On April 15, 2015, I had the privilege to attend a lecture lead by Piper Kerman, former prisoner and author of, “Orange is the New Black,”at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to the lecture, I heard that, “Orange is the New Black,” is extremely entertaining and exciting from many of my peers. In a week prior to the lecture by the real Piper, who the story and television series is based on, I was able to view all of the seasons on Netflix in Spring Break prior to the lecture at UC, Santa Barbara. I finally had time to join the, “I heart, ‘Orange is the New Black,’’bandwagon.
Why?
- First of all, the show definitely took me out of self; in a good way.Watching the show opens a whole new world and culture coding.
- Observing new social norms in a prison setting made me curious and want to further investigate and explore these new ways of being on the screen of institutionalism of women in prison.
- Piper Kerman’s lecture at UCSB has definitely encouraged some critical thinking of Social Justice and Social Problems which range from demographics, race, gender,and other circumstances that is part to what makes us human and a participants in today’s America.
- All of these can be part(s) of an answer when asking, What does it mean to be free? Is it the freedom to choose to survive OR to make sacrifices that makes one feel a part of a whole with great confidence to thrive in this world?
Can freedom be selfish, according to who, what, and why?
