For vols. 1-3 (2009-2011), cite articles as: Author, “Title,” Libertarian Papers [volume #], [article number] (year). Example: Jan Narveson, “Present Payments, Past Wrongs: Correcting Loose Talk about Nozick and Rectification,” Libertarian Papers 1, 1 (2009).
For vol. 4 (2012) onward, cite articles as: Author. Year. "Title." Libertarian Papers. Volume # (issue #): [page numbers]. Example: Michael F. Reber. 2012. "The Role of Work: A Eudaimonistic Perspective." Libertarian Papers. 4 (1): 1-26.
1. “Moundsville Penitentiary Reconsidered: Second Thoughts on Hyperreality at a Small Town Prison Tour”
by Allen Mendenhall
Abstract: In 2007, I toured Moundsville Penitentiary, a tourist spectacle that was once—and fairly recently—a working prison. I wrote about the experience as would a journalist, except that my working paradigm was the postmodern theory of hyperreality, which Jean Baudrillard used to describe the complex tensions between reality and illusion. A term of semiotics, hyperreality refers to the disappearance of the referent and its subsequent, oft-replicated simulation. It almost always involves strategically controlled images that distort and conceal true meaning. The International Journal of Baudrillard Studies published my essay in January 2009. Shortly thereafter, many of my libertarian friends and colleagues wrote to ask for clarification or to express their disagreements. In what follows, whether I’m describing hyperreality or speculating about the horror-themed attractions at Moundsville Penitentiary, my principal concern is laying the libertarian foundation for my argument. I do not mean to defend my theories so much as explain them; nor do I insist that my cultural criticism is somehow “the” right way. I simply hope to fill a critical vacuum and to generate conversation not only about the condition of the American prison system writ large, but also about state-run tourist attractions that glorify the history of the sovereign at the expense of real knowledge about human suffering.
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Hello Allen, I found your essay about the Moundsville Penitentiary while doing some research for my book called: “The Wagon Gate” I am the great-granddaughter of a man that was incarcerated there in 1866 until 1881 for 2nd degree murder. His name was Newton Gilbert Sims. He was a Civil War soldier and fought for the union. He joined the 9th W.V. Infantry in 1861 and got out when the war was over in 1865. He killed a man in Charleston, WV in a shoot out. They all wore sidearms back then. He spent 14 1/2 years of a 18 year sentence. His story is so riveting that I have been compelled to write the story. I so appreciated you take on your tour of the prison. My husband and I visited there a few years ago and since we got to town late there was not enough time to take the tour. I want to go on the tour but since my great-grandfather helped to “build” the prison while he served his time and suffered there, my reason for going is not to be entertained and I totally agree with you opinion on this. It does not educate or inform on the history of what really happened there or on the “human beings” that suffered the painful separation from their families. Back in 2001 I sent for my great-grandfather’s Civil War pension records, not knowing what might be in them. Was expecting a few papers in an envelope as I had in the past with other family member’s records. His came in a BOX and contained over 320 pages of records. I’m using much of that and my own research on the history of the prison, history of the war and my own family history to reconstruct his life. I called it “The Wagon Gate” because that’s the first thing a criminal would see when they arrived, that dreaded Wagon Gate, the entrance to Hell.
I hope you will look for my book someday, hopefully this next year it will be published and some of the stories of at least one prisoner there will be told. I’ve left my e-mail if you would like to get back to me. Thank you again!
I was just recently in the prison for the first time and I live in the area. i was not on a tour. i can’t openly tell you why I was there aside of the fact that i was doing some work in the what was the maximum security area. i also know of a few people who were guards there and they say it wasn’t as bad as every one claims but of course they went home every night.
On the other hand it was a prison. Maybe if more prisons were like that and people really understood what their life would be like if they commit a crime against humanity such as murder or raping children they would think twice before committing an act of that nature. Then again some people are just crazy and don’t care.
I do see your point about the very old days when people carried side arms but to be honest with you in the state of WV you can openly carry a side arm today as well as in many other states. you only need a concealed carry license to carry a concealed fire arm. You have to use judgement before taking a life today just as you did back then in the old days. if you can’t prove self defense then you are going to prison.
Keep me updated..I would like to read your book. I can tell you why I was there some time in early 2014.
thanks Robert