In 1975, French social philosopher Michel Foucault wondered why it is that, although everyone knows prisons fail to deter crime or rehabilitate criminals, nobody has a good alternative. Why does imprisonment seem like the only way to handle crime? This class will examine Foucault's now classic account of the rise of the prison and the concept of criminality, as well as links between prisons and other modern institutions, e.g., schools and factories. Discussion topics may include the purpose of punishment, the concept of justice, and the relatively recent idea that criminals are fundamentally different from normal people.