Panopticon

The Art of Paranoia 

[ijaneh-blog]

The system of discipline and punishment is altered using the structure of the panopticon as well as Foucault’s based theory of panopticism . The prison tower acts as a model, looking into the power of the authority(prison guards), whereas panopticism is a concept claiming that we can be our own guards through means of paranoia.This continues to exist in the outside world as well as in the media.

[ijaneh-blog]

Police body cameras make a perfect example of modern day panopticism. This method becomes a source of security for citizens and power for the police. The use of force decreases and discipline increases along with the use of such cameras due to the possibility of recording and tracking.

[ijaneh-blog]

In retail stores and supermarkets, most customers refrain from illegal activities, such as stealing. This is due to the security camera overlooking their every move, tracking shopping habits. Whether a man is staring directly at the screen or not, the constant fear of getting caught creates a safe environment for everyone.

[ijaneh-blog]

Any form of social media in today’s society illustrates Foucault’s panopticism. People are constantly posting and adding more information about their lives on the Internet, allowing others to see. Unaware of who may be watching,without any supervision, they are still cautious of the content. 

[ijaneh-blog]

The power of surveillance is visible in modern day television, as well. Spanning 6 seasons, the island on Lost is an accurate analogy of the panopticon. These stranded survivors are not aware that they are being watched by “the others”.The show’s use of the panopticon is further evidenced by episode 7 of season 5, which is titled “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”.