This film was particularly moving, and makes me even more
happy to be in America. Although U.S.
prisons can be bad, they don’t seem as barbaric as the Russian prisons depicted
in the film. Many parallels run between
the two, such as improvised tattoos, “rank” of criminals based on crime and demeanor,
and terrible food. However, the Russian
prisons serve seemingly inhumane food compared to the “Grade D – but approved
for human consumption” food that is served in American prisons. Tattoos carry a lot of meaning in the Russian
prison system, which holds true for some American prisons, such as biker and
street gangs. Each system has their own
respective “caste” system, the lowest of which are looked upon as less than
human beings. Both systems have labels
for those that assist the administration: an American “snitch”is called a “goat”
in the Russian prison system. The thing
that separates the two is the level of torture that is tolerated in Russian
prisons, which is sickening in nature.
Tattoos for the Russian prisoners define their interests, crimes
committed, and status in the criminal world.
The “theif-in-law” is the highest position, looked upon as the
godfather. Ironically, these men with
the least regard for human life get Crucifixes tattood for significance. Another prisoner innovation is the strategy
to get the tattoo of Joseph Stalin or Karl Marx, as the prison guards will not
shoot a prisoner to execute him with these tattoos. Prison ingenuity provides a range of items
used to communicate, as well as weapons.
These innovations are a result of adaptation to an environment, a
significantly human accomplishment that really conveys the beauty of the human
mind, even in such a depressive setting.
I liked the movie as it opens my mind to prison life in countries other
than the United States, and instills a cautious attitude in myself if I ever
find myself in Russia.
It also amazed me how elaborate the tattoo systems were and they not only serve as a form of communication but also a form of a caste system. The film provided a quality in-depth look into the prison system in Russia and certainly makes me reconsider committing a crime there.
ReplyDeleteI fail to see the irony in a crucifix being a symbol of disregard for human life. The cross was engineered to be the worst way to die imaginable. Hanging by nails through the wrists prevents you from breathing until one stands on the nail through his ankles, rubbing his thrashed back against unsanded wood. Seems to me a pretty fitting symbol for somebody who doesn't respect human life.
ReplyDeleteTattoos in America is totally different from tattoos in Russia. In Russia, they are very significant to what you have done in your life time. In America tattoos are mainly a source of fashion. Males and females get tattoos to display them with pride in the public, but in Russia they start to become a sort of embarrassment after they are released back into the public.
ReplyDeleteI really thought this documentary was extremely interesting. I thought the whole tattoo system was definitely different than other things that we've learned about in anthropology this semester, but overall, the most interesting. The Russian prison system was definitely something I would never want to be apart of but on the other hand, some of those people who were in there deserved to be punished for the crimes they committed. Not exactly for stealing something, but for killing another human being.
ReplyDeleteI think the irony in the crucifix was an interesting point. The symbol of the crucifixion although meant as a means of torture has been completely changed due to the events that happened in the story of Christ. You find crucifixion statues in churches and some liberal Christians might have the tattoo on their body so for the prisoner to have it to show they are the badest of asses is interesting
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