PRISON AND FREEDOM: THREE DISCOURSES OF PRISON SUBCULTURE IN SOVIET AND RUSSIAN LITERATURE

Abstract

In this article three methods of prison interpretation in soviet and Russian literature in 20-21 centuries are analyzed using the basic standings of the theory of discourse analysis (van Dijk, Fairclough, Laclau, Mouffe, Foucault). Changes in perception of prison subculture connected with fundamental changes of culture in a whole are showed on the example of three types of discourses that correspond to three periods in literature. Prison evaluation as a social-legal institute is changing depending on the type of culture. Author's method of carrying out discourse-analysis of literary texts helps to reveal such changing. Literary texts are considered as discursive practices that are directly connected with social practices and express definite models of behavior, living priorities and so on. Conclusion is made that in modern interpretation such terms as prison and prison subculture are a valuable participators of economical strategies that express values and priorities of society of consumption.