Breve historia del cine carcelario popular

Abstract

For over 125 years, prison cinema has served as one of the few windows through which society can glimpse a version of what occurs behind prison walls. Far from mere entertainment, prison cinema operates as a privileged site of symbolic contestation where narratives about criminality, justice, and punishment are both constructed and contested. Drawing on a historical analysis framed within the conceptual lens of visual criminology, this article traces the evolution of the western and popular side of the genre from its earliest representations in silent film to its consolidation in the current golden age of television series. Special attention is given to the sociopolitical contexts in which these works emerge and to their symbiotic relationship with society and culture. Given the hegemonic position of the U.S. film industry, the analysis focuses primarily on the genre's development in Hollywood and, consequently, on the sociopolitical context of the United States. Throughout the study, recurring tropes of prison cinema – such as riots, sadistic guards, and the depiction of female characters – are examined, along with their hybridization with other genres, including film noir, science fiction, and social drama. Ultimately, this article highlights how the archetypal and simplified structure on which popular prison cinema is built promotes a skewed and one-dimensional understanding of the reality of punishment among the general public.