Creativity in Captivity
How does creativity persevere behind bars? While a body can be held captive, the creative spirit and survival instinct of the mind is harder to constrain. Mmueseumm, an educational institution based in New York, collects historical artifacts, each bearing the story of their creator. This article discussed inventions created by inmates in the U.S. prison system. Living in unpleasant captivity, these individuals were forced to be innovative in hopes of making their life more pleasurable. After all, the strict guards refused to give the prisoners access to any material that could potentially be used as a weapon or transformed into a weapon when melted. In their eyes, even everyday items could give the prisoners leverage in escape or attack.
For example, the handles of toothbrushes were deemed too dangerous, thus prisoners were given “safety fingertip brushes." In other words, they were given only the bristles of the toothbrush. To form a contraband toothbrush, prisoners took advantage of other resources. They tightly rolled a commissary order and then wrapped it in plastic wrap. Lastly, they sewed the bristles to one end of the “stick” using thread. Now that the contraband had been created, it was crucial that it remained hidden from the guards. Discovery would result in brutal consequences and further limitations to resources. Despite the risk, prisoners continued to create their own inventions and improve the low quality products given to them by the guards. Prisoners might have done some scavenging on their own, as one invention, the electric water heater, had a razor. If the guards were worried enough to withhold the inmates a proper toothbrush, there is no way they would hand the crafty prisoners a razor blade.
Creating valuable contraband likely spurred relationships between inmates. They might have collaborated in collecting materials for inventions and worked together to hide their creations from the guards. As the contraband-making increased, it might have impacted their trade system. Small business could begin as contraband was produced at a higher rate. For example, an inmate could become known for making gloves using denim or materials from towels. Prisoners would know who to trade with which could later spur competition, hence an increase in glove production.
Overall, each artifact created by the U.S. prison inmates holds a story of their life in captivity. Every remain points towards the prisoners wants and needs during the time. The small dice made out of stale bread shows that prisoners longed for entertainment and games to play with other inmates. The handmade electric water heater shows that prisoners needed a way to bathe in a tolerable manner. The inhumane conditions prisoners faced were challenges that probed their creative inventions and, as these challenges increased, more and more useful products were made. It is easier to glance over the artifacts and judge them for their unattractive appearance. It is harder to fully analyze each invention, the goal behind the creation, the details that reflect the limited resources of prisoners, the story that it holds, and the determination and creativity of the mind it represents.
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Wow, what an interesting article. I find it interesting since the inmates were able to use their limited resources to make things that would make their daily lives easier. I also found it interesting how inmates would work together to hind their inventions from the prison guards. It impresses me how inmates have the initiative to make these tools and how they are able to make them right under the guard’s watch.
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