Interior setting research - prisons

In order to create a successful 3D horror environment within a prison, I have to first understand what emotions/feelings/moods are inspired within this setting. To reinforce this research, I have created a floor-plan of a prison cell to understand how such human reactions are evoked.

I have kept the design simple to promote the prison aesthetic. In this holding cell there is a bed, a toilet, two lights beside the entrance and the door to the cell. I wanted to create a sense of isolation with my drawing, so giving the prisoner little or nothing to do but stare at the floor and reflect on his/her crimes would ensure this. Isolation can cause numerous emotional and physical responses, and with horror as guidance, I considered how this can be made to improve the atmosphere of my 3D horror environment.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/content_images/JailCell_lores.jpg

Firstly, I looked for examples of prison cells in modern day society that screamed isolation and showed potential for aesthetic inspiration within the genre of horror. Here we have an very dull grey enclosed space with a contrasting bright yellow bunk bed, with only a window to stare out of when inside the cell and a toilet in the corner for when nature calls. The colour scheme in this photo is what grasped my attention. The walls are grey, the floor is grey and even the toilet is a metallic form of grey - this makes the room look as dark and depressing as possible to eliminate any element of taste and/or enjoyment for the inhabitant(s) of the cell, reminding us that prison is a punishment, not a holiday, a place in its own rights that is designed to break down the criminal(s) and make them realise what they have done to deserve residence in such a place and thus, promoting themes of isolation and loneliness to a greater value.

The yellow of the bed deliberately contrasts with the rest of the room which could mean one of two things. The first possibility being that the colour choice takes the role of a reminder that sleep is the prisoner(s) only remaining luxury within the environment he or she has ended up in and that the littlest things such as sleep should be cherished for what they are. The second possible explanation of the colour choice of yellow is that as the prisoners are normally dressed in bright colours, the beds have been coloured the same so that the guards can easily identify the location of the prisoner(s) within his or her cell. By creating a dull, colourless background on a canvass, the remaining elements of the piece stand out in contrast to the background thus, making them easier to identify and locate.

http://whatgives365.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/prison-cell.png

This is a common American prison cell, containing only a bunk bed, a toilet and a set of shelves. This example depicts themes of loneliness and isolation to a certain degree, but does not capture it fully. The cell doorway and door itself are barred, allowing prisoners to interact with those around them without actually walking around outside thus, enabling the enable to interact vocally, which detracts from any element of isolation or loneliness. As a colour choice, white is a tone and yes, does carry a reminder that this is a prison and this is the consequence for your crimes. Most American prisons require the convicted to wear orange, red, blue or yellow which is effective here because it contrasts with the tonal background of the cell therefore, making the prisoner(s) easier to detect and/or locate.

• What relevance does this research provide for the development of my project and horror?

Prisons inspire feelings and emotions such as loneliness and isolation therefore, I have to understand how these human reactions are evoked in reality in order to gain an understanding of how to depict this in a horror setting. Horror inspires fear in people and as such, makes individuals unsteady in the presence of their own company with nobody around them to cling on to. Loneliness and isolation harmonises with the central theme of horror, which is to scare, to cause fear, which in turn heightens the atmospheric tension created by horror.