New Books in Sociology Kate Herrity, "Sound, Order and Survival in Prison: The Rhythms and Routines of HMP Midtown" (Bristol UP, 2024)
Aug 16, 2025
Kate Herrity, a research fellow at King's College, Cambridge, specializes in sound and sensory experiences in prisons. In their conversation, they explore the chaotic soundscape of HMP Midtown, discussing how auditory elements shape inmates' daily lives and survival. Herrity also delves into the symbolism of 'potting' and its ties to violence, and how sound influences power dynamics between inmates and staff. They highlight the emotional connections to music and memories, and the broader implications of sound on identity and mental health within these confinement spaces.
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Sound As An Epistemic Lens
- Sound is a central but overlooked avenue for understanding prison experience and power dynamics.
- Kate Herrity argues that attending to sound disrupts visual biases in academic knowledge production.
Why HMP Midtown Was Chosen
- Herrity chose HMP Midtown partly because its small, Edwardian layout let her repeatedly encounter the same people.
- Its local role as a dispersal centre meant short-term and long-term residents mixed, shaping intense acoustic rhythms.
Soundscape Conveys Time And Mood
- The prison soundscape signals time, mood and events so reliably listeners can tell if a day is ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
- Herrity compares this to recognizing a café by clinking cups and coffee machines.
