Preview

Institutions

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
770 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Institutions
2489 5491
2489 5491
How does your text communicate information and ideas about institutions and individual experience?

Institutions consist of protest, compliance and enforcement. Sometimes institutions harm the individual and sometimes they affect the individual in a positive way. The two texts, Shawshank Redemption (film) and Scales of Justice (television drama), both demonstrate this well, through various techniques such as narrating throughout the films. Both texts are about institutions in the criminal justice system.
The text, Shawshank Redemption, portrays institutions as having a negative impact on the individual. In particular, it focuses on the strict elements of institutional life within prisons. These include set routines and structures that must be followed by the inmates. Schedules are enforced. A bell rings, doors open, prisoners step out and line up for morning head count. Enforcement and compliance are essential in the institution. Throughout the film one of the main characters ‘Red” is narrating, this communicates a different perspective of the effect institutions have on individuals. He expresses this when he says, “I’m telling you, these walls are funny. First you hate them. Then you get used to them. Enough time passes, it gets so you depend on them. That’s institutionalised.” This quote shows a negative impact institutions can have on an individual, instead of wanting to be back in society they become dependent on set routines.
The film also communicates the idea that once an individual has been institutionalised for a certain period of time, it becomes almost impossible for them to adapt back into society when they are released from prison. One way this is communicated is by the inmate Brooks’ protest against leaving Shawshank. Brooks has been in Shawshank for an extended amount of time, prison life and routine is now all he seems to know. It becomes obvious to the audience that even he feels he will not be able to adapt back into

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is a spectacular feature film directed by Frank Darabont who adapted Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (Different Seasons collection). First things first, the poster of the movie has these words “Fear can hold you prisoner, Hope can set you free” on it. This quote clearly explains the power of hope freedom. Now moving to the movie itself, there have been many amazing prison dramas in the past so how does Shawshank Redemption filled with so many clichés differ from them? The movie is spread across a long period of time letting the simplest things take a fuller meaning the smallest details have their importance. This is what makes the main difference. In a place where everything has…

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The classic film centers on the predicament of Andy Dufresne who is ultimately found guilty of murdering his wife and receives a life-sentence; all of this occurs with little circumstantial detail given to the viewer of his innocence or guilt initially. Dufresne arrives at the infamous Shawshank correctional facility where he seems to take on a positive and optimistic attitude despite his perceived innocence to the viewer and assumed guilt to the inmates; this is peculiar and admirable to those around him given his dire surroundings, especially so to “Red,” (Morgan Freeman) a fellow inmate, who ultimately becomes Dufresnes closest friend. The latter represents symbolic interactionism: people act toward things based on the meaning those things have for them. And Dufresne, conceivably innocent, approaching things positively. Next, functionalism is conveyed through Dufresnes newfound home in the prison: his new societal surrounding consists of various parts that allow it to function—i.e. the prisoners roles, the guards’ roles, the warden’s, the parole officers’, Dufresne’s role both as a prisoner and avid component of the prison library. Finally, the conflict theory presents itselfs through the prison’s power structure: Dufresne and his peers (the subject class) are at the mercy of the courts, the warden, his guards, and the parole officers (all which make up the ruling class)… Dufresnes story at Shawshank Prison, and his ultimate redemption as a innocent man who gains the eventual freedom he so patiently earned and rightfully deserved, is sure to please any avid…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Institutions can have positive and negative effects that can alter an individual's perceptions, judgment and values, as shown in the Book raw by scott monk, the yetta prison poem and the ‘reliving the Horror’. The way they are treated in the institutions may either change them into a better person or have great consequences that may effect the individual for the rest of their life.…

    • 286 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There are many different attitudes and actions shown by the people in the text ‘Raw’ by Scott Monk and the film Shawshank Redemption that have had an impact on society and their image on institutions. The basic definition of an institution is an organisation which is founded for a religious, educational, social, imprisonment or similar purpose. The significance that these texts have on the image of institutions is so important through the elaborate actions and behavior of the characters and the roles in which they play in. The way in which Scott Monk in his book ‘Raw’ created his main character Brett was through many different attitudes that Brett has and his beliefs in the things around him. In the film Shawshank redemption the producers incapture a middle aged man who has been institutionalised for something which he didn’t do, where he goes through many experiences along the way.…

    • 1434 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Raw: Novel and Brett

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Institutions can have positive and negative effects that can alter and individual's perceptions, judgment and values. "Raw" by Scott Monk, "Hard Rock" by Etheridge Knight and "Dangerous Minds" by John N. Smith help communicate an understanding of how such institutions can reform an individual.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "An institution or reform movement that is not selfish, must originate in the recognition of some evil that is adding to the sum of human suffering, or diminishing the sum of happiness." This quote by suffragist and philanthropist Clara Barton so eloquently describes the issues within the United States prison system and its desperate need to for reformation. Chapter four of The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander brought forth the gaspingly oppressive sector of prison (via the judicial branch). Alexander illuminated the reader to the realities of the United States prison system and the covert nuances of racism, discrimination, and the mechanisms brought forth to perpetuate 'legal slavery' in America. In regards to the major points of the chapter, the author described: the effect of prison on society, African Americans relationship in regards to prison- i.e. their chances to go and the societal influences that make African Americans disproportionately susceptible to the prison system- as well as the person's role in society after they are released from prison.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Gattaca Themes

    • 3901 Words
    • 16 Pages

    The texts "Scales Of Justice" and "Gattaca" are two texts which allow the reader to witness a variety of interpretations and explore the relevant issues that are visible within contemporary society. Such issues as corruption within the police force, racism, sexual harassment, discrimination and manipulation of power are shown to give different interpretations of issues which plague today's society and potentially our future.…

    • 3901 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    King’s book benefits year 10 students through experience of the harsh reality of institutions. The confining nature of Shawshank prison convey the extent of the prisoner’s isolation and their damaged sense of identity. The idea of being institutionalised is presented through the character of Brooks Hatlen and his experience in Shawshank prison. He has been in prison for 50 years and has accustomed to a life that is based on routine and repetition. So, once Brooks’ parole is accepted and he’s released, he is not used to the outside world and cannot function in an unpredictable and free world. As a result, he commits suicide due to the inability to cope with outside life. This idea can also be seen in the character Red, who dreams of being released, but has no idea what life outside of prison is like and so, eventually struggles to find his place in society after nearly 40 years in prison. The influence of institutions is also relevant to year 10 boys because while most of us aren’t big fans of school, we can also become accustomed to life on the inside, and once we graduate and transition to life on the outside, we might find life hard to function. Thus, the book acts as a guide and benefits year 10 boys by informing the possible impacts of institutions.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    THE PURPOSE OF AN INSTITUTION IS TO RESTORE A PERSON TO NORMAL LIFE. AN INSTITUTION IS ANY PLACE OF CHANGE; A HOSPITAL, REHABILITATION CLINIC, PRISON OR ANY PLACE ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROMOTION OF A PARTICULAR OBJECT. A RECURRING PROBLEM AND EFFECT OF MODERN DAY PRISON INSTITUTIONS IS THE REVOLVING DOOR EFFECT; WHERE PRISONERS GO IN AND COME OUT OF THE INSTITUTION WITHOUT CHANGING. THE MORE RIGID AND MORE RULE DEMANDING INSTITUTIONS HAVE A HIGHER TURN-OUT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT EXPERIENCE A NEGATIVE EFFECT FROM THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE INSTITUTION AND ITS OCCUPANTS. THE OPPOSITE CAN BE SAID FOR MORE RULE BENDING INSTITUTIONS, AS THEY ARE KNOW TO HAVE A HIGHER TURN-OUT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT EXPERIENCE A POSITIVE EFFECT FROM THE INSTITUTION AND ITS OCCUPANTS.…

    • 1753 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the years the United States incarceration rate has gradually increased. The money spent on an individual incarcerated each year surpassed an average person living off minimum wage. Can these rates decreases? Yes, creating programs which help individuals develop skills in the working field. Allow those individuals to voice their opinions and not feel the wrath of not being able to do much with one’s life after being incarcerated.…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Historical Prison Eras

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In The Big House era criminals were known as “convicts” and the guards where known as “hacks” and they were both supposed to keep distance from each other. To make their time easier in the Big House, convicts developed their own social roles, informal codes of behaviors, and language. Inmates created the social role of the “real man” in which they were loyal and generous and tried to minimize friction among inmates. Inmates had a code and believes that was based on the following (1) Don’t interfere with inmate interest, (2) Never rat on con, (3) Do your own time, (4) Don’t exploit fellow inmates, (5) Be tough: be a man; never back down from a fight, and (6) Don’t trust the “hacks” or the things they stand for ( Bartollas, 2002). This code promoted order, inmates understood that any disorder between prisoners and staff would be set aside and prisoners would be punish by losing privileges it had taken them years to attain. The main theme of the Big House was and boredom bored by endlessly recurrent routine, activities served no purpose other than to maintain order. The Big House could be described as a world populated by people seemingly more dead than alive.…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    While behind bars, inmates go through a mental process of institutionalization. There have been many psychological effects that occur during an inmate’s sentence. Changes similar to social avoidance and emotional protection. According to Craig Haney of the University of California,“Prisoners who labor at both an emotional and behavioral level to develop a “prison mask” that is unrevealing and impenetrable risk alienation from themselves and others, may develop emotional flatness that becomes chronic and debilitating in social interaction and relationships, and find that they have created a permanent and unbridgeable distance between themselves and other people” (Haney, 2001, p. 8).…

    • 1625 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    History of Corrections

    • 1751 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In 1790 came the birth of the Penitentiary in Philadelphia. The penitentiary was different than other systems in that it isolated prisoners, “ …isolated from the bad influences of society and one from another so that, while engaged in productive labor, they could reflect on their past miss-deeds…and be reformed,” (Clear, Cole, Reisig). The American penitentiary and its new concept was observed and adopted by other foreign countries.…

    • 1751 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    institutional racism

    • 3087 Words
    • 13 Pages

    ‘Critically analyse the concept of institutional racism in policing and evaluate policy responses to it’…

    • 3087 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shawshank Redemption helps the reader understand the connection of how hierarchy could lead to abuse of power by people with authority. Institutions in which people have or want to have control over others can be open to abuse is shown in The Shawshank Redemption. When the warden says, ”I believe in two things, discipline and the bible. Put your trust in the lord and your ass belongs to me, welcome to shawshank”, he is justifying his abuse of power as the need to keep inmates in control. He also abuses his power by making Andy do his illegal personal work, to both benefit himself, and to keep Andy, a potential threat to his authority, under his control. The warden is completely ignorant to the fact that Andy most likely is innocent “well, let’s…

    • 309 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics