BF199 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Panopticism
Document Summary
Foucault believes that knowledge is being controlled in society by systems of power. Perhaps we (cid:373)ight repla(cid:272)e k(cid:374)o(cid:449)ledge (cid:449)ith (cid:862)i(cid:374)for(cid:373)atio(cid:374). (cid:863) Enlightened cultures believe that knowledge is something agreed to by rational beings. We do not get to decide this truth, we simply accept it. Truth (knowledge) is administered through power systems. Fou(cid:272)ault"s (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)er(cid:374) is (cid:449)ith the s(cid:455)ste(cid:373)s i(cid:374) pla(cid:272)e that tea(cid:272)h us (cid:1006)+(cid:1006)=(cid:1008) Bei(cid:374)g (cid:862)politi(cid:272)all(cid:455) (cid:272)orre(cid:272)t(cid:863) (cid:448)er(cid:455) (cid:373)u(cid:272)h (cid:272)o(cid:374)ditio(cid:374)s ho(cid:449) (cid:1006)+(cid:1007)=(cid:1008) is e(cid:454)a(cid:373)i(cid:374)ed. There is a whole new disciplinary matrix, according to foucault. The system is so vast and controlling that it decides truth. Foucault"s argu(cid:373)e(cid:374)t: experts (those with power) control not only our external lives but our sense of self. In this famous text, panopticism, foucault is describing the historical moment in which he sees the emergence of a new kind of power, which he calls discipline. It is a feeling that someone is watching you. The purpose is that administrators can see you.
