Dark Tourism of Punishment: Exploiting the carceral experience for entertainment and profit

• In Event: Consuming Carcerality: The Ethics, Tourism, and Pop Cultural Commodification of Carceral Spaces

Abstract

Prisons, jails, and other punitive environments have regularly been touted as “dark tourism” sites, attracting those with interests in the death, tragedy, and injustices inflicted within these spaces. Existing scholarship has critically examined the ethical issues of making places of punishment open to visitation, such as class tours of correctional facilities or the operation of prison museums. Less attention has been given to the use of former carceral sites, or in some cases, the creation of fictional prison-themed spaces, that have no alleged educational component. These often rurally-located bed & breakfasts, restaurants, escape rooms, haunted attractions, wedding venues, and other entertainment- and profit-centered businesses are an especially egregious aspect of carceral tourism that exploits the suffering of imprisoned people and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about the carceral experience. We present preliminary findings from content analysis of promotional websites and materials, as well as guest reviews, of commercialized carceral tourist attractions. Using critical, abolitionist frameworks, we discuss the public and commercial interest and societal consequences of this expanding area of dark tourism.

Authors

• Lucas Alan Dietsche, Institute for Doctoral Studies for Visual Arts

• Ashley Kilmer, Towson University

• Alessandra Early, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Nicole McKenna, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

• Alison Cox, East Carolina University