Seminar #1 - Panopticism

FOUCAULT.
Panopticon - Jeremy Bentham - 1791
Psychological effect
Internalise the idea that you're always being watched / under surveillance
-Makes you behave in the way you THINK people believe you should

-Most lunatic asylums used the panoptic structure. Prisons still around with this design
-Can be found everywhere

Key features
-Seperated/isolated - can conspire/talk/relate to other there if they aren't isolated
Designed as a sort of laboratory to monitor behaviour.
- Invisibility/visibility - inmates must believe that they are permanently on view
the person viewing them must always be invisible
Central tower is there as a reminder to inmates that someone with power could be watching... this prevents people from doing things wrong through fear. 
"invisibility of power"
-Productivity - was designed to make people more productive
not go crazy...
Efficient reform of behaviour.

CCTV cameras - not panoptic if they are hidden but constantly recording / stealth recording.
When they are made visible .e.g. the yellow signs about the signs become more important than the cameras themselves.


Open plan offices - where the boss can always look over people working.
People are less likely to procrastinate.


Social networking & online media - measure yourself against people and act in a way that you think they will like.
- constantly visible to the world
- productive because people bring business to the company without realising.

Docile Bodies
-productive
-obedient
-self-regulating     self-monitor  <>  self-correct


They are created by modern disciplinary society
modern > shift from physical control > mental control 
Often spectacular & humiliating physical control...

Although panopticism is a form of mental control, it also controls the body physically.
Foucault said :
"Power is a relationship between people" A <> B
Which works both ways...

Teacher has qualification - knowledge - status allowing him to control&discipline his pupils.
> this relies on his pupils allowing this, and not resisting to his discipline.

Media - TV programs - Films.
Display perfect situations - ideals
-perfect bodies
-perfect lives etc
people blindly follow and in turn are productive in a way thats beneficial to the company.