SOSC 2350 : Focault.doc

• School: York University
• Department: Social Science
• Course: SOSC 2350
• Professor: Dena Demos

Document Summary

Concept of childhood originates in 18th century liberal thinking from europe. Foucault links this period with the emergence of a new form of power, which he associated with new forms of controls. The tools that powe is exercised through are the disciplines such as psychology and education. According to foucault, control starts to be internalized and is exercised through surveillance, rather than force. While old forms of concentrated power are in the hands of a few, new forms of power are more complex and require interactions of all members of society. Old power depended on the idea of public space and space authority (juridical power) here the new power operates through universal surveillance. Power exercised in this way isn"t public, but it"s tools are. The tools are the disciplines such as psychology and education. The reconceptualization of childhood occurs to that cildren were no longer controlled through corporal punishment, instead you watch them.