Music in Czech Prison System

"Music in Czech Prison System" is an ethnomusicological study of the functioning of music in prison. The work focuses on the role of music in the everyday life of inmates and during the educational activities. It deals with the relationship of prisoners to music, musical activities in prison, and the approach of Czech Prison Service to musical activities. The aim of this master thesis is to present an image of the state of music and musical activities in the Czech prison system and to map out the forms in which the prison music appears, and to show what functions it has based on testimonies of convicts and prison staff. In prison, the environment of a so called total institution, people find themselves in extreme conditions that affect the wide range of their experiences. While imprisoned an inmate is faced with many changes that negatively affect the quality of his life. Research shows that music is a very important element for some prisoners, which can greatly influence their behavior and experience in prison and can compensate for their negative constraints. This master thesis attempts to capture whether and how convict's perceptions of music is different in an isolated environment as opposed to experiencing it outside the prison. What role does music play in the prison situation? And in what..