The dialectics of subversion: prison theatre, human rights, and social justice

ABSTRACT

I began my life as a prison theatre artist 25 years ago. Over the years, through first-hand experience with prisoners, their families, and others, I came to understand some of the more oppressive elements of the state prison system, and the relation of that system to the larger prison-industrial complex. This essay is a reflection on the key events and relationships that provoked me into critical awareness, engagement, and activism. I make the argument that a seemingly hyper-conservative prison theatre programme can in fact be an effective breeding ground for critical resistance and transformation.

KEYWORDS:

• Prison
• theatre
• communication
• social justice

Acknowledgments

Author’s note: This is my first publication focusing entirely on critical awareness of, and resistance to, the prison-industrial complex. However, my previous publications also address these issues, to varying degrees. They can be accessed and downloaded here: http://www.shakespeareprisonproject.com/research.html

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jonathan Shailor

Jonathan Shailor leads The Theatre of Empowerment, a community-based process of storytelling, dialogue and performance, dedicated to personal and social development. He is the founder and director of The Shakespeare Prison Project in Wisconsin, and director of the Certificate Program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.