Discipline And Punish Foucault Analysis

Name: Javida Mohammad Sediq Dep: Anthropology Response Letter 11/15/17 “Discipline and Punish” According to Foucault discipline and punish is a history of the modern penal system. Foucault pursues to study punishment in its social background and to observe how changing power relations affected punishment. He begins by studying the situation before the eighteenth century when public execution and physical punishment were main punishments, and torture was part of most criminal inquiries. As he mentions in the text that punishment was formal and directed at the prisoner 's body.

The inmates were clearly visible but could not view the guards inside the tower. The Panopticom has become the principal model or metaphor for analysing surveillance. A French philosopher names Michael Foucault developed a social theory called Panopticism from

The panopticon is a circular-like prison that facilitate the surveillance process. The panopticon allowed Foucault to explain the Power/Knowledge relationship and the actions of individuals in a disciplinary context. In order to understand the change in people’s behavior, he related the different actions of the observer and the observee (Foucault, 1977). The surveillance lead to the acceptance of the rules by the individuals being watched because they always act as someone is watching them even if this assumption can be wrong. On the other hand, Foucault focused also on the observer side to explain the Power/Knowledge relationship.

Kruhlyakov 1  Oleksandr Kruhlyakov  Mrs. Leger  English 101  12/21/2017  Panopticism in 1984  The totalitarian society depicted in George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, imitates the constant, interpersonal surveillance and its effects as defined by Michel Foucault’s concept of Panopticism. Panopticism is a social theory named after the Panopticon, originally developed by French philosopher Foucault in his book, Discipline and Punish. Jeremy Bentham proposed the panopticon as a circular building with an observation tower in the center of an open space surrounded by an outer wall. This wall would contain cells for occupants.

Every human society no matter how primitive or complex must have a power structure. Yet there can be many ways in, which power and authority are shared or sometimes not shared at all. Other the centuries there have been a variety of theories and systems to identify plus when possible implement the proper role of power and authority. There are instances of power and authority evolving over time as well as attempts to introduce ideal or utopian power structures. Concepts about the wielding and distribution of power have certainly altered over the centuries though not always in a progressive or democratic way.

Dystopian Fiction Becomes a Reality: Education Imposing a Lack of Creativity by Monotonous Memorization A society’s ability to consistently change laws to better suit its citizens is what shapes the structure of a community and keeps it feeling valued. Unfortunately, dictating rulers immerse their citizens under strict laws, while making no enhancement in their “perfect” society. This oppression is seen in George Orwell’s 1984, where a Party scrutinizes actions of people, while under the rule of a superior entity named Big Brother.

Power, craved by most, looked down upon by others. Although it is taken advantage of, ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’ quoted William Shakespeare. As abuse of power comes into play, injustice through fear and violence results; leading to a lack of freedom and control of individuality. Through a totalitarian governments abuse of power, fear is forced among society and manipulates any mass into obeying to their rules.

Michel Foucault: Discipline and Punishment Crime is inevitable in society, whether it be in traditional societies or in modern society. However, with an action, there always has to be a consequence, however when breaking the law, the consequences are rather bad, and sometimes harsh. This is called punishment. Discipline is enforcing acceptable patterns of behaviour and teaching obedience. In an excerpt called Discipline and Punish, contemporary theorist Michael Foucault explains these two concepts.

The variety of these relationships is large, ranging from school and the workplace to government. While the goal of surveillance in the classroom is instilling order to facilitate learning, it forces the students into acting as the teacher wishes. In this paper, I will use Michel Foucault’s “Panopticism” to demonstrate how classroom surveillance in grade school creates a society in which obedience is expected.

This essay is written by a columnist, in order to discuss the situation of the prison system and persuade audiences to consider bring back flogging in order to replace jail. Jacoby is serious about his point of view, which may not be unbreakable nor convincing, but the fact that such a person wrote about replacing a system is worth to think over. Cages may work for animals and pets, but how do those iron bars make a criminal become a good person again? What can we do about it if a criminal continue his crime behavior in jail without supervision? Send him to another jail?

Lastly is the French philosopher, Michel Foucault. In his book, Discipline and Punish, Foucault offers a different view on the evolution of state punishment. The modern view of our punishment system is that it is more humane compared to the past where criminals were executed in public squares, but Foucault disagrees with this. He said that power today looks kind, but actually it isn’t, whereas in the past it was clearly shown as barbaric. The modern prison system becomes a rehabilitation - a surveillance in the production of docile bodies. In addition to that, it happens behind locked bars, not in the public spectacle, in which no one could no longer witness, and thus, defy state power. Because of this, he claims that the modern prison system is still barbaric – a wolf in a sheep’s clothing.

By using strong supporting arguments In the essay entitled, Everyone is Watching You, by Nadine Strossen. Strossen’s goal in the essay is to influence her readers that surveillance cameras do more damage than good, and that something needs to be done to eliminate them. Her controversy on this matter was very vigorous, Strossen convincingly argues that surveillance cameras are an atrocious idea and needs to be stopped. She does a satisfying job of catering to her viewers in her essay. With a topic that pertains to everybody, she takes the opportunity to use this to her convenience.

Nowadays, we live in a democratic state, in which we can express ourselves, to act and to protest if we do not comply with the laws. We can move freely, without being anxious that we will be denounced to the police for breaking the rules. In ‘1984’ by George Orwell the situation is different: Big Brother is watching you, the Thought Police could be ubiquitous, even your children accuse you.

The party in the book inspires their citizens to obey the party by monitoring , limiting consciousness, and torturing them. Totalitarian government monitors its citizens so they don’t rebel. The three most useful ways to monitor them are to use telescreen, slogans, and Thought Police. Telescreen monitors citizens 24/7 and inspires fear.

Yet, and this is what Foucault tries to show through compelling examples, these systems often remain hidden or unnoticed, precisely because they are found in the fibres of daily life, which is what makes them so powerful and ubiquitous. S. 16 Panopticon today? Through the constant revelations of surveillance and data collection since the seventies (ECHELON) it still appears on the surface that we are not aware of this surveillance. A modified version of Zizeks reversal of Marx “They do not know it, but they are doing it” becomes applicable here “They know very well that they are under surveillance, yet act as if they don’t know”.