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Stereotypes In The Film 'Titicut Follies'

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The documentary Titicut Follies which takes place at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution located within Bridgewater takes a look into what a total institution was and still is. Goffman’s various definitions on what makes an institution a total intuition from his novel Asylums are very prevalent within the film. Such as his definition of a total institution which separates three spheres of life. It also shows multiple stereotypes between the inmate, staff relationship of what each group thinks about the other. Titicut Follies supports Goffman’s perspective of total institutions.
According to Goffman a total institution is a “breakdown of the three barriers ordinarily separating these three spheres of life”. (Goffman pg. 218) These three spheres being sleep play and work. Goffman states that all these aspects of life are highly monitored by others, done within large groups of people all doing the same thing. (Goffman pg. 218) All of these aspects are very evident in the documentary Titicut Follies. This documentary gives a clear understanding of Goffman’s idea of what total institutions are. The documentary takes place in the Massachusetts Correctional Institution located within Bridgewater. It shows us what it is like to live in a total institution during this time.
One way that …show more content…
The inmates in this move were naked most of the time and their cells were barren no beds or toilets so of course they wouldn’t be clean. But, he was being yelled at by the guards for it not being clean and while they were shaving him they kept saying I can’t hear you Jim speak up multiple times knowing very well what he said to them. Also while shaving him they cut him on his lip which started bleeding and the just wiped it away and that was it. These are great examples of the stereotype that inmates have towards

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