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Study information

The Anthropology of Prisons

Module titleThe Anthropology of Prisons
Module codeANT3096
Academic year2024/5
Credits15
Module staff

Professor Tom Rice (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

40

Module description

This module focuses on anthropological and sociological approaches to prisons and imprisonment. The anthropology of prisons is closely bound up with sociological and criminological work on imprisonment, and we explore some of the key theorists and ideas these disciplines share. Importantly, though, the module investigates what we might consider to be the distinctive contribution that anthropology makes to our understanding of prisons by using a variety of ethnographic case studies to explore experiences of imprisonment in diverse cultural contexts. We will look at case studies of prisons  Papua New Guinea, India and Bolivia as well as other settings to gain a sense of the diversity of carceral environments and of experiences of incarceration.

There are no prerequisites for this module. It is suitable for both specialist (e.g anthropology or criminology) and non-specialist students. It can be undertaken as part of an interdisciplinary pathway.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Prisons and their operation, purpose and value are topics of great interest and importance in the contemporary world. The primary aim of the module is to introduce you to key anthropological and sociological concepts relating to experiences of imprisonment, and to a wide range of ethnographic work on prisons in different geographical and cultural settings. What commonalities do we find, and in what ways are prison lives different in these settings? What kinds personhood, and what types of social relationships are forged through prisons, their environs and aftermaths? What bearing do ethnicity, kinship and group membership, for instance, have on experiences of constraint? We will also think about how prisons relate to other carceral environments in contemporary society, such as detention centres, psychiatric units and zoos. The module aims to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable you to understand and evaluate the differing views expressed by established anthropologists and sociologists in relation to prisons. You will be empowered to use anthropological and sociological work as a tool in the development of your own thinking around carcerality.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. display a detailed knowledge of specific theoretical concepts and methodological approaches in the anthropology and sociology of prisons and the intellectual debates concerning them
  • 2. display a well-developed awareness of, and sensitivity to, cultural diversity in relation to prison experiences and a strong reflexive appreciation of the complexity of these experiences
  • 3. Demonstrate a strong ability to contextualise particular prison ethnographies in relation to the anthropology and sociology of prisons more widely, and effectively critically evaluate examples of ethnographic work on imprisonment

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 4. demonstrate aptitude in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts in anthropology and sociology via the application of appropriate theoretical models in the analysis of ethnographic case studies
  • 5. demonstrate a strong grasp of issues relating to ethnographic representation, the politics of language, indirect forms of communication, forms of power, theoretical statements and claims of authority, showing a well-developed ability to analyse these
  • 6. plan, undertake and present sophisticated scholarly work that shows a developed understanding of anthropological aims, methods and theoretical considerations

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 7. express your own ideas clearly orally and in writing, summarizing the arguments of others with precision and drawing distinctions between them
  • 8. engage strongly in constructive discussion in group situations and seminar
  • 9. evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in learning and study skills in detail and take action to improve your capacity to learn

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Core theory in the anthropology and sociology of prisons: Foucault, Goffman and Sykes

Getting into prison: evaluating ethnographic research as a methodology for the study of imprisonment

Case study: Bomana Prison, Papua New Guinea.

Case study: Unnamed Prison, Kolkata, India.

Case study: the Feminine Penitentiary Centre, Miraflores, La Paz, Bolivia.

Case study: the design of carcerality for Aboriginal people in Australia and Canada

Prisons and their relatives: detention centres, psychiatric units and zoos.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity22Weekly 2-hour lectures/seminars or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar.
Guided independent study32Reading of the set texts for weekly lectures and the tutorials
Guided independent study32Additional reading under the guidance of the lecturer
Guided independent study25Preparation and writing of the essay
Guided independent study25Preparation and writing of the contextualisation and critique exercise
Guided independent study6Background research conducted by the student depending on need and interest
Guided independent study8Recapitulation of reading done throughout the term

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Submission of 2 reading responses500 words1-2, 4-8Written (oral feedback available on request during office hours)

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Portfolio of 6 reading responses501,500 words1-9Written (oral feedback available on request during office hours)
Essay501,500 words1-9Written (oral feedback available on request during office hours)

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssaPortfolio of 6 reading responsesPortfolio of 6 reading responses (1,500 words)1-9August/September re-assessment period
EssayEssay (1,500 words)1-9August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Reed, Adam. 2006. Papua New Guinea's Last Place: Experiences of Constraint in a Postcolonial Prison. Oxford and New York: Berghahn. 

Rhodes, Lorna A. 2001. ‘Toward an Anthropology of Prisons’. Annual Review of Anthropology 20: 65-83.

da Cunha, Manuela. 2014. ‘The Ethnography of Prisons and Penal Confinement’. Annual Review of Anthropology43: 217-233.

da Cunha, Manuela. 2008. ‘Closed Circuits: Kinship, Neighbourhoods and Incarceration in Urban Portugal’. Ethnography 9(3): 325–350.

Spedding, Alison, L. 1999. ‘Dreams of Leaving: Life in the Feminine Penitentiary Centre, Miraflores, La Paz, Bolivia’. Anthropology Today 15(2): 11-17.

Bandyopadhyay, M. 2010. Everyday Life in a Prison: Confinement, Surveillance, Resistance. New Delhi: Orient BlackSwan.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Web-based and electronic resources:

https://www.informa.com.au/insight/the-cultural-needs-of-the-aboriginal-prison-population/

https://moa.ubc.ca/2021/12/an-oral-history-of-moas-prison-program-an-interview-with-reva-malkin/

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

  • ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

Anthropology, sociology, prisons, imprisonment, carcerality, ethnography

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/01/2022

Last revision date

28/02/2024