Lecture one; Panopticism.

Institutions and institutional power. 

- The panopticon proposed in 1791. 

- Has the same principles of control as our society. 

- Michel Foucault (1926 - 1984) wrote about power and was a social theorist. 

- Madness and civilisation. 

- Discipline and punish: the birth of the prison. 

- The 'mad' were once socially accepted until about the 1600's. 

- Houses of correction were created to curb unemployment and idleness. Anyone who couldn't work was placed here and made to work by threat. The 'mad' corrupted the sane so more specialist institutions were created. 

- Thus came the birth of the asylum - the sane and insane were separated. They were treated like children and given rewards for good behaviour. This was a form of social control. 

- There become new forms of knowledge eg. psychology so technically the problem could be passed over to specialist people. 

- People were humiliated (the pillory) to show others that there are consequences for their actions. 

- The was a shift from physical punishment to mental 'control'. 

The panopticon

Traditional layout

The prisoners view

- The design of the Panopticon could be multi-functional eg. a school, hospital and prison. 

- The Tate britain is a Panopticon. 

- The layout of it meant that prisoners were taught to act a certain way due to the fact they could be being constantly watched so this was implanted on their mind which meant they would always behave well. It became a form of mental correction because eventually prisoners would just behave perfectly with this constant view that they were being watched. 

- It allows scrutiny. 

- It allows the supervisor to experiment on subjects. 

- Aims to make the prisoners productive. 

- Reforms the prisoners. 

- Helps treat patients. 

- Helps instruct school children. 

Thus was born

Panopticism... A NEW MODE OF POWER.

- The Panopticon is a model of how society organises power. 

- The open plan office is an example as you can constantly be surveyed by your boss. 

- Panopticism is you modifying your own behaviour based on the environment you are in. 

- Modern bars are usually open plan now because these spaces are easier control based again on the fact you can always be seen. 

- The library in the Parkinson building of Leeds uni is the same because a library is usually a controlled place. 

- Security cameras are more successful when visible because people tend to act a certain way due to the fact they know they are being watched. 

- We become 'docile bodies' - self monitoring, self correcting, obedient bodies. 

- Power is a relationship in which there can be resistance.