100 Word piece of analytical writing on the Panoptic Theory
The theory of Panopticism can be seen in modern day life in most places from bars to the bus station. How Foucault describes "... then the plague gave rise to disciplinary projects," (Foucault, 1975) one particular example which is thought of as being beneficial but may subconsciously create a mental discipline, is the Hospital. In comparison to the Panopticon designed to regulate behavior through segmented space and constant observation, the Hospital environment could be viewed as very similar. Where Michel Foucault describes the Panopticon to the dungeon space he describes it as ," Full lighting and the eye of a supervisor capture better than darkness, which ultimately protected. Visibility is a trap." (Foucault, 1975) The open plan environment illustrates this perfectly allowing every action to be viewed even though it may be not, even cubicles create an alienation and categorization of people the way wards are ordered and with notations on the bottom of every patient's bed, much like the cells of the Panopticon. Most hospitals now also have cameras in corridors and rooms such as the reception, not only this but there are instructions everywhere dictating where to go, what to see and what to do. "...in which all events are recorded, in which and uninterrupted work of writing links the centre and periphery, in which power is exercised without division, according to a continuous hierarchical figure, in which each individual is constantly located, examined and distributed among the living beings, the sick and the dead - all this constitutes a compact model of the disciplinary mechanism." (Foucault, 1975) dictates how through this discipline from chaos creates an order of things, a sterile environment which is designed to help people, but also disciplines their behavior. Creating all in all what Foucault describes as a ,"Utopia of the perfectly governed city." (Foucault, 1975)
Bibliography
Foucault, M (1975) 'Panopticism'
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