What is prison for? While designed for punishment and correction, the U.S. carceral system rarely achieves genuine rehabilitation. According to the Department of Justice, over 650,000 individuals are released annually, yet two-thirds are re-arrested within three years. Rehabilitation, though often cited, remains elusive.
A groundbreaking film by writer Marvin Wade and animator Evan Bode exposes this dichotomy, illustrating the system’s counterproductive forces and the inner resolve needed to initiate change. Presented by The New York Times‘ Opinion section, “Prison and Time” details Wade’s incarceration experience, highlighting how he defied institutional barriers to earn a GED, facilitate conflict resolution, and discover a passion for writing. For Wade, time provided crucial clarity, while the system he navigated was one of dehumanization and retribution.
Visualizing confinement through art
Bode’s animation starkly captures prison’s oppressive conditions. Dark watercolor and marker illustrations depict the claustrophobic reality, serving as visual metaphors for the narrative’s ticking clock. The making-of video reveals the intricate process behind these powerful images.
The collaboration between Wade and Bode blossomed through Project Mend, a creative platform connecting artists impacted by incarceration. Bode reflects on his introduction to the project, sharing that Patrick W. Berry, the founder, encouraged animating texts from Mend, including Wade’s profound essay, “Time and Prison: Are They Mutually Exclusive?”
A partnership that moves audiences
In this film, Wade’s narration, paired with Bode’s animation, invites viewers into a transformative chapter of Wade’s life. “I believe the purpose of an artist is to move the crowd,” Wade states, hoping their work resonates with each viewer.
Dive into how Alex Chinneck bends cars into art, highlighting unconventional artistic expressions as explored in Wade’s narrative.
Following their success, Project Mend plans further projects with Bode, including an animation of the poem “Man Skin Boy Mask” by José Angel Perez. Keep an eye out for these collaborations on Vimeo.
Sources & Links
- the Department of Justice
- Marvin Wade
- Evan Bode
- making-of video
- Project Mend
- Time and Prison: Are They Mutually Exclusive?
- Vimeo
Source: thisiscolossal.com