Panopticism

The Panopticon:


Designed by Jeremy Bentham - 1791
Metaphor fro hierarchy in contemporary culture
> Hosptials
> Schools
> Army




Michael Foucalt (1926-1984)




The Greed Confident (late 1600's)


'Houses of correction' to curb unemployment & idleness




> Made to work in the houses, improving their moral fibre. Teaching how to be a moral member of society
> Hides away deviance, shut away from society. Represses deviance




Eventually, seen to be a gross error. Various would corrupt each other, degeneration of moral fibre.
Segregation was brought in.
> Invention of asylum
> Shift from physical control to mental control
> Started the rise to 'superhuman' status in doctors and psychiatrists




The pillary
Public humiliation, physical co-ersion




Disciplinary Society and Disciplinary Power


Discipline was seen as a technology not just a punishment
> The idea that we change, under surveillance - controlling
> Modern sense of discipline




1791 - Jeremy Bentham design 'The Panoptican' proposed


> Circular prison, guard tower in the middle
> Institutional gaze
> Exact opposite of a dungeon
Different psychological effect - always observed


Interactives - the individual, the conscious state
That they are 'always being watched'


Self regulation - Regulating behaviour, limiting chance for collusion
Psychological torture




> Reforms people
> Helps treat patients
> Helps instruct school children
> Helps confinement to study the insane
> Helps supervise workers
> Helps put beggars and idlers to work




Faucalt is describing:


> Change our behaviour to what an invisible power is making us do


Modern bars - Open plan
People self regulate
Panopticism is everywhere


Being surveyed changes how we act
Disciplinary society produces what Faulcalt calls 'Docile body' - easily controlled


> Self monitoring
> Self correcting
> Obedient tolerances




Men watch women. Women watch men watching them




Facebook - Panoptic
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