The circle of jail cells encircling a central observation tower, which serves as a stark manifestation of the panopticon's disciplinary ideal, is a menacing emblem of control. The guard can see into every cell from his commanding vantage point, while the prisoners are still unable to see directly into the seat of authority. The prisoners are left in the dark about whether they are constantly being watched, which fosters a unique sense of uneasiness. Michel Foucault, a well-known philosopher, vehemently opposed the panopticon, contending that its ultimate goal is to turn inmates into watchful observers, assuring the smooth operation of power through a complex web of automatic control. He described this pernicious form of confinement as a "cruel, ingenious cage" in his incisive analysis. The panopticon, where individuals are compelled to comply with their employer's rules during their assigned work hours by their voluntary enrollment into employment contracts, is a prime example of how such awareness of people endows those with information with a powerful influence. The modern panopticon, social media, is a virtual space where people freely give away their private information, their thoughts, and their lives, subjecting themselves to a state of constant visibility. As we navigate the digital landscape today, we find a startling parallel. The deep impact of the panopticon, a relentless force that fosters conscious and ongoing visibility within the prisoner and so ensures the automatic functioning of power, is underscored by Foucault's profound insights, which are immortalized in his seminal work Discipline and Punish.
A circle of jail cells encircling a central observation tower symbolizes the panopticon's disciplinary idea. The guard can see every cell and inmate from the tower, but the prisoners are unable to peer into it. Nobody incarcerated won't ever be aware if they are being watched.
French philosopher Michel Foucault was a strident opponent of the panopticon. He asserted that the panopticon's ultimate goal is to turn the prisoners into aware watchers. By doing this, automatic power operation is ensured. A "cruel, ingenious cage" is how he described this sort of captivity.
Knowing something about a person or group of people gives you the power to influence them. A panopticon is an instance when "individuals voluntarily enter into employment contracts and are therefore obligated to do during their working time as their employer demands."
Social media is the modern equivalent of a virtual Panopticon.
In his book Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault claims that "the major effect of the Panopticon" is to "induce in the prisoner a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power."
The panopticon is a representation of disciplinary control that consists of a circle of prison cells encircling a central observation tower. Every cell is visible to the guard, but no prisoner has access to the executive office. The panopticon, which Michel Foucault condemned, converts prisoners into vigilant watchmen and ensures automatic control. In the modern equivalent of a panopticon, people use social media to expose their lives, ideas, and private information to public scrutiny. In his book Discipline and Punish, Foucault immortalizes his ideas and emphasizes the panopticon's effects on creating a condition of constant visibility and the automatic operation of the authority.
