How Trump isn’t the first to use ‘Les Miserables’ music as a political rallying cry

Donald Trump speaks at a December 2015 campaign stop at Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Photo Credit: Matt A.J./Flickr

Donald Trump speaks at a December 2015 campaign stop at Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Photo Credit: Matt A.J./Flickr

Kathryn Grossman, Penn State professor of French, was quoted in a Los Angeles Times article about Donald Trump’s use of music from the popular broadway show “Les Misérables” at a campaign stop in Florida. An excerpt of this story featuring Grossman is below:

“Political campaigns have appropriated ‘Les Misérables’ because of the musical’s popularity and its depiction of a political and social revolt led by the common man, according to Kathryn Grossman, a professor of French at Penn State University and co-editor of the book  ‘Les Misérables and Its Afterlives.’

“ ‘It’s probably the best known musical around. If you want something that is about society, that has a social justice theme, it would be “Les Miz,” ’ she said.

“But Trump supporters appear to be taking its themes out of context, she added, because Hugo ‘had a big left-wing message. He always gave speeches on behalf on the rights of children and women and of men to work.’ ”

Read more at latimes.com.

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