Writing as Punishment in Schools, Courts, and Everyday Life

Spencer Schaffner's book "Writing as Punishment in Schools, Courts, and Everyday Life" explores how writing can be used as a tool of punishment, including forced tattooing, drunk shaming, court-ordered letters of apology, and social media shaming. He argues that writing-based punishment should not be dismissed as benign or condemned as a misguided perversion of writing, but instead should be understood as an instrument capable of furthering both the aims of justice and degradation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2019
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

Writing, a multifaceted tool of expression, is often perceived as a positive force in society, enabling individuals to convey their thoughts, foster interpersonal communication, and preserve ideas. However, a significant body of evidence suggests that writing can also be wielded as a punitive instrument, exerting control, humiliation, and dehumanization upon those subjected to it. In his book, Writing as Punishment in Schools, Courts, and Everyday Life, Spencer Schaffner delves into numerous instances of writing being used as punishment, encompassing forced tattooing, drunk shaming, court-ordered letters of apology, and social media shaming. Through these case studies, Schaffner aims to shed light on the intricate relationship between literacy and subjection, challenging the notion that powerful writing is inherently a public good.

While Schaffner acknowledges the darker aspects of writing, he avoids demonizing or endorsing the practice of writing as punishment. Instead, he approaches the subject with a humanistic inquiry, seeking to understand the various unconventional ways in which writing is employed to achieve fundamental objectives in everyday life. The book unfolds through five concise case studies, introducing us to teachers, judges, parents, sex traffickers, and drunken partiers who have resorted to writing as a means of exerting control over writers and readers. Schaffner offers a meticulous analysis of familiar punishments, such as schoolchildren copying lines, as well as more peculiar public rituals that involve ink-covered bodies and individuals compelled to hold signs in public.

In his exploration, Schaffner argues that writing as punishment serves multiple purposes. It can be employed as a tool of social control, exerting pressure on individuals to conform to societal norms and expectations. It can also be used to shame and humiliate, erasing individuals' identities and reducing them to objects of ridicule. Moreover, writing as punishment can be employed to dehumanize, stripping individuals of their autonomy and agency and reducing them to mere puppets controlled by others. Furthermore, writing as punishment can be used to fetishize, objectifying individuals and reducing them to mere symbols or objects of desire.

Through his analysis, Schaffner raises important questions about the role of writing in shaping society. He challenges the notion that writing is solely a means of communication and expression, highlighting its potential to be used as a tool of punishment and control. He also questions the educational ideal that powerful writing is invariably a public good, emphasizing the need to critically examine the ways in which writing is employed in schools, courts, and everyday life.

Writing as Punishment in Schools, Courts, and Everyday Life is a thought-provoking and insightful book that sheds light on the darker side of writing. It prompts us to reevaluate our perceptions of writing and to recognize its potential to be used as a tool of subjugation and control. By exploring the many strange ways in which writing as punishment is employed, Schaffner offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between literacy and subjection. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of language and the ways in which it can be used to both empower and oppress individuals.

Weight: 220g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817359553