Foucault's Panopticon

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Foucault begins to describe what was done in the 17th century to take precaution against the plague. People were locked inside their homes and given rations of food until the end of the plague. Inspections, registrations and constant purification processes were carried out to create a pure community and disciplined society. These are the two ways of exercising power over man. This was a time of separating anything out of the norm from society. Foucault moves on to Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon. The Panopticon is a large circular building with a tower in the center. The tower has wide windows with a backlight that allows anyone in the tower to observe without being seen. Quoted from the book best “He is seen, but he does not see: he is the object

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