- This week I reviewed our class materials on neoliberalism in order to give me more background info on neoliberalism as well as its ties to mass incarceration. I think that Harvey was useful in thinking about how a neoliberal ideology promotes individualism and personal responsibility, something that my other readings have touched on in relation to disciplinary hearings. Students of color bear full responsibility for their actions without regard for contextual circumstances or other factors that may have contributed to their behavior. Moreover, Harvey outlines some of the contradictions in neoliberalism that I think relate to this contradiction I described last week between the discourse of equity and the discourse of safety. Finally, Brown was very useful in thinking back to the Dillon piece and how money relates to mass incarceration. As everything is ‘economized’ and people’s worth becomes based on their ability to be rational, good consumers, people who are seen as ‘irrational’ or poor consumers are targeted by the neoliberal state. This idea builds upon what Reeves was saying about students of color being a financial liability at Bowdoin because of their greater need for services and affinity groups and because of the potential for country-wide negative press coverage such as in the wake of the tequila party.This week, I’m starting to edit my video footage. I’m also going to reach out to Brian Bristol next week because a few of my interviewees have suggested him. I think I have the bare bones of my paper right now, and I need to start figuring out how the video is going to take shape.
Brown, Wendy. 2015. Undoing the Demos. Neoliberalism’s Stealth Revolution. New York: Zone Books.
Brown discusses how every aspect of life is economized in a neoliberal state, even the people. Brown’s book is meant for an academic audience. This piece is useful in thinking about how money and profit may relate to incarceration and school discipline.
Harvey, David. 2007. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Harvey discusses how neoliberalism began and what it means for us today, including its ascetic premises and its contradictions. Harvey’s book is meant for an academic audience. This piece is useful for background knowledge about what neoliberalism is and how it necessarily calls for criminalization, mass incarceration, and surveillance of people who do not ‘fit’ in a neoliberal regime, particularly poor people of color.
Lopez’s Comments:
Aliya, I agree with you that it makes sense to draw specifically from Brown and Harvey. However, from the reading of this week, you might also want to think about how Rios’ uses mano suave vs mano duro to show how the disciplining of students occurs at the level of the administration. You also, also draw on his idea of cultural misframing to highlight how the College attempts to universalize the actions of ‘deviant’ students.