According to Gonzaga University, Panopticism is defined as a “kind of internal surveillance [where] the watches ceases to be external to the watched”. In today’s society, panopticism has been embedded into our society in various ways such as through the advancement of surveillance technologies especially within public spaces and within Continue reading
Aristocracy is a type of government where a small group of wealthy and privileged people, often called aristocrats or nobles, hold the power and make decisions for everyone else. Timocracy is a type of government where power is based on a person’s honor and military service. Oligarchy is a type Continue reading
Dystopia and utopia represent polar opposites in societal visions. A dystopia is characterized by oppression, inequality, and suffering, often governed by totalitarian regimes, environmental degradation, and societal decay. In contrast, a utopia embodies harmony, equality, and prosperity, with just governance, sustainable practices, and societal well-being. In most dystopian societies citizens Continue reading
Panopticism entails the perception of being observed, compelling adherence to societal norms. It is a system in which the belief that we are being watched forces us to behave “properly”. This idea was formulated by French historian and philosopher Michel Foucault. He is the well-known author of Discipline and Punish: The Birth Continue reading
The panopticon is a circular prison structure that contains six floors that house inmates and an opaque cylinder interior where guards remain. With this structure, the inmates are constantly unaware when exactly they are being surveilled and are expected to act as though the surveillance is incessant. This structure led Continue reading
In relation to Foucault’s perspective of panopticism, our modern society uses digital platforms such as Google, Bing, Instagram, Facebook, and many more platforms as a way to force people to behave properly. Posting or searching for certain content can flag or alert the government of improper usage of said platforms. Continue reading
The idea of panopticism, proposed by French philosopher Michel Foucault, enforces surveillance and the idea of punishment, rather than punishment itself. It is an idea that shifts away from a single authority figure, like a king or queen, and shifts to a more group-based system. The control of the population Continue reading
Throughout the world, nations are governed by many greatly diverse forms of government that dictate the everyday lives of their citizens. These forms of government can include monarchs, oligarchy, democracy, totalitarianism, and even communism. An ideal government protects its citizen’s rights, promotes social welfare, creates laws that improve one’s way Continue reading
Panopticism is described as a system in which the belief that we are being watched forces us to behave properly. This is a concept created by French philosopher, Michel Foucault based on the panopticon, created by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham to demonstrate how the concept of surveillance can alter the Continue reading
As we know, panopticism is a system in which the belief that we are being watched forces us to behave “properly.” Based on my own understanding of Foucault’s discussion of panopticism, I think one way in which panopticism has been embedded in our society is through the use of surveillance Continue reading
