The late 17th Century was known as the 'Great Confinement'. Those who couldn't function were stigmatised; the abnormal were punished as spectacularly as possible. Not to correct, to show an example of, to humiliate. To physically show society what would happen to them if they acted the same way. To physically demonstrate power.
Houses of Correction were built to eradicate unemployment and laziness by physically forcing these people to work. Gradually, however, the Houses of Correction were seen as a gross error, in some cases corrupting people more through the physical abuse.
After the realisation of this, specialist institutions were developed - the birth of the asylum. The insane were treated like minors; given rewards for good behaviour.
This proved to be more effective than physically abusing them; society started to realise that there was a better way to control people than using brute force. A clear distinction between the sane and the insane, the normal and the abnormal, was established.
As technology developed, new forms of knowledge started to emerge (psychiatry, biology, medicine etc.) . A new outlook on human surveillance was beginning to show through, a shift from physical to mental control. Discipline is a technique.
This new approach to social control was explored by french philosopher Michel Foucault. He introduced the idea of this 'new mode of power called panopticism'.
Discipline is a ‘technology’ [aimed at] ‘how to keep someone under surveillance, how to control his conduct, his behaviour, his aptitudes, how to improve his performance, multiply his capacities, how to put him where he is most useful: that is discipline in my sense’ (Foucault,1981 in O’Farrrell 2005:102)
A view on controlling conduct - making the abnormal useful. The 'Panopticon' was a building proposed in 1791 by Jeremy Bentham. Designed in a circular format with a tower placed in the middle, cells would be permanently backlit and surrounding the tower, which would hide the occupants from view.
An ideal mechanism - each prisoner can see the tower, but not inside. They were permanently on display, they may have been watched at any time, but they could never know. The sense of constant surveillance had a peculiar effect - the prisoners would behave exactly as expected and mentally control themselves. The central tower didn't need to have guards at any time.
Another feature was the exclusion from other prisoners. No chance of conspiring, no other opinions, no uprising. It allowed scrutiny, it allowed experiments on subjects and made them more productive through fear of being caught out. It wasn't designed to punish, but to train.
Foucault introduced the idea of 'docile bodies'. Self-correcting, self-monitoring and obedient bodies, caused by the expectation of being observed. Acting how others want them to act, not how they would act away from view. More productive, and a better contribution to society.
Examples of panopticism in the modern age:
- Open plan office
- Lecture Theatre
- Libraries & Art Galleries
- Modern bars - open and viewable from bouncers.
- CCTV - sheer presence changes behaviour
- College technicians - have the ability to view browser history
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