Criminal Culture

1. Why is this a good field site?
This is a good field site because the author can do his observations and have good visual aid, lots of surroundings and can see prisoners as they prepare for Hamlet. It allows him to see how the prisoners act while preparing for the play and in just everyday life as a prisoner.
2. What are good observations about this subculture that give us a better understanding of the subculture?
The author goods very in depth about the prisoners' personalities. The author is very descriptive about the whole jail from the moment he walks he walks in until the moment that he meets the prisoners. He even goes into detail about the prisoners and how they relate to the characters in the play Hamlet. The author was soon reminded that he was still in a jail when gazed a big black button that would send in the guards to protect him and the directors if any thing went wrong.
3. What interview techniques works for us to better understand the subculture?
The author asks questions that require the prisoner to give a long answer and not just a yes or no answer. This allows for the prisoner to give the audience insight on how they view they life, injunction to the play. These interviews were very informative to me because they allow to see how prisoners get information.
4. What are the norms and values of this subculture?
Most of the prisoners have little or no education. You must be strong in order to not be a weak link. There is a hierarchy system (whales and minnows). Just because the of the prisoners are actors doesn't mean that they receive special privileges.