Bruce Jackson

Bruce Jackson is the SUNY Distinguished Professor and James Agee Professor of American Culture at the University at Buffalo. He holds academic appointments in the Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences, and has cross-affiliations with American Studies, Comparative Literature, Media Studies, and Law. His research spans narrative theory, ethnography, film, and photography, with a focus on folklore, prison systems, and cultural documentation.

Education: B.A., Rutgers University (1960); M.A., Indiana University (1962); Junior Fellow, Harvard Society of Fellows (1963-1967).

Research interests include prison ethnography, documentary photography, and the intersection of art and social justice. His work often explores marginalized communities, criminal justice, and cultural preservation. Notable projects include Death Row (a film and book documenting Texas prison life), Killing Time: Life in the Arkansas Penitentiary, and extensive photographic archives of U.S. prisons.

His 150+ publications include books on folklore, prison studies, and photography, as well as plays adapted from his works by the Wooster Group. Awards include France's L’ordre national du Mérite and the SUNY Distinguished Professor title (1990).

Professional roles include Director of the Center for Studies in American Culture (1972–2010) and Co-Director of the UB Creative Arts Initiative (2015–2021). He has curated major photography exhibitions and advised on prison reform, criminal justice policy, and cultural projects globally.

Community engagement includes roles on the Board of Directors for Market Arcade Film and Arts Center and advocacy for social justice causes. His work blends academic rigor with artistic innovation, bridging disciplines like anthropology, sociology, and visual arts.