Portfolio Task 1- Panopticism

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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Panopticism has expanded into almost every corner of modern society since the days of it's inception. We live in a disciplinarian age, where public sectors and buildings are regulated and controlled by architectural layout and hidden close circuit television. "He is seen, but he does not see". In a working environment, in schools and even as pedestrians, we self regulate under the acknowledgement that we're under surveillance.

As individuals, we are 'tuned' to conform to the rules of society at fear of being scrutinized and punished by the omnipresent observation,“permanent visibility assures the automatic functioning of power”. However we can never guarantee we, as individuals, are being watched at any given moment so our actions are controlled via self discipline.

Examples of panopticism can be acknowledged in everyday life. Supermarkets for example specialise in regulated control of masses of consumers. “The panoptic mechanism arranges spatial unities that make it possible to see constantly and to recognize immediately”, the layouts are almost always square or rectangular, with designated entrances and exits,vivid lighting and strategically placed CCTV on high ceilings. Stores also set the shelving units and fridge/freezers out in a grid like system so consumers proceed around at constant 90 degree angles.

The Panopticon structure let supervisors observe captives without being seen “by the affect of back lighting, one can observe from the tower, standing out precisely against the light'. The design of the CCTV camera is akin to that of the panoptic observatory, where we can assume that we're being watched but can't necessarily tell due to the dark translucent dome placed over the ceiling mounted cameras.

We conform to the supermarket environment, and under such visibility and surveillance we subject ourselves to the power overhead. This not only applies to consumers, but staff too. Both sets of individuals will be monitored for 'rule deviation' and work rate, “visibility is a trick” so staff are less likely to communicate, as are shoppers. Whether this amount of exposure is ethical, remains in debate. First and foremost, apparently, surveillance is for our safety. However, the balance seems to sway in that of regulation. Consumers are more likely to maintain discipline and avoid theft, than a parent to feel safe without their children within a yard of them.