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Panopticism

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There is No Such Thing as a Power Shortage

In his essay “Panopticism”, Michel Foucault interprets the power-dynamics ingrained in the structure of the panopticon, a self-disciplining prison built by Jeremy Bentham in the nineteenth century. Foucault investigates the functions of the panopticon and realizes that it provides the framework for many aspects of modern society. However, “ panopticism has received little attention” because its utility has been greatly diffused in the lives, to the point where its functions are not readily recognized, of every individual (Foucault 234). Foucault writes his essay in 1975, describing ways that his theory of panopticism is present within past centuries and can be directly connected with society during his time. Almost thirty-five years later, the advances in society have increased leading to greater technology such as, portable computers, cell phones, and the Internet. These developments were beyond the initial scope of Foucault, yet panopticism’s function to construct individuals effectively is endless and timeless. In modern society, there is a booming population of people of all ages utilizing social networking sites including Facebook. Although individuals on Facebook may not advertently realize the presence of panopticism, they are in fact conditioned in its function as both the observer and the observed. The panopticon is an architecturally unique prison that severs the function of a machine. In the center of the building there is a circular tower strategically placed so that the guard can effectively watch over many prisoners. It is designed ingeniously so that one-way windows enable the observer to supervise without his presence ever being recognized by the inmate. It is also important to note that, “ anyone may come and exercise in the central tower the functions of surveillance, and that, this being the case,

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