Profit Through Punishment — Kian Amos Design

PRODUCT AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PROFIT THROUGH PUNISHMENT

FEBRUARY - APRIL 2024

PROFIT THROUGH PUNISHMENT

MATERIALS

Projector, CD Players

Profit Through Punishment is an accompanying piece to Transformative Justice. The footage shown is intended to highlight the exploitation of prison labor for profit in our carceral system and highlight similarities between modern and “outdated” prisons. The accompanying audio is comprised of a variety of sounds, many of which were included based on firsthand accounts of prisoners. Since people would approach mid-video to listen to the CD players during the exhibition, the audio portion is shorter than the video but syncs up regardless of where in the video you are. This was done so people could easily listen, watch, and move on without feeling like they missed the start.

VIDEO PORTION

The video serves as an audio/visual experience highlighting the exploitation of prisoner labor. The final video contains a collection of footage from a variety of sources including prison archives, presidential speeches, and more.

This footage was sourced from a variety of time periods, with the intent of showcasing how little the prison system has evolved. The construction, processes, treatment of prisoners, and more all remain relatively the same as decades ago. Despite claims of “ethical prisons” and better conditions, this video highlights that prisons as a concept should be reevaluated.

The video was projected silently onto a concrete wall alongside the Transformative Justice exhibition alongside CD players containing the audio portion.

Prisoners on a chain gang in the 1930’s

A modern-day assembly line utilizing incarcerated labor

AUDIO PORTION

The audio portion is a soundscape comprised of sounds referenced from firsthand accounts of prisoners. Research has shown that the quantity and frequency of noise within prisons can often lead to mental health issues.

The audio recorded here is comprised of multiple sources including machinery, mess hall chatter, announcements, footsteps, and other incessant noises that exist within prisons. The intention of this soundscape is to evoke a sense of unease and to have to the listener consider what it would be like to hear something akin to this all day, every day.

Keeping with the physical and analog themes of Transformative Justice, the audio track was burned onto CDs and CD players were placed on the benches in front of the video.

INTERACTION

Having a place to sit, watch the video, listen to the soundscape, and read the zines led to a high amount of people engaging with our space.

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SITE DESIGN 2024