The Panopticon

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The Panopticon

There have been , since the time of the Enlightenment, two distinct models for disciplinary institutions. Both of these models may be seen in the form of prisons. The contemporary ideal of the institutions derives its form from Bentham's Panopticon. In the period shortly following the age of Enlightenment, Bentham, an economist by trade, began to critically evaluate the disciplinary institutions of the day. Seeing that the model of the prison could be characterized as a form of discipline-blockade, he set out to improve the functionality of the prison as well as other institutions. Being an economist, Bentham saw that these institutions were not functionally productive. In describing the discipline blockade form Michel Foucault writes that it is, "turned inwards towards negative functions: arresting evil, breaking communications, suspending time."(209, Discipline and Punish) Now although this may seem befitting of criminal behavior, there is another disciplinary model which, when employed, will achieve far greater results than that previously described. This new form is termed a, "discipline-mechanism" by Foucault.(209) This mechanism is not limited in practice to prisons, its widespread use can form a disciplinary society through its employment in the minute institutions of society. Its deployment will create a disciplinary society where power is not accumulated but is made functional and useful in maintaining societal discipline. However, before singing the praises of this new mechanism, it would be beneficial to analyze the pre-existing forms of discipline and how they lead to this new model. Also, it would not be wise to readily accept this panopticism without realizing the social ramifications of this n...

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..., cause some uneasy feelings in those citizens in non-disciplinary spaces where they feel autonomous. The notion of being constantly surveilled and coerced begs the question: if humans are so subtly coerced, do we really have the freedom to defy that coercion? Where has that freedom gone?

Panopticism is a very useful tool. However, when diffused into society's non-disciplinary spaces it may create tension and hostility. This is not to say that this tool should not be used but that it should possibly have boundaries and limitations. Society should not revert to the blockade to compensate, but should recognize the very subtle ways in which we are influenced in our decisions in order to make decisions which benefit our own interests and not those of the power structure.

Works Cited:

Foucault, Michel., Discipline and Punish, 1977. Random House, Inc., New York.

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