Shah’Tavia Young
04/11/2014
Soc 385
Focault Blog
Pan-Optic Government
According to sociologist Michel Focault, panopticism is the process of power and observation, it is another aspect of discipline. There are two functions of this design: to make the subject viewable and the observer’s unsustainable. The idea of panopticism are covered in the domain of discipline and punish. The study of surveillance begins with Focault’s reading of the ways that surveillance plays a vital role in establishing social control and power over both the social body and individual. The most famous pan-optic design is that of the prison. In which there is a central tower, with one or two guards stationed at the top and the inmate’s cells surrounding them in a circle. Allowing the most amount of surveillance with minimum guards. Pan-optic power is not only enforced in prisons but, in everyday society as well. The government is able to watch our every move if warranted. Whether it be through corner cameras, police officers, listening to phone conversations or monitoring social sites. Pan-optic power is the process of social regulation and organizations.
Furthermore, society would not be able to function without some sort of regulation and control. People take discipline and our society that controls us for granted. We are protected by those imaginary eyes that stop us from checking for danger. The governments constant observations of us, enforces rules without actually having to say anything. The U.S. government embraces the theory of panopticism as it takes away our rights and privacy. However, the American people are aware of the numerous ways the government use to watch our lives. People find it best to operate in panopticism is simply by trying to self-control. We control our lives by letting others watch us. The importance of the panoptic design for Foucault, was that it reflected much of the philosophy of observation that has become a guiding principle of policing in the modern state. The use of video cameras both in cities and on roads employs the same principle of observation, so that the citizen is never entirely sure whether or not they are being watched
Actual policing by officers of the law is a way that panopticism can be seen. Police are known to be everywhere, sometimes you see them and often times you don’t. However, for the fear of getting arrested or getting tickets, many people self-police by making sure they do not go over the speed limits posted, simple traffic laws and various other things. The reality TV show Bait Car shows people given the opportunity to steal cars without the obvious chance of being caught. Often time’s people try to take the cars and often times others do not. This is an example of the observer (police) being unverifiable and the individual being viewable. Also, on social networks and sites, people do not post or engage in certain illegal; activity because they know the government has access to things. The knowledge of knowing one is being watched, self-control comes into play, in fear of the consequences that can happen, even when one is not being blatantly watched, they know there is still a chance of being seen. Self-regulation is events that examines and encourages the people to adapt and adjust themselves with the changes occurring in their surroundings. Therefore, the panopticism also forces the people for the self-regulation and panopticism acts as metaphor for this kind of power
In modern day society panopticism can be found in nearly any institution. Panopticism has been existing in our society without any dispute. In fact, panopticism may not be such a bad thing. According to Focault, society needs to have some control and this may be true. Panopticism is an example of disciplinary power, used to enforce others. Without it, society could be a grave danger to itself and the individual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWoojSYoZ-8
04/11/2014
Soc 385
Focault Blog
Pan-Optic Government
According to sociologist Michel Focault, panopticism is the process of power and observation, it is another aspect of discipline. There are two functions of this design: to make the subject viewable and the observer’s unsustainable. The idea of panopticism are covered in the domain of discipline and punish. The study of surveillance begins with Focault’s reading of the ways that surveillance plays a vital role in establishing social control and power over both the social body and individual. The most famous pan-optic design is that of the prison. In which there is a central tower, with one or two guards stationed at the top and the inmate’s cells surrounding them in a circle. Allowing the most amount of surveillance with minimum guards. Pan-optic power is not only enforced in prisons but, in everyday society as well. The government is able to watch our every move if warranted. Whether it be through corner cameras, police officers, listening to phone conversations or monitoring social sites. Pan-optic power is the process of social regulation and organizations.
Furthermore, society would not be able to function without some sort of regulation and control. People take discipline and our society that controls us for granted. We are protected by those imaginary eyes that stop us from checking for danger. The governments constant observations of us, enforces rules without actually having to say anything. The U.S. government embraces the theory of panopticism as it takes away our rights and privacy. However, the American people are aware of the numerous ways the government use to watch our lives. People find it best to operate in panopticism is simply by trying to self-control. We control our lives by letting others watch us. The importance of the panoptic design for Foucault, was that it reflected much of the philosophy of observation that has become a guiding principle of policing in the modern state. The use of video cameras both in cities and on roads employs the same principle of observation, so that the citizen is never entirely sure whether or not they are being watched
Actual policing by officers of the law is a way that panopticism can be seen. Police are known to be everywhere, sometimes you see them and often times you don’t. However, for the fear of getting arrested or getting tickets, many people self-police by making sure they do not go over the speed limits posted, simple traffic laws and various other things. The reality TV show Bait Car shows people given the opportunity to steal cars without the obvious chance of being caught. Often time’s people try to take the cars and often times others do not. This is an example of the observer (police) being unverifiable and the individual being viewable. Also, on social networks and sites, people do not post or engage in certain illegal; activity because they know the government has access to things. The knowledge of knowing one is being watched, self-control comes into play, in fear of the consequences that can happen, even when one is not being blatantly watched, they know there is still a chance of being seen. Self-regulation is events that examines and encourages the people to adapt and adjust themselves with the changes occurring in their surroundings. Therefore, the panopticism also forces the people for the self-regulation and panopticism acts as metaphor for this kind of power
In modern day society panopticism can be found in nearly any institution. Panopticism has been existing in our society without any dispute. In fact, panopticism may not be such a bad thing. According to Focault, society needs to have some control and this may be true. Panopticism is an example of disciplinary power, used to enforce others. Without it, society could be a grave danger to itself and the individual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWoojSYoZ-8