Who really runs our prisons?
Films and TV want us to believe that prisoners rule the
prisons, is this a true reflection of prison society? Or is it just for
entertainment? From TV shows such as prison break or break out kings to movies
like Shawshank Redemption and Stared up lead the audience to believe that the
prisoners are in control. This gives the public the wrong perception of prison
life and authority.
Prison break’s Michael Scofield one of the two main
protagonists in the show is shown to have broken out of prison not once but
twice! This shows a real disregard to prison rules in the American judicial
system. Ask yourself does this encourage derogatory behaviour towards guards
and blatant disregard to the prison rules? The series
revolves around two brothers. One brother has been sentenced to death for a
crime he did not commit, and the other devises an elaborate plan to help his
brother escape prison and clear his name. This gives an insight into prison
life also the struggles of power and the social structure of the prison. In the TV series we see how power works in
prisons of America, the influential and instrumental power. We see the main
protagonist Michael Schofield is by far the most intelligent character in the prison
and it appears to us that he controls the prison as he is the prisoner’s ticket
out. The whole idea of him controlling the prisoners and disrespecting prison
officers makes us an audience believe that prisoners regulate the penitentiary.
We see a similar theme in the movie Shawshank Redemption where we see Andy
Dufresne wrongly convicted of murder and he too breaks out. The difference in
this is that in the movie the Warden and guards are very much in control of the
prison, but there is still that element of total disregard because he broke
out, but that’s the entertainment.
The power portrayed is shown through the lexis used. For example imperatives/instructions show that a character is more powerful because they have the authority to make someone else do something for them. Imperatives are commonly used by the prison guards and this shows us that they are in charge as they have the instrumental power over the prison in mates. The prisoners have to listen to the guards. With this power guards can manipulate prisoners behaviour and shows they do have authority amongst the prisoners. Other lexis that can be studied is modal verbs this show the influnetial power prisoners have. They can not instruct any one officially but they can advice or tell other prisoners. This shows their power within the prisoners society. The society is based on intelligence, street credit and experience. Prisoners if they are going to intimidate they will use imperatives but it isnt an official order- more of a threat.
in my opinion I think the guards are the ones in control of the prisons but not the prisoners. They can boss them around all they want but the fact is prisoners live by their own rules and society. The fact that a small amount of prisoners do escape a year is irrelevant the prisoners have their own rules and regulations in which they abide by. Furthermore they
The power portrayed is shown through the lexis used. For example imperatives/instructions show that a character is more powerful because they have the authority to make someone else do something for them. Imperatives are commonly used by the prison guards and this shows us that they are in charge as they have the instrumental power over the prison in mates. The prisoners have to listen to the guards. With this power guards can manipulate prisoners behaviour and shows they do have authority amongst the prisoners. Other lexis that can be studied is modal verbs this show the influnetial power prisoners have. They can not instruct any one officially but they can advice or tell other prisoners. This shows their power within the prisoners society. The society is based on intelligence, street credit and experience. Prisoners if they are going to intimidate they will use imperatives but it isnt an official order- more of a threat.
in my opinion I think the guards are the ones in control of the prisons but not the prisoners. They can boss them around all they want but the fact is prisoners live by their own rules and society. The fact that a small amount of prisoners do escape a year is irrelevant the prisoners have their own rules and regulations in which they abide by. Furthermore they
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