Panopticism: Michel Foucault's Ingenious Theory
| Panopticism; Michel Foucault’s Ingenious Theory PHL 101 Issues in Philosophy |
A French philosopher, Michel Foucault developed the theory Panopticism and is explained in his book, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Foucault was able to erect this theory based off of Jeremy Bentham’s idea of a panopticon. A panopticon is a circular structured building with a watchtower on top, emitting light from all directions. It lies in the middle of a wider circular area, enabling the watch tower to see every aspect of the particular perimeter. This model is used most commonly in jails, although could also be used in schools, or other institutions of the like. A jail is the model of focus in the book and theory, particularly because it is a place of discipline. Foucault further highlights the function of discipline in prison, and disciplinary mechanisms in society in order to make a correlation of the role of discipline as a tool of power. In his book, Foucault shows two forms of punishment. The first, Monarchical and the second, Disciplinary. Monarchical Punishment is seen as a public display of execution, such as beheading. This was done under orders of the King or Queen, and was a spectacle as it was a town’s event. Public torturing was another form of Monarchical Punishment. These forms of punishment repressed the crowds by brutal public displays of death and torture. Disciplinary …show more content…
Punishment is what we know as a form of repression of society today. Foucault thought “professionals”, such as parole officers, police, psychologists, etc. were thought to have the power in terms of punishment. By this, an individual and by domino effect, a population as a whole realizes their behavior and actions must be within a certain boundary or else they will face consequences. These consequences can mean anything from simple embarrassment to more severe punishment like tickets, court orders, fines, jail or even death. The population is therefore repressed by this means of discipline.
Foucault compares the panopticon to modern society. He does this by explaining how one guard can visibly see all the prisoners around him or her, but they can’t see the guard. Foucault said that “visibility is a trap”, meaning that through this visibility, society as we know it today, is controlled by this universal power and knowledge. Power found on a rising individualized level, comes as a direct result of increased visibility. Foucault thought that through a generalized supervision or norms of acceptable behavior, we are connected and therefore “controlled”, by ourselves.
Such panoptic techniques can be seen in our society. One example of a panoptic technique is as simple as a dress code. Although there is no exact way to dress, indecent exposure could lead to a ticket from a police officer, and public embarrassment. Therefore, society knows that when out in public it is the “norm” to dress appropriately. Another example of a panoptic technique could be seen when on a mode of public transportation. This can include when on a train, bus or airplane. Out of respect for others and for the individual, it is a “norm” for individual riders to keep to themselves, do not scream out things that could upset other riders, and do not make offensive actions. If this code is violated, federal or domestic enforcement could be administered. These examples, although seemingly minor are important, a part of everyday life and are prime examples of how the “visibility” Foucault discussed, affects us all.
In today’s world, we are all consumers. We buy clothes, home goods, electronics, luxury goods, necessities such as water and food, and the list goes on. We, as consumers often do not know when are being advertised to; therefore, do not know when being observed and analyzed. The media’s relationship to consumers seems to be a form of panopticism. When watching a television show, such as Ellen we are consumers caught in the “visibility”, on many levels. Every break the show takes is replaced with commercials. Things from household items, to car insurance, cars, beauty products and more are all advertised to us. We are also analyzed just by watching the show, without even knowing so. The Nielsen ratings are systems of measuring audience size and composition of television programming in the United States. More specifically found through these systems are targeted demographics which provide an analysis of the audiences of any given show, network, and programming hour. Even further, Set Meters, which are devices connected to televisions in selected homes, gather viewing habits of the homes are transmitted through a centralized unit connected to a phone line, daily. Also, when watching Ellen, various products throughout the show are shown to the viewer that are directly the sponsors’; therefore, her audience is advertised to, not even realizing it because they are watching her show for their own enjoyment. All of these types of surveillance and advertising control are subtle ways of Panopticism. We, as a consumer cannot see it, because we are simply watching a television show for our personal satisfaction. A central idea to Foucault’s Panopticism is the systematic ordering and control of society through unforeseen and subtle forces. Through technology and surveillance, Foucault’s theories are further supported of the relationship between society and state. In this respect, by watching a television show, we are observed, analyzed, advertised to and in a way “controlled” by the power of the network, advertisers, government, and Nielsen Research without recognizing it. Michel Foucault was a smart and intuitive philosopher with a great vision and analyzation of the modern world, way before his time.
His theory of Panopticism was seen in his era, and has evolved with modern technology and surveillance to become even more predominant in our society today. He characterizes disciplinary power as a perfect technology, abstractly functioning, without constraints serving the purpose of watching and punishing in such an ideal way that an individual cannot escape it. He states in Surveilher et Punir (Discipline and
Punish):
“…to induce in the detained a conscientious and permanent state of visibility, which guarantees the automatic functioning of power. To make such vigilance permanent, even if not continuous in its action; that the perfection of power turns useless the actuality of its exercise. That such architectural device transforms itself into a machine able to create and uphold a power relation independent of the one which exercises it; al last, that the detained find themselves locked in a situation of power that they himself are the bearers.”
It is through Foucault’s “visibility” idea that our population exercises its controlling systems of power and knowledge. Michel Foucault’s Panopticism is a commanding theory which epitomizes disciplinary power.
A French philosopher, Michel Foucault developed the theory Panopticism and is explained in his book, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Foucault was able to erect this theory based off of Jeremy Bentham’s idea of a panopticon. A panopticon is a circular structured building with a watchtower on top, emitting light from all directions. It lies in the middle of a wider circular area, enabling the watch tower to see every aspect of the particular perimeter. This model is used most commonly in jails, although could also be used in schools, or other institutions of the like. A jail is the model of focus in the book and theory, particularly because it is a place of discipline. Foucault further highlights the function of discipline in prison, and disciplinary mechanisms in society in order to make a correlation of the role of discipline as a tool of power. In his book, Foucault shows two forms of punishment. The first, Monarchical and the second, Disciplinary. Monarchical Punishment is seen as a public display of execution, such as beheading. This was done under orders of the King or Queen, and was a spectacle as it was a town’s event. Public torturing was another form of Monarchical Punishment. These forms of punishment repressed the crowds by brutal public displays of death and torture. Disciplinary …show more content…
Punishment is what we know as a form of repression of society today. Foucault thought “professionals”, such as parole officers, police, psychologists, etc. were thought to have the power in terms of punishment. By this, an individual and by domino effect, a population as a whole realizes their behavior and actions must be within a certain boundary or else they will face consequences. These consequences can mean anything from simple embarrassment to more severe punishment like tickets, court orders, fines, jail or even death. The population is therefore repressed by this means of discipline.
Foucault compares the panopticon to modern society. He does this by explaining how one guard can visibly see all the prisoners around him or her, but they can’t see the guard. Foucault said that “visibility is a trap”, meaning that through this visibility, society as we know it today, is controlled by this universal power and knowledge. Power found on a rising individualized level, comes as a direct result of increased visibility. Foucault thought that through a generalized supervision or norms of acceptable behavior, we are connected and therefore “controlled”, by ourselves.
Such panoptic techniques can be seen in our society. One example of a panoptic technique is as simple as a dress code. Although there is no exact way to dress, indecent exposure could lead to a ticket from a police officer, and public embarrassment. Therefore, society knows that when out in public it is the “norm” to dress appropriately. Another example of a panoptic technique could be seen when on a mode of public transportation. This can include when on a train, bus or airplane. Out of respect for others and for the individual, it is a “norm” for individual riders to keep to themselves, do not scream out things that could upset other riders, and do not make offensive actions. If this code is violated, federal or domestic enforcement could be administered. These examples, although seemingly minor are important, a part of everyday life and are prime examples of how the “visibility” Foucault discussed, affects us all.
In today’s world, we are all consumers. We buy clothes, home goods, electronics, luxury goods, necessities such as water and food, and the list goes on. We, as consumers often do not know when are being advertised to; therefore, do not know when being observed and analyzed. The media’s relationship to consumers seems to be a form of panopticism. When watching a television show, such as Ellen we are consumers caught in the “visibility”, on many levels. Every break the show takes is replaced with commercials. Things from household items, to car insurance, cars, beauty products and more are all advertised to us. We are also analyzed just by watching the show, without even knowing so. The Nielsen ratings are systems of measuring audience size and composition of television programming in the United States. More specifically found through these systems are targeted demographics which provide an analysis of the audiences of any given show, network, and programming hour. Even further, Set Meters, which are devices connected to televisions in selected homes, gather viewing habits of the homes are transmitted through a centralized unit connected to a phone line, daily. Also, when watching Ellen, various products throughout the show are shown to the viewer that are directly the sponsors’; therefore, her audience is advertised to, not even realizing it because they are watching her show for their own enjoyment. All of these types of surveillance and advertising control are subtle ways of Panopticism. We, as a consumer cannot see it, because we are simply watching a television show for our personal satisfaction. A central idea to Foucault’s Panopticism is the systematic ordering and control of society through unforeseen and subtle forces. Through technology and surveillance, Foucault’s theories are further supported of the relationship between society and state. In this respect, by watching a television show, we are observed, analyzed, advertised to and in a way “controlled” by the power of the network, advertisers, government, and Nielsen Research without recognizing it. Michel Foucault was a smart and intuitive philosopher with a great vision and analyzation of the modern world, way before his time.
His theory of Panopticism was seen in his era, and has evolved with modern technology and surveillance to become even more predominant in our society today. He characterizes disciplinary power as a perfect technology, abstractly functioning, without constraints serving the purpose of watching and punishing in such an ideal way that an individual cannot escape it. He states in Surveilher et Punir (Discipline and
Punish):
“…to induce in the detained a conscientious and permanent state of visibility, which guarantees the automatic functioning of power. To make such vigilance permanent, even if not continuous in its action; that the perfection of power turns useless the actuality of its exercise. That such architectural device transforms itself into a machine able to create and uphold a power relation independent of the one which exercises it; al last, that the detained find themselves locked in a situation of power that they himself are the bearers.”
It is through Foucault’s “visibility” idea that our population exercises its controlling systems of power and knowledge. Michel Foucault’s Panopticism is a commanding theory which epitomizes disciplinary power.