Sound and Detention

For those who can hear and choose to listen, attending carefully to sound shapes our understandings of the social worlds we move through or inhabit. Yet the soundscapes of places of detention are often inaccessible to those on the outside. This diverse and fascinating collection—and crucially, its accompanying webpage, where readers can also become listeners—demonstrates not just how we can and why we should listen to these soundscapes, but also how much we learn when we do so. It is highly recommended reading and listening for anyone who wants to better understand carceral places and experiences. * Fergus McNeill, Professor of Criminology & Social Work, University of Glasgow, UK * With a careful selection of authors and vantage points, Sound and Detention brings much needed attention to intersections of sound, silence, setting and power. Through a polyphonic voicing of music as an art form, social practice and medium for justice, the essays in this collection follow soundwaves through locations including India, Eritrea, the Scottish Highlands and with Syrian refugees in Germany. For those of us who care deeply about those on the inside, this volume helps us hear their voices and learn from their narratives. * Naomi André, Professor of Music, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA * Extraordinary for their breadth, depth, imagination, and compassionate eloquence, the essays in Sound and Detention explore every conceivable perspective on the part sound plays in the carceral experience, worldwide. It is essential reading for everyone interested in carceral studies, music studies, and sound studies, as well as for activists hoping to influence the practices and policies that shape the lives of imprisoned people. * Suzanne G. Cusick, Professor of Music, New York University, USA *