How does communication ethics play out in the film?
Throughout the first part of Les Miserables, we see all sorts of communication ethics play out. In class we talked about how communication is transmitting a message, interaction with others, exchange of ideas, and there are many other possibilities. Ethics we defined as morals, what is right and wrong, respect, civility and integrity. The first type of communication ethic that I saw in the film was at the very beginning, with the song "Look Down". With Javert standing up above them and watching them work, this is a prime example of who has power and higher status. It was interesting that the slaves were called by numbers instead of their names as well; for example, Jean Valjean was called "24601". Calling slaves by numbers instead of their names shows that Javert, and the other guards, are very impersonal and unethical.
The other example of communication ethics that we saw in the first part of the film was when the Bishop took Valjean into his home. Although the Bishop clearly has more to offer and is of higher status than Valjean, he did what was ethical and let him into his home. However, before anyone woke up Valjean took all of his silver and decided to run. The Valjean ran into his next problem, the guards found him and brought him back to the Bishop's home, where the Bishop let him off easy and told him that he forgot the candlesticks. It is clear in the film that the Bishop is working for the greater good and wanting to do the right thing.
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