Research Update 10/19: Bodies, Words, Voices

By Shirah Kraus
October 18, 2015 - 11:43

Through my research, especially in reading Howard Zehr's Doing Life, I have started to notice some trends and themes in the way prisoners (particularly lifers) talk about themselves and the system they are in. The lifers in Zehr's book talk a lot about reforming themselves, about how they are different now than they were when they committed the crimes, about penitence and sympathy for victims and their families. Reading these narratives makes me wonder how much those included in the book were vetted, how much of their story was selected to support Zehr's arguments about prisons and prison reform. I would like to work more with the other people in my group to figure out in what ways we want to collaborate in research and in our final product--I think Tuesday's class would be a great opportunity to engage in these conversations and update each other on our research. On my own, I want to read more and try and find some different narratives and perspectives--such as those from victims, prison guards, released prisoners, families, etc...

I looked at Sheila's post about the Labyrinth in downtown Philadelphia and the artwork looked really cool and interesting. I also went to the Hirshhorn museum (Smithsonian museum of contemporary art) in D.C. over break and one exhibit I saw seemed relevant to this project. The installation, Belief + Doubt by Barbara Kruger consists of overwhelmingly giant white letters on black and red backgrounds surrounding the floor, ceiling, walls, and even elevators. A few phrases especially connected with incarceration, such as "WHO DOES THE CRIME? WHO DOES THE TIME?" and "WHOSE BODY? WHOSE POWER?" and with silence--"WHO IS SILENT?" (Images below) This exhibit was super cool and helped me to think more about the container I would like to use for my project. I didn't get a chance to see it, but the Hirshhorn had an exhibit called Shirin Neshat: Facing History which incorporated Arabic texts layered over bodies (see image below). I have been thinking a lot about words and how they can be incorporated into visual and dramatic arts. I think I want to do some combination of visual and dramatic arts, using words as a bridge between the two and a central part of the visual art. This could be similar to the Kruger installation, micrography, or mixed media, 2-D or 3-D. I know Julia is also interested in dramatic arts and I would be open to working with her on a theatrical project.

Barbara Kruger: Belief + Doubt