Prisons and Punishment in Texas: culture, history and museological representation

Research output: Book/ReportBook - authored

Abstract

The book, based upon my original research, explores the identity of Texas as a state with a large and severe penal system. It does so by assessing the narratives at work in Texas museums and tourist sites associated with prisons and punishment. In such cultural institutions, complex narratives are presented, which show celebratory stories of Texan toughness in the penal sphere, as well as poignant stories about the witnessing of executions, comical stories that normalize the harsher aspects of Texan punishment, and presentations about prison officers who have lost their lives in the war on crime. In analysing these representations, the book shows that Texan history plays an important role in the production of Texan self-identity, and that to understand the Texan commitment to harsh punishment we must be prepared to focus on Texan myths and memories.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationUK
PublisherPalgrave
Number of pages249
ISBN (Electronic)9781137533081
ISBN (Print)9781137533074
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Jun 2016

Publication series

NamePalgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology

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