An Indepth Look at Subjectivity and Panopticism.

1015 Words3 Pages

Panopticism, as defined by Michel Foucault in his book Discipline and Punish, is (as proposed by Jeremy Bentham) a circular building with an observation tower in the centre of an open space surrounded by an outer wall. The idea behind this social theory that subjects, being watched by an upper power, always have either complete freedom or none at all. How can they have both you might ask? The subjects cannot see if someone is or isn’t watching them, therefore they should always act at there best. It is almost as if they are on the bad side of a double sided mirror,
This gives a whole new view to being a subject. It isn’t being an observed person in a little Psychology experiment as much as it is never knowing who is watching you or what fate the “upper hand” may have in store for them. Being a subject, or “subjectivity” if you will, is more than just being watched. It puts you in a position that you are no longer an individual, but rather an object that is placed under specific conditions for the sole purpose of the experience. To many people, this theory could lead their lives and what they do in it for fear that the upper power.
If we look at the beliefs of Christianity, its subjects believe that God will see something that is frowned upon thus closing their chance at heaven upon becoming deceased, or even lead to certain consequences in the near future known as karma. Though it is not proven that there is a heaven or God, many hold strong to their beliefs on the subject, though they cannot see said upper hand.. Due to the belief that God is watching, his believers know that committing sin (such as adultery and wrath) is such a move that could potentially be “frowned upon.” However, they also have the choice of going to confe...

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...er anyone could have basically “playing God” as it were in Chuck Jones’ “Duck Amuck.” He would also believe that Walt Kowalski used subjectivity to his advantage in getting what he wanted, (even if they were just little chores at times) and in turn made an all in the process out of Thao, thus increasing his power. Knowledge is the basis of all power, and when the subjects are blinded as to who has the power, they have no way of stopping it.

Works Cited

Eastwood, Clint, dir. Gran Torino. Warner Bros., 2008. Film. 30 Mar 2014.

Foucault, Michel. "Panopticism." Discipline and Punish. (1975): n. page. Print.

Giroux, Susan Searls, and Jeffrey Nealon. "Subjectivity."Theory Toolbox: Critical Concepts for the
Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences. (2011): n. page. Print.

Jones, Charles M., dir. "Duck Amuck." Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures: 28 Feb 1953.
Television.

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