Open Elective

Writing plays a crucial role in the experiences of prisoners. It serves as a means of personal expression and communication, allowing prisoners to document and reflect on their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Through writing, prisoners can articulate their stories, share their perspectives, and maintain a sense of agency in an otherwise constrained environment. In this sense, an analysis of prisoners’ experiences narrated in various written forms, whether letters, diaries, notes, to name a few. 

Writing also serves as a tool for resistance and advocacy, allowing prisoners to raise awareness about their conditions and assert their rights. By documenting their experiences and sharing them with the outside world, prisoners can shed light on the injustices they face and contribute to prison reform movements. Prison writing can challenge the dominant narrative surrounding prisons and expose the abuses of power that occur within them. Additionally, writing in prison can be a challenging endeavor. The limited access to writing implements, restricted hours dedicated to prisoner welfare, and the fragmentary nature of everyday life in prison can hinder prisoners' ability to engage in writing. The uncertainty and lack of control over their future can also make the act of writing seem futile. Nevertheless, writing still holds value as a means of reflection and introspection, providing prisoners with a form of creative expression and a way to maintain a sense of self and purpose within the confines of the prison environment. In summary, this course aims to analyse and explore, both artistically and legally, the crucial and multifaceted role writing plays in the experiences of prisoners. It grants them a means of personal expression, resistance, and advocacy.