In
the final part of "Panopticism" Foucault argues that the mechanisms
of discipline which have formed within certain institutions like prisons and
hospitals have expanded outside of them and into society at large. This
disciplinary or normalizing society is the foundation of modern panopticism. Foucault goes back to Jeremy Bentham's idea of the "Panopticon" - a model
structure for a jail with a watch tower in its center and separate cells around
it.
Prisoners in the Panopticon jail can't see each other or the guard, but the
guard can see everybody and in fact does not even have to be there in order to
discipline the prisoners.
Both
Bentham and Foucault say that the great advantage of the panopticon is its efficiency.
The organization of space allows for firm control with small efforts (you only
need one guard to supervise many prisoners, and maybe even no guards). The prisoner,
not knowing if he is being watched or not, must at all times act as if he is
being watched by the guard and in time he himself becomes his own guard. This
type of power is for Foucault long lasting, anonymous and highly disciplinary.
The Panopticon is also an instrument for the transformation of individuals
since it allows the system to observe, document and study them (see previous
summaries of Foucault's "Panopticism", links below).
Foucault
says that Bentham's Panopticon is not a singular architectural model but rather
a paradigmatic case of a technology of power which he calls, after Bentham's
model, Panopticism. Panopticism organizes (social) space and individuals within
it in order to make it more efficient and productive while gaining and retaining
cooperation of subjects. Foucault argues that Panopticism as a technology of
discipline moved out of prisons and hospitals to schools and even the whole
market economy which becomes a "disciplinary society".
Panopticism / Foucault - summary
Part 1:Foucault's notion of discipline
Part 2: discipline and the production of individuals
Part 3: human sciences
Part 4: disciplinary society
Foucault's panopticism explained
More on and by Foucault:
Foucault - "Of Other Spaces" - summary
Foucault's concept of discourse
Foucault on power and knowledge
technology of power
Panopticism / Foucault - summary
Part 1:Foucault's notion of discipline
Part 2: discipline and the production of individuals
Part 3: human sciences
Part 4: disciplinary society
Foucault's panopticism explained
More on and by Foucault:
Foucault - "Of Other Spaces" - summary
Foucault's concept of discourse
Foucault on power and knowledge
technology of power