History of prisons and prison imagery -- Prisons in headlines, prisons in unexpected places -- The big house on the big screen -- Televised prison dramas -- Early prison documentaries -- Modern prison documentaries -- Women behind bars -- Gendered realities -- Music, comedy, and beyond -- Popular culture's legacy
Summary
Through the centuries, prisons were closed institutions, full of secrets and shrouded in mystery. But modern media culture has opened the gates. Dawn Cecil explores decades of popular culture--from Golden Age Hollywood films to YouTube videos, from newspapers to beer labels, hip-hop music, and children's books--to reveal how prison imagery shapes our understanding of who commits crimes, why, and how the criminal justice system should respond
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-226) and index
