Surveillance Society: Navigating the Panoptic Web

In today’s digital age, the omnipresence of surveillance has become deeply ingrained in our societal fabric, echoing Michel Foucault’s concept of panopticism. Panopticism, as elucidated by Foucault, posits that the mere perception of being watched induces individuals to conform to societal norms and behave in a manner deemed “appropriate.” This Continue reading

Is it Safety or Control?

A Panopticon’s major effect is to “induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power.”   From the reading material, Foucault stressed the importance, convenience, and unique qualities of a panopticon. Panopticons offer an efficient and effective method for overseeing a prison with Continue reading

Who is Watching?

When I walk down the street, one of the main things I will find on buildings or telephone poles is a camera. Who is watching this footage? Will this footage ever be used for something? Is my person known and monitored by some secret agent in an office building? Surveillance Continue reading

Foucaults understanding

Based on my understanding of Foucault’s discussion of panopticism, one way in which panopticism has been embedded in our society is through online surveillance. Our activity online is being monitored constantly. They’re watching things like what we browse on the internet, they see the interactions that we make while we’re Continue reading

BLOG POST 5

The Panopticon is represented in our society by the everlasting nature of the internet. The internet, in a way, sees all and remembers all. At all times, there is a chance that someone might record you and that image or video will live on forever on the internet. One is Continue reading

Constantly Being Watched

Panopticism, a term coined by French philosopher Michel Foucault, delves into how surveillance and the perception of being watched shape our behavior and social structures. Today, this concept is alive and well in our society, largely thanks to the proliferation of surveillance technologies and practices. Walk down any street, and Continue reading

Is Foucault Right?

Panopticism can be seen in the distribution and excessive use of surveillance technology in public spaces and online environments in our modern society. The panopticon is the idea that people change their behavior when they believe they are being watched. This self-regulation creates a sense of discipline, where people conform Continue reading

Is Panopticism Real?

The Panopticon was an ideal prison where all prisoners are within view of the guards; however, the guards are not within view of the prisoners. This creates the illusion of being surveilled 24/7 by the prisoners. They never know when someone is watching, so they behave in a proper manner Continue reading