Visualizing Theory

  To state that imprisonment is restrictive and punitive does not require a theoretical background. To state that imprisonment in its modern form is centered on the body is by contract a matter of debate, but given limited time and patience, we will simply say that, regardless of intention, imprisonment acts on the body. And it is clear that prison acts on the body in a certain fashion: repeated actions with both practical and symbolic meaning carried out by a distinct class of person. A corrections officer inspects a bunk, and in that moment there is both the physical act of searching for contraband as well as the reproduced status of the officer over the inmate, the implication today as in every day that the inmate is under the control of the officer. We can thus interpret the goings-on of prison as a bodily ritual, imposed from the top down, with inmates and officials carrying out its ends. And from that perspective, we turn to Mary Douglas’s Purity and Danger to untangle the p...

In Rome, water fountains as seen in the image above called "nasonis" spit out an everlasting flow of free drinking water. Anyone can come up to the nasoni and drink directly from the spout or stick their finger in a hole on the spout that functions to change the flow to go upward for easier drinking access. The fountain in the image is no doubt ancient, weathered down in color and form. The individual in the image puts their mouth and hand right up to the spout of the nasoni in the middle of the street, the excess water spilling into the bowl under to be recycled.  In Mary Douglas's piece, Purity and Danger: An analysis of concept of pollution and taboo, she takes the definition of "dirt as a matter out of place" (Douglas 2002: 44) and says that "dirt offends against order. Eliminating it is not a negative movement, but a positive effort to organise the environment" (Douglas 2002:3). We collectively decide what we constitute as dirt or dirty as what of...

This image comes from the website of the Cambridge Women’s Center, a shelter for women, and their children, who are experiencing homelessness or economic hardships. In this photo, like any home, there is a locked door that leads into an entryway. Also pictured, are two women sitting on the stoep with smiles on their face. One of the women has a lanyard around her neck, identifying her as a volunteer who is there to assist the women who visit the Center. In the foreground of the image, there is a sign which includes some of the support that the Center offers. For example, health care and housing options are some of the resources listed. Additionally, the Center offers other necessities, as well as luxuries that these woman can otherwise not indulge in. The bottom of the sign states, “Free service for all women and their children.” This distinction that men are not allowed in the space is vital to maintaining the purity and sanctity of the environment, as these women look to shower, eat,...

    Image credit: Boston Globe, 2025 The image above is a cartoon of a woman with short red hair holding her baby amidst a light blue and white background of cartoon leaves. She dons a green t-shirt that reads “Make America Healthy Again.” Floating in the background just behind her and her child are two cups. One is indigo and reads, “I Don’t Co-Parent the Government,” and the other is light orange and reads, “Mandate Vegetables.” These phrases, along with that of her t-shirt, illustrate three key tenets of a “crunchy” lifestyle that is now understood as an aspect of either libertarianism or far-right extremism. The crunchy, or Make America Healthy Again movement, spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., rose in prominence following the 2024 electoral victory of Donald Trump and his appointment of RFK Jr. to Health and Human Services. Most individuals who support RFK Jr. and Trump and identify with this phrase as it is used now do not believe in the legitimacy of modern medicine,...

  Dirt The image above depicts a woman who has gone through a transformation, or what most people would probably call it, a makeover. The image of her on the left depicts a nerdy schoolgirl. She has glasses on as the directors try to depict someone who enjoys scholarly work and is most likely wrapped up in their studies. In addition to this, the woman is not what society would call “pretty.” Her hair is a mess, curls strung everywhere and clearly not taken care of. As well as the small barrettes holding the wispy strands of her hair out of her eyes. It is clear that they are trying to show someone who does not take their “self care” very seriously. She is not weaning makeup which is not societally pleasing to the eye and her eyebrows are unkempt. Another sign of someone who most likely does not think about their physical appearance much. Finally, the last thing of note about the image to the left is the woman's facial expression. There is a look of disgust and confusion on her fa...

     The picture depicts three Buddhist monks sitting in front of a table, and it seems like they are at the beginning of their meal. The monks are wearing brown and orange kasayas, which are Buddhist robes that symbolize both their monkhood and their devotion to retreating from the secular world. The monks in the picture are performing prayer hands—their palms are pressed together—and their lips are open and might be chanting sutras (Buddhist scriptures) or expressing gratitude for having the meal. In front of each monk, there are two bowls. One of the two bowls is empty, while the other contains pickled vegetables and white rice.  Yet, several things are missing in the picture compared to the dinner table of laypeople. First, there are no utensils on the table. Many Buddhist traditions encourage meditating and reflecting on the source and purposes of having the food before each meal, which could explain the absence of utensils and the monks' hand gestures. Se...