The theory of ‘Panopticism’ can be seen in
practice throughout contemporary society. A French philosopher named Michel
Foucault birthed this theory when he associated a form of social control with a
piece of institutional architecture designed by John Bentham that aimed to
control the inmates or patients by the notion of constant surveillance. This
structure was named the ‘Panopticon’. The foundations of this theory lie in the
link between the threat of being constantly watched and good behavior. An example
of this social control can be seen in any modern day shopping centre.
‘Visibility is a trap’ (Foucault, 1975).
When visiting a shopping centre we are more than likely visible via CCTV and
security from before we enter to after we’ve left. This is no secret. And it is
no secret for a good reason. If we were not aware of this surveillance we could
not be affected by it, and more importantly, controlled by it. It is difficult
not to alter our behaviour to one which we know is acceptable by the surveyors if
we know or at least think that these surveyors are presently watching us. The
CCTV control room bears resemblance to the observation tower in Bentham’s
Panopitcon. We are aware and can constantly see the cameras, however we can
never be sure if someone is watching the screen we are visible on. Foucault
describes this as ‘Unverifiable: the inmate must never know whether he is being
looked at at any one moment; but he must be sure that he may always be so’
(Foucault, 1975).
This is how what he calls the ‘docile body’
is created
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