PANTOPTICISM//Institutions & Institutional Power//Lecture Notes.

PANTOPTICISM

Institutions & Institutional Power//Lecture I

"Literature, art and their respective producers do no exist independently of a complex institutional framework which authories, enables, empowers, and legitamises them. This framework must be incorporated into any analysis that pretends to provide through understanding of cultural goods

and practices."

-Randal Johnson in Walker & Chaplin (1999)

Michel Foucault...

Writes about the way our society controls and disciplines it's people- particularly institutions and the power they have to control our thoughts, actions and behaviours.


Prisons, Hospitals, Universities, Social Institutions (Relationship, Families)

We shall evaluate how we as designers do not just produce individual ideas (in a vacuum) how our nature and nurture determines what we produce- our environment and society. We are produced by society, not as independents.

LECTURE AIMS


* Understand the principles of the panopticon (a metaphor of how society controls and disciplines it's citizens? An allegory for social control?).
* Understand Michel Foucault's concept of 'Disciplinary Society'.
* Consider the idea that disciplinary society is a way of making individual's 'productive' and 'useful'.
* Understand Foucault's idea of techniques of the body and 'docile' bodies.

THE PANOPTICON


Design for a building (1791)- Foucault said that this as a building has the same principles of control as our modern societies.


MICHEL FOUCAULT (1926-1984)
Philosopher and Activist- Gay Rights, Human Rights, Etc.

HIS CITED WORKS:


* Madness & Civilization (ABOUT: The Asylum, Psychiatry, Doctors)
* Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison (ABOUT: The Modern Prison)

Both books survey the rise of institutions and the rise of institutional power in the West.
 
MADNESS & CIVILIZATION:
The Great Confinement (late 1600s)


'Houses of correction' to curb unemployment and idleness


Talks about the ease of "madmens" lives in the 1600's- as part of society, the "village idiot"

Around the 1600, the rise of religion, increased moral attitude for roles in society led to those unuseful for society (couldn't or wouldn't work) were stigmatized to the late 1600's "the great confinement"- house of correction were built into which all these people were moved to: The insane, inoperative in society (criminals, single mothers, poor and unemployed). People were made to work with the threats of being beaten.

Society was taking the unproductive and threaten them into work.
Soon, the houses were perceived as a mistake- they corrupted people more- the insane would make the sane ever more deviant. 

THE BIRTH OF THE ASYLUM

After houses of correction, asylums were invented to reform the insane (a seperation from the sane deviants).
Around this time the true distinction between sane and insane was formed.  
Doctors were specifically allocated to decided who was classified as sane, or not.


Inside the asylum, the inmates are controlled in different ways- they are treated like minors (children), and if they do well they're given rewards.


Foucault saw this as a really important shift in the control in society. At this point, society started to realise that it is more useful to control people mentally than physically (from the birth of the asylum)- a shift which continues to modern day.


The emergence of knowledge- biology, psychiatry, medicine, etc. These legitamise the institutions and the practice of hopsitals, doctors, etc.

People who were criminals/deviants (those judged abnormal in society) were punished in a "spectacular" way- such as stocks, the pillory (public humiliation). The reason for this punishment was to show to everyone else that whoever doesn't obey will be humiliated in the same way. Torture, humiliation and pain- they were made an example of- leaders of society are "King" and they must be obeyed.


DISCIPLINARY SOCIETY & DISCIPLINARY POWER


It was realised that there are more effective ways of keeping people under control- this is what Foucault describes as a new, modern society. Disciplinary is a technology/technique- not just aimed at showing off power, but more about controlling conduct, performance, capacities, and making one useful- controlling our thoughts and behaviours as opposed to humiliation or death.


THE PANOPTICON


Foucault's allegory of modern society and control (1791 architectural design, never built).
A round building which could have a multitude of functions- school, hospital, asylum, prison.
Each space around the outside of the building was a cell (divided by a wall) in which a prisoner would be kept- could be permanently back lit by a window at the edge of the building. In the center of the Panopticon, the observers and prison guards would sit.
A modern version has been built in Cuba, as well as Millbank Prison (the site of Tate Britain)
Institutional "gaze" (US).


The Panopticon was special, and important for Foucault because he describes it as the automatic disciplinary power.
Each prisoner in their cell can always see the central tower- they always know they are being watched, but cannot see other inmates. They never truly know if they're being watched. The central tower wasn't lit- the prisoners couldn't see if anyone was watching them- but could never verify whether they truly were.


The Panopticon internalises the in the individual the conscious state that he is always being watched (never do anything wrong, always scared being caught, etc).
The building itself allows power to function perfectly, and independently.


After a long period of time, bars aren't needed on the cells- always in fear of being watched, constant good behaviour- they would mentally control themselves. A side effect of this would be that guards weren't even required- people lived in self-control and fear.


A perfect mechanism for control- and an allegory for control in modern societies.
Physical punishment wasn't required- just mental.


PANOPTICISM


Used for asylums, reformative schools, etc.


Panopticons also had the functions of laboratories- measuring performance between inmates- controlled almost like lab rats.


ALLOWS SCRUTINY
ALLOWS SUPERVISOR TO EXPERIMENT ON SUBJECTS
AIMS TO MAKE THEM PRODUCTIVE


A modern example is the lecture theater- all focusing on the tutor/lecturer- not a great deal of interaction with other students. All aware that we can all be seen- just that knowledge makes you more productive. Physically sat here, sedate, also helps us fixed and controlled.


REFORMS PRISONERS
HELPS TREAT PATIENTS
HELPS INSTRUCT SCHOOLCHILDREN
HELPS CONFINE, BUT ALSO STUDY THE INSANE
HELPS SUPERVISE WORKERS
HELPS PUT BEGGARS AND IDLERS TO WORK


What Foucault is describing is a transformation in Western societies from a form of power imposed by a 'ruler' or 'soverign' to... A NEW MODE OF POWER CALLED 'PANOPTICISM".


The 'panopticon' is a model of how modern society organises it's knowledge, power, surveillance of bodies and it's 'training' of bodies.


PANOPTICISM is about being trained, or training oneself.
The idea you could always be caught out- and self control.


The open plan office is a panoptic example- an efficient system for the bosses of the office (communication, team building) to constantly see what people are doing- stops employees from procrastinating/wasting time. Makes you work harder without the boss actually needing to do anything- just a visible reminder of institutional power.


Tongue in cheek example of modern day is TV programme 'The Office' in which David Brent (the boss) knows he is constantly being filmed- causing him to modify his behaviour, puts on a face of being "the perfect boss" (naturally, backfiring). 

One modifying their own behaviour without being told (the way a normal citizen should behave and act) is panopticism. Behaviour is conditioned by panoptic conditions.


This is a constant day to day practice:


"DON"T TALK" in libraries- nobody has to tell you to control yourself, we have been conditioned.
Art Galleries- The rowdiest, loudest people will behave perfectly in an art gallery- what society has taught us.


Modern bars are increasingly open-plan and panoptic- reduces agressive behaviour.
Pubs change from intimate spaces to places where you know you're being watched and feel slightly less at ease. You're on display, and cannot make the space your own. Makes spaces that are far easier to control.


Panopticism is everywhere in our society- Google Maps is a contemporary form- voyeuristic and panoptic. Privacy doesn't exist. 
CCTV (the largest amount of CCTV cameras in the world are in Britain)

We are constantly reminded, in various ways, that our lives are recorder- and everything we do is recorder.
It starts to build a fear of being caught within us- leads to the idea that we act like more socially responsible, well behaved citizens.


PANOPTIC EXAMPLES

PENTONVILLE PRISON


Lecture to "juvenile delinquents".
Totally panoptic- a barrier between each student- not too far detached from standard lecture spaces.


BROTHERTON LIBRARY READING ROOM, LEEDS UNI


It's not just the design of spaces that work in a panoptic way.
There are various different mechanisms- a register for class (a record, and a panoptic sign that every day is being recorded with accessible knowledge, we can be measured against other students, etc). Fundamentally knowledge of ourselves is transferred to others.


We are all subject to panopticism.
Slight paranoia- every activity and action is logged.
If you appear inquisitive it may give an appeared evidence that you have something to hide- fear that it would be viewed as a deviant/suspicious act.


We are always being monitored by CCTV- constantly recorded and watched.
Aren't hidden- the visible reminder that they are being recorded is a far more effective panoptic method.


Often, security cameras will be visible reminders- but aren't even actively working/controlled.
We can be constantly watched through interactive media- mobile phones, computing networks, etc.
All websites can be featured and shown.
Keystrokes per minute can be timed- an assessment of how hard the student/employer is working, etc.

ETHICS/POLITICS


Why do we need proof of who we are as individuals?
A level of status- showcasing our roles in society- our inter-relationships and social interactions.
We act unnaturally- a way that institutions want us to act.
Hours are monitored for tutors/lecturers, etc. Lack of trust from institutions.

RELATIONS EVOLVE THROUGH POWER, KNOWLEDGE AND THE  BODY


A form of mental control as well as physical. 
Power relationships control our bodies- force us to do things, physical responses.
Foucault notes how this controls us to being 'docile (it won't repel) bodies'- self monitoring, self correcting, obedient bodies.


DISCIPLINARY TECHNIQUES

Cult of health in the late 20th century (particularly modern phenomena)- "eat your five a day", "exercise regularly", etc. Keeps everyone healthy, NHS bill down- but also ensures that everyone stays healthy so they can work better, harder, and more efficiently.
Pension age rise- not a compliment for living healthily and well- a punishment.


People are in constant awareness that they are on display- health, beauty, media.
No one makes you go to the gym or worry about your personal appearance- one makes oneself anxious and perform in a certain way- self-perception.


TELEVISION IS A METAPHOR FOR THE PANOPTICON


We all watch it, receive "instruction" for it.


FOUCAULT & POWER


His definition is NOT a top-down model as with Marxism (class system)- he sees it as a two-way dialogue.
Power is not a thing or a capacity people have- it is a relation between different individuals and groups, and only exists when it is being exercised.
The exercise of power relies on there being the capacity for power to be resisted.
"Where there is power there is resistance".

CULTURAL EXAMPLES

1984 (George Orwell)
Facebook (you act like a performance of yourself you'rd like everyone else to see- you monitor yourself and your identity)
Vito Acconci 'Following Piece' (1969)- Creative projects that respond to the idea of Panopticism. Stands outside galleries, and waits to follow people around the city, stalking their daily lives. 


We live in an allusion that we are controlling ourselves and our actions- we are trained and controlled, everything with more power than we indeed have.


Chris Burden- Samson (1985)
Beam of oak attached to a vice- when you move through the turnstile, the oak pushes against the gallery with increasing pressure. The more people that visit, the more chance that the institution will be destroyed.