Panopticism//Seminar Notes.

Notes from our first CTS lecture of the year- reflecting upon our lecture last Thursday on Michel Foulcault's theory of Panopticism. Discussing both the theories and contemporary culture, and the role(s) Panopticism plays within it.

PANOPTICISM

* Institutions and Institutional Power

* Panopticon building was designed by Jeremy Bentham, 1791.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT(S) OF THE PANAPTICON

* Behaving in a way in which we believe society dictates or wants us to behave. One behaves in a way that you believe the people watching you want you to behave. Eventually no "watch" is required- it's psychologically embedded.

* PANOPTICON, explicitly were utilised for, or intended for prisons, reformeries, schools, asylums. Also used as spacial structure in lectures, theaters, schools, etc.

PANOPTIC FEATURES

* Isolation (to avoid conspiring, relation, etc)/separation.

* Invisibility/Visibility (must be permanently on view, or think they are permanently on view to the higher powers. The person viewing must always be "invisible". 

POWER

* Constantly visible but never viable. Central tower is always there as a reminder, but you cannot know for sure if you are being watched. Light, bright, visible incarceration.

CCTV

* CCTV is panoptic when visible, not voyeuristic in tendency. Often CCTV cameras are displayed as a reminder that you are being watched and recorded (though they are not always necessarily in operation).

VISIBILITY/INVISIBILITY OF POWER

* Designed to make people more productive- learn faster, work faster, get better quick, reform behaviour more efficiently. The thought that you are always being watched makes you more productive. More productive, but not necessarily for yourself.

 FOUCAULT'S DOCILE BODIES>> Modern disciplinary society to produce easily trainable people, more obidient, self-regulating bodies, self-monitoring, training themselves.

EXAMPLE OF PANOPTICISM

* Swimming pools and lifeguards- sitting up on a tall chair viewing over the public. Both health and safety conscious and panoptic- changes and controls behaviour, "no heavy petting", etc.

Modern controls are mental and pyschological, where as traditional control was physical.

Panopticism is a mental process (as we become increasingly docile)- eventually this reverts to physical control over the body.

POWER

There is no power without resistance.

Foucault stated that power is a relationship between two people/subjects.

A > B (eg the teacher has the qualification and status, therefore, students can be taught and disciplined).

HOWEVER

power is a relationship that works both ways

A > B

A < B

Power can be resisted, power has no control.

Need to let control and discipline to have it inforced. An interested dialogue and relationship between two subjects.

EXAMPLES OF PANOPTICISM

* Dictatorships (uncapability to express views from fear, opression, etc).

* House of Commons (Head speaker, television broadcasts- available for global viewing)

* Television programmes- constant reminder how our lives should be, an aspiration. Make people think and act in different way- commonly found in advertising.

* Parent/Child relationship- Self regulation, the way we should behave around them and hold control.

TASK I

PANOPTICISM

Choose an example of one aspect of contemporary culture that is, in your opinion, panoptic. Write an explanation of this, in approximately 200-300 words, employing key Foucauldian language, such as "docile bodies" or "self-regulation", and no less than five quotes from the given text 'Panopticism' (woven into text) in Thomas, J. (2000) 'Reading Images', NY, Palgrave McMillan, and effectively referencing the Harvard Referencing system.

The text is an edited chapter translated from (French) Foucault's 'discipline & punish', and, in particular, panopticism.

Consider Graphic Design links and references within your text.