Choose an example of one aspect of contemporary culture that is, in your opinion, panoptic. Write an explanation of this, in approximately 200-300 words, employing key Foucauldian language, such as 'Docile Bodies' or 'self-regulation, and using not less than 5 quotes from the text 'Panopticism' in Thomas, J. (2000) 'Reading Images', NY, Palgrave McMillan.
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One brand new concept that has been integrated into people's lives in the past 10 years is social networking. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and in the past MySpace, give the individual a stage in which to act on and an audience to perform to. Users have the ability to create perfect, idealistic versions of themselves to reflect what their viewers want to see.
When referring to the Panopticon, created by Jeremy Bantham, Foucault explains the concept as "so many small theatres, in which each actor is alone, perfectly individualised and constantly visible." This describes modern social networking perfectly: each individual is alone, a small part of the big structure.
"He is seen, but he does not see" reflects upon the user being watched, but never knowing if they're being observed at any one time. This forces them to act in a certain way, to filter their profiles to be acceptable, in the event of being seen.
"The prisoner should be constantly observed by an inspector, for what matters is that he knows himself to be observed." Knowing that all can see makes the user behave in the way that is expected of them.
"No more bars, no more chains, no more heavy locks." The user is free to do whatever he or she wants, there are no limitations, but the majority choose to act in a regulated fashion.
"A system of permanent registration." Each post is registered, and permanently monitored.
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