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Foucault's Panopticism

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Foucault's Panopticism
Panopticism meaning a certain view point from an all seeing eye seems to be the way we as a people, although we may not know it are being seen. Within every building, social class, or individual there is a certain type of behavior permitted and if that behavior is not met with what is “right” there is discipline to be handed out. Maybe the world as we know it is under one big microscope and every moment of a regular citizens life is carefully observed by a greater power than themselves. Author Michel Foucault of the essay “Panopticism” discusses this problem of power and discipline and how we see it in our every day social society.
Michael Foucault begins his discussion by talking about a place where militia rules over the citizens and there …show more content…
“Bentham’s panopticon is the architectural figure of this composition” (Foucault 285). The panopticon’s job “In short reverses the principle of the dungeon; or rather of its three functions- to enclose, to deprive of light, and to hide- it preserves only the first and eliminates the other two”(Foucault 286). The diagram of this containment structure seems to show that the prisoner is completely visible by the authority at hand but the prisoner himself cannot see if the authority is watching him at all times. This is a tremendous example of power because it shows that if one person loses any senses in this case sight, and another person has that sense available it could make you weak thus giving the power to the higher authority. Foucault shows the reader how this structure is used in today’s jail cells stated the “Interior of the penitentiary at Stateville, United States, twentieth century” (Foucault …show more content…
Knowledge is power, and without rule there is chaos. This type of data collecting and power is seen in everyday life buildings such as a hospital, school, or prison (Foucault 293). In these places you are observed and are expected to act accordingly to the rules inside of that confinement and if not are either placed in a mental hospital, detention, or solitary confinement. “Power of mind over mind” is used in all of these structures because without any other type of discipline besides confinement you will not be able to think rationally (Foucault 293). Power is obtained because with nothing to do but be confined in a small area you are bound to follow rules and just accept where you are until further
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