Prison Cultures: Performance, Resistance, Desire

Prison Cultures explores how cultural products can perpetuate or disrupt hegemonic understandings of the world of prisons, with a primary focus on the United Kingdom and examples from popular culture. It proposes new ways of viewing performances in and of prison that trouble the institution and emphasizes the development of a theory of resistance and desire to understand womens incarceration.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

Prison Cultures is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complex world of women in prison and their performances within the institution. By employing a feminist lens, the book aims to transcend the simplistic narratives of "bad girls" and "inside vs. outside dynamics." It explores how cultural products can perpetuate or challenge dominant perceptions of the prison world. The book identifies the mechanisms that make prison a fixed field and proposes innovative ways of viewing performances in and of prison that challenge the status quo. With a primary focus on the United Kingdom and examples from popular culture, Prison Cultures makes a significant contribution to the fields of feminist cultural criticism and prison studies.

In her book, Aylwyn Walsh emphasizes the importance of developing a theory of resistance and desire in understanding women's incarceration. She critiques the prevalence of purely literary analysis or case studies that propose specific models of arts practice as transformative of offending behavior. Walsh argues that a more comprehensive approach is necessary to understand the complexities of women's experiences in prison and their potential for resistance and transformation.

Through her analysis, Walsh highlights the ways in which cultural products such as films, television shows, and literature can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce the prison's power structures. She also shows how these products can be used as tools for resistance and empowerment by women prisoners. For example, she discusses the portrayal of women in popular films like Orange Is the New Black and how these characters challenge traditional notions of femininity and strength.

Walsh's book is a valuable addition to the literature on women in prison and their performances. It provides a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the complex relationships between culture, power, and incarceration. It challenges readers to think critically about the ways in which cultural products shape our understanding of prisons and the women who inhabit them. By exploring the intersections of feminist cultural criticism and prison studies, Walsh offers new insights into the ways in which we can work towards a more just and equitable society for all.

Weight: 484g
Dimension: 169 x 245 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789388633
Edition number: New ed