Visual imprints on the prison landscape : a study on the decorations in prison cells.

Baer, Lenny D. (2005) Visual imprints on the prison landscape : a study on the decorations in prison cells. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 96 (2). pp. 209-217. ISSN 0040-747X

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Abstract

While conducting my first research project on prisons, I noticed that some prisoners decorated their cells with massive quantities of bathing products and air freshener. I wondered why. This led to an impressionistic study that drew from visits to six young offender institutions and interviews with 11 prisoners in England. Prisoners and staff gave numerous explanations for such decorations, including: the commodification of everyday items, such as shower gels; social status; the creation of a home environment; the need to fill space; boredom; illegal activity; and the effect of sentence length on the personalisation of space. Michel de Certeau's idea of tactics is applied to the findings as mundane activities used by people in a position of weakness. Other visual imprints in the everyday surroundings of prisoners could also have numerous explanations. This study serves as a beginning for future research on the personalisation and meanings of prison spaces.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2000/2002
Subjects:
?? prison • england • observation • mundane • visual literacy • tacticseconomics and econometricsgeography, planning and developmentg geography (general) ??
ID Code:
504
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
16 May 2007
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 11:25