Panopticism: A Failing Disciplinary System

Panopticism: A Failing Disciplinary System In his 1975 essay Panopticism, author Michel Foucault discusses the effects that the manipulation of power and discipline ultimately has on society. As a philosophical historian and observer of human relations, his work focused on the dominant knowledge of disciplinary systems and practices by tracking their historical era, social context, and nature of power they held in society. Foucault’s belief that our society is not one of spectacle but of great surveillance creates a better understanding of todays' social and economic structures. In his view, power and knowledge come from observing others however only when done fairly. The act of societal conditioning and discipline is criticized by many …show more content…
First there is a "strict spatial partitioning" which involves the closing of the town and dividing of it into quarters. There is the patrolman assigned to each street who not only monitors it but also locks up every house on this street from the outside when the quarantine begins. To get supplies to each house there are wooden canals set up between the streets to distribute the residents equal rations of bread and wine "thus allowing each person to receive his ration without communicating with the suppliers and other residents." Only the attendants, patrolman, and guards are allowed to be on the streets. Not following these strict disciplinary guidelines would result in the punishment of death. These rules were placed in this town in order to rid it of disease and instill fear in the townspeople. This fear of doing wrong came under the constant surveillance of the officials and even when they weren't being watched, that fear was ever-present in their minds. This strict guarding is to ensure the obedience of the townspeople and the absolute power of the officials as well as to observe their every move. Every day the patrolman goes to the street he isassigned to, and calls the inhabitants to the window of each house and takes attendance. If they do not appear at the window at the time of roll call they are either assumed to be sick or …show more content…
At the beginning of the quarantine, the name, age and sex of each individual are recorded. Every observation made such as deaths, illnesses, complaints, and irregularities were recorded and reported back to the entire group of officials. The arbiter would have complete control over any outside communication that would be made with the townspeople. They selected one doctor whom they trust to treat the patients and no one else was permitted to visit a sick person without a written note to prevent concealing and dealing with the sick without the knowledge of the arbiter. The registration is passed through the same level of hierarchy, which makes every decision based on it. A few days after the beginning of the quarantine the purifying process begins. One house at a time, all the inhabitants evacuate the for the cleaning to begin. Each individual had their designated place "in which the slightest movements are supervised" and "all events are recorded." This system of power is exercised according to the highest figure in power, in which each individual is constantly located, monitored, and