the meaning of their sacrifice and the impacts of their actions.
In a presentation, I would discuss these ideas with reference to Hugo’s original text and the ways in which the rebellion has been changed in adaptation, as well as other works that inspired me (namely Hadestown and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead). I’d discuss the choices I made in my adaptation process and show clips from the staged reading, touching on the different characters and the historical setting as well as the overarching themes with which I engaged.”
Cosette: A Novel, The (Fanmade) Sequel to Les Misérables
Saturday, 18:30-19:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: IMiserabili
Recorded: yes
This presentation is a deep-dive into the 1995 fanfiction “Cosette” by Laura Kalpakian. It will include a short background on the author and the publication, a summary of the plot, an analysis of represented historical events in the work, character analyses and comparisons to the source material and other Les Mis adaptations, and memorable quotes.
Musical Eponine and Grantaire in song and lyric edits: Personal research on their development
Saturday, 18:00-19:00 UTC
Session Type: Panel Presentation
Presented by: Ruth Kenyon
Recorded: yes
In Ruth’s words: “I’m an older musical Les Misérables fan who has watched the show develop from its beginnings at the Palace Theatre. I have a special interest in how the lyrics and the characters have changed over time. As plenty of people know now, I am also writing a book on the musical using these experiences. I’m working on Eponine’s chapter at the moment, and while I know fans have a lot of love for as she is now, I feel quite upset to see what happened to her as she was developed from the original French version of the musical. She seems to have lost quite a lot of emotional agency along the way. Grantaire has also changed over time; he was cut before the previews and there was a big re-write of his character when the show went to Broadway, but I really like what they have done with his character. I’ll provide examples of all this detail with material from my book and (trying) to sing bits of lyrics to explain what has happened to the characters.”
Barricades as a Tactic: How Do They Work?
Saturday, 19:00-20:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Lem
Recorded: No
This session will explore the tactical and strategic uses of barricades, with an eye towards what to consider when writing both canon-era fanfiction and modern AUs. After all, the strategic goals towards which the barricades were used in canon-era urban warfare were often quite different from the strategic goals of similar-looking tactics in contemporary protest movements. Core components of the session will be a map-based analysis of July 1830, a comparison with June 1832 highlighting strategic goals and considerations canon-era characters would have, and an exploration of various parallels among contemporary protest tactics (which may or may not *look* like barricades).
Meetup: Musical Fans
Saturday, 19:00-20:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Meetup
Presented by: Erin
Recorded: No
A casual place to meet up with other fans and discuss the musical!
Break
Saturday, 20:00-21:00 UTC
Why is There a Roller Coaster in Les Mis? The Strange History of the Russian Mountains
Saturday, 21:00-22:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Peyton Parker/Mellow
Recorded: Yes
In Les Miserables there is an actual canon scene where Fantine rides a roller coaster. How did a roller coaster end up in Paris in 1817? And why did this ride, one of the world's first wheeled Roller Coasters, make a cameo in Victor Hugo’s novel?
It’s “Les Mis Meets Defunctland.”
We’re going talk about the earliest origins of the Russian Mountains, the fascinating history behind how they came to France, their many connections to the political turmoil of the time period, what they felt like to ride, why they were shut down, how they fell into obscurity, and why Victor Hugo included them in Les Miserables. It’s time for a roller coaster digression.
Fanfic Round Robin
Saturday, 22:00-23:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Game
Presented by: Featheraly
Recorded: No
Participate in a round robin to help write a fic together!
Obscure(-ish) Les Mis Adaptations To Watch
Saturday, 23:00-23:30 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Pureanon
Recorded: Yes
Les Mis has been adapted many times over the years, and this means there’s a lot of adaptations to enjoy. Because of this, a lot of adaptations are underviewed or underappreciated. I’d like to use this panel to discuss some of my favorites/the most unique — 1925, 1948, 1967, and 1995. These are all very different, and aside from all being ones I enjoy, they’re fascinating looks at how different countries and different time periods adapt this story.
The adaptations I’ve chosen are both some of the best and some of the worst out there, but they’re all unique. 1925 is one of the most faithful adaptations out there, and it uses the medium of silent film to full effect. 1948 has Valean get shot at multiple times in the opening minutes, and the revolutionaries fight with BARRELS in the barricade. 1967 is half one of the best Anglophone Les Mis adaptations ever, and half the drunkest. 1995 is more of an adaptation of how people react to Les Mis as a story than a straightforward adaptation, and it’s one of the most beautiful and unique versions out there. I intend to show a clip from each adaptation, so people can get a little taste of what each adaptation is like.
Recovery: a Fanfic Live Read
Saturday, 22:30-23:00
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Eli, Barri
Recorded: Yes
A full cast will live read a Les Mis fanfic written specifically for the con.
Compared to Some People Grantaire is Doing Just Fine (No, Really)
Saturday: 22:00-23:00
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Ellen Fremedon, Pilferingapples
Recorded: Yes
Grantaire and Marius are the two characters on the fringes of the Friends of the ABC, connected to the group by social ties rather than sincere political belief. In this panel, Pilf and Ellen will discuss the two characters as narrative foils, touching along the way on the problem with Great Men, bourgeois inaction, what it means to have the republic as a mother, and dying for love–plus those two pistols in Marius’s pocket.
Preliminary Gaities
23:00-24:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Game
Presented by: Rare, Percy, and ShitpostingFromTheBarricade
Recorded: No
Preliminary Gayeties is the chapter where Grantaire gets drunk with Joly and Bossuet before the barricades. It is perfect for a drinking game.
In keeping with personal tradition, Rare, Percy, and ShitpostingFromTheBarricade will bring you a second year of our dramatic reading of the “Preliminary Gayeties” chapter of the brick. all while following specified drinking game rules (including classics such as “drink for brick quotes that appear commonly in fanfiction,” “pretentious classical references,” and “drink/eat when characters drink/eat”), and enjoying snacks mentioned in the chapter as they are mentioned. Everyone is invited to participate by reading, eating, and drinking along with this activity!
Sunday, June 14th
Publishing, Podcasting, and Promotion
Saturday, 15:00-16:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: David Mongomery, Alexiel de Ravenswood, Nemo Martin
Recorded: Yes
Whether it’s fanart, Tiktok videos or deep historical analysis, lots of us have THOUGHTS about Les Mis we’d like to share with the world. This panel discussion features creators sharing their advice on how to share your work with the world in a range of mediums.
Femme/butch: Dynamics of Gender and Attraction in Les Mis
Saturday, 15:00-15:30 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Eléna
Recorded: Yes
In Eléna’s words: “This is a presentation about parallels between femme/butch dynamics and les mis! The focus is on Marius, Cosette and Eponine and their individual gender presentation and attraction. There will be a focus on the original text, but I will also talk about headcanons & representation in the fandom space! I’m a femme myself, but I’ll try to incorporate butch and transmasculine viewpoints!”
Lee’s Misérables: Jean Valjean, Confederate Hero
Saturday, 15:30-16:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Panel Presentation
Presented by: Sarah C. Maza
Recorded: Yes
Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables (1862) was as big a success in the United States as elsewhere in the world upon publication, hailed throughout the young nation as the commanding masterpiece of modern French literature. Why would a novel that celebrates violent insurrection and radical republican ideals be so warmly received in America? One of the (many) answers to that question is that the novel appeared in the midst of the Civil War, and that it provided engrossing reading to the many soldiers stuck in place for weeks or months in camp, hospitals, and prisons. Most surprising, though, is the evidence of Les Misérables’ appeal to Confederate soldiers (who jokingly called themselves “Lee’s Misérables”), as Hugo was on record as an ardent abolitionist. My paper will illustrate and explain the paradoxical appeal of Hugo’s novel in the South in two contexts: first, I will draw attention to the ways in which Confederate nationalists likened their cause to the European Revolutions of 1848; and second, I will explain the novel’s resonance within what Wolfgang Schievelbusch has called the “culture of defeat,” the emotional resonance, in some historical contexts, of narratives of doomed causes and heroic failure.
Guest of Honor: Luciano Muriel, playwright of “Grantaire”
Sunday, 16:00-17:00 UTC
Session Type: Guest of Honor
Presented by: Luciano Muriel
Recorded: Yes
Panel about the details of the creative process behind the show Grantaire, from the discovery of the character during the playwright’s first reading of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables to the opening night of the staging at the Teatro Pradillo of Madrid. Why Grantaire? Why a dramatic monologue? Why include Amaral songs? What did the awards and subventions entail? All the answers to these and many other questions.
Break
Sunday, 17:00-18:00 UTC
1848 in Chile: The Society of Equality and the Siege of La Serena
Sunday, 18:00-19:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academc Presentation
Presented by: Duncan Riley
Recorded: Yes
While the Revolutions of 1848 are traditionally seen as a European event, they had a powerful influence in Latin America. In Chile in particular, university students who studied in France during the revolutions would lead a movement to oust the conservative dictatorship that had ruled the country since the 1830s. Inspired by the poetry of Alphonse de Lamartine and the ideals of utopian socialism, a group of Chilean intellectuals and artisans founded “The Society of Equality,” a cross-class political club dedicated to creating a democratic and participatory republic. Inspired by these ideals, in 1851 the citizens of La Serena, a mining town in northern Chile, declared their independence from the central government. Members of the Society of Equality transformed La Serena into the torchbearer of their vision of a new “democratic republic” that would restore civil liberties and grant greater autonomy to Chile’s provinces and municipalities. In defense of these principles, La Serena endured a months-long siege by government forces. The conflict inscribed itself within broader international dynamics of revolution and empire, as the British Royal Navy Intervened on the side of the government, while French immigrants built barricades to defend La Serena from invasion. Ultimately, then, La Serena and the Chilean Revolution of 1851 provide a fascinating window into the transatlantic exchanges of ideas that drove movements of democratic reform in both Europe and Latin America during the Revolutions of 1848.
The Unknown Light Examined
Sunday, 18:00-19:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Presentation
Presented by: Madeleine
Recorded: Yes
In the tenth chapter of Les Misérables, Bishop Myriel sets out to perform the last rights of Conventionnel G, a man reviled by all of Digne for having served on the body that voted to execute the king during the French Revolution. The bishop and the dying man debate the nature of equality, divine authority, and resistance to oppression. G’s fierce defense of the French revolution and Myriel’s staunch condemnation of political violence represent diametrically opposed philosophies, but the two men have more in common than first appears. They are both men of faith, in their own way, called to serve by their profound love for humanity. Intensely shaken by this realization, the bishop kneels before the dying sinner and asks his blessing.
What does this role reversal signify? How do Myriel and G’s conceptualizations of God and morality compare, and why does Hugo seek to reconcile them? To answer these questions, this panel investigates the thematic implications of this chapter. We’ll dissect the characters’ debate, discussing the historical and religious context that informs their moral frameworks—and Hugo’s depiction of them. Drawing on analysis by literary scholars, we’ll situate Hugo’s portrayal of the bishop and the conventionnel within this same context, evaluating the extent to which G is based on the Abbé Grégoire. We’ll also examine the impact of this chapter on Bishop Myriel’s characterization and symbolic role in the novel. Lastly, we’ll explore how “The Bishop in the Presence of an Unknown Light" serves as a political and philosophical thesis for Les Misérables.
Revolutionary Rants: “Les Misérables” Onstage from an International Perspective
Sunday, 20:00-21:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic Presentation
Presented by: Tessa, Anne, Kaja, Marie, Apollon
Recorded: Yes
What started out as an open call online to gather fans from around the world to rant about the musical version of Les Mis has turned into a group of musical fans from four countries getting together to discuss our different perspectives of various international productions of the show. Topics include our favorite cast albums, how our favorite character interactions are staged in various productions we follow (including Enjoltaire), our favorite actors from the different productions, and our favorite memorable moments from the show. And we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the major impact the 2012 movie had on us as well!
Paint & Sip
Sunday, 20:00-21:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Game
Presented by: Psalm, Potatosonnet
Recorded: No
A short presentation on the artwork of Victor Hugo, his medium and subject matter, followed by crafting time inspired by Hugo’s work.
Les Mis Letters: Building a Book Club
Sunday, 21:00-22:00 UTC
Session Type: Fan/Academic presentation
Presented by: Mellow, Eccentrichat
Recorded: Yes
There are 365 chapters in Les Miserables. Les Mis Letters is an email subscription that sends you one chapter of Les Mis daily for a year.
Rachel and Mellow have been running the “Dracula-Daily” inspired Les Mis readalong since 2023! Mellow will speak to the behind the scenes process of setting up a Substack and discord server, while other readers will speak to the experience of reading Les Mis for the first time in this format or the small projects they’ve put together while following along.
Les Mis Singalong
Sunday, 21:00-22:00 UTC
Session Type: Social Game
Presented by: Megan
Recorded: No
Let’s let loose by belting out our favorite Les Mis songs together! All singing abilities welcome and encouraged, it’s virtual after all 😀 It will be musical-heavy but we’ll be sure to throw in some other fan favorites!
Closing Session
Sunday, 22:00-22:30 UTC
Session Type: Convention Administration
Presented by: Convention Committee
Recorded: No
Closing remarks by the convention committee, marking the official end of the convention.
Dead Dog
Sunday, 22:30-24:00
Session Type: Convention Administration
Presented by: Convention Committee
Recorded: No
“Dead Dog” is a fandom slang term for a laidback “afterparty” that happens when a convention has officially ended.
Hi all! @barricadescon is coming up in about a month and myself and @shitpostingfromthebarricade are casting amis for a live fic reading of Shitposting's fic "Recovery"
Characters Needed*:
Narrator
Courfeyrac
Combeferre
Jean Prouvaire
Laigle
Feuilly
Grantaire
*Character's can be of any gender. Pronouns in the fic can be changed to fit the actor's preferences!
Requirements:
Must be 18+
Must have a reliable internet connection
Must be willing to show their face on camera
Must have a reliable microphone (doesn't have to be an actual mic, just good quality sound!)
Must be available for the presentations date July 13th, 22:30-23:00 UTC
Must be available for 2 to 3 practice sessions before the con date. We will decide these dates as a group once we're cast!
How to Audition:
Send a video of yourself reading one or more of the character sides to the email listed in this google doc
Please use whatever equipment you'd actually be using on the day of the presentation
Other Notes:
While there will be basic costumes and light prop work in this reading, you WILL NOT BE ASKED TO MEMORIZE YOUR LINES. Props to you if you do, but it's not a requirement.
I will be buying the cast their tickets to the con if they don't already have tickets, so don't worry about that cost!
Here's the link to the fic again!
AUDITIONS OPEN TODAY (JUNE 4th) AND CLOSE JUNE 14TH!
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✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
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We have our schedule for Barricades 2024! Questions or comments about the schedule? Let us know! You can get in touch with us at this blog, or at our website!
Friday July 12
Track 1:
Welcome Session
The Cats of Les Miserables- Melannen
GOH Christina Soontornvat
The Yellow Passport-David Montgomery
Early Transformative Works- Psalm
Brick Readers Meetup
“Atonement”: A Theatrical Piece for 1 actor, based on Segments from Hugo’s Les Miserables.” - Alexiel de Ravenswood
Track 2
Fan Creators Meetup
Black and Pink National
Beat by Beat: A Les Mis 2012 Deconstruction-Eli
History Researchers Meetup
Saturday July 13
Track 1
GOH Jean Baptiste Hugo
Reflecting on Directing Les Mis-Cait
What Horizon: Tragedies, Time Loops, and the Hopefulness of Les Amis - Percy
Cosette: A Novel — The (Fanmade) Sequel to Les Misérables-Imiserabili
Barricades as a Tactic: How Do They Work?- Lem
Why is there a Roller Coaster in Les Mis?-Mellow
Obscure(-ish) Les Mis Adaptations To Watch-Pure Anon
Recovery: A Fanfic Live Read-Eli, Barri
Preliminary Gaieties-Rare, Percy,Barri
Track 2
The Fallibility of History in Les Misérables: A Look at Hugo’s Narrative Style-Mabel
1848 in Chile-Duncan Riley
Musical Fans Meetup
Fanfic Round Robin
Compared to Some People Grantaire is Doing Just Fine (No, Really)-Ellen Fremedon, Pilfering Apples
SUNDAY July 14
Track 1
Publishing, Podcasting & Promotion-David Mongomery, Alexiel de Ravenswood, Nemo Martin
GOH Luciano Muriel
The Unknown Light Examined-Madeleine
Revolutionary Rants: “Les Misérables” Onstage from an International Perspective-Tessa, Anne, Kaja, Marie, Apollon
Les Mis Letters: Building a Book Club-Mellow,Rachel
Closing Session & Dead Dog
Track 2
Femme/Butch: Dynamics of Gender and Attraction in Les Mis-Eléna
Lee’s Misérables: Jean Valjean, Confederate Hero-Sarah C. Maza
Musical Eponine and Grantaire in Song and Lyric Edits: Personal Research on Their Development- Ruth Kenyon
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
please enjoy my first ever full animatic!! this song has always been so les mis-coded to me. please understand I have been daydreaming about making this animatic for literal years. it's, ah, a bit messier than I'd intended since I did Not practice effective time management and didn't start until june 1, but I'm SO GLAD I finished it!
dailybridgerton
romaincrisis
2087
dededos
