Comparing Bentham's Panopticon To Disney World

From the Panopticon to Disney World it’s an essay that associates the ethical discipline denoted in Bentham's Panopticon with instrumental self-control manifested in the crowd mechanisms of Disney World; the increasingly well-organized, systematic, excessive, and control-oriented systems of it and how voluntary control is important in maintaining the order. It also contrasts Orwell's and Huxley's visions of state control.

Text and Translation
The text begins describing the most typical aspects of the theme park and how everyone at some point have dream to visit Disney world from small children to adults, Disney it’s the destination for many exciting attractions that appeal to a big range of audiences. The authors exalt the different thematic parks that are next to each other and fairly easy is to get around,

but they emphasis that not everything it’s as smooth as it seems. The daily operation of the park goes beyond what meets the eye, and the authors provide many examples of the integration of control structures and activities with other functions at the park.
According to the authors the structures designed to ensure disciplined behavior starts the minute you arrive in the park. To start visitors are given endless instruction to reduce chaos, this shows people the proper way to behave while on the park, employees guide crowds through an ordered and safe visit always greeting the guest with a smile on their faces which as the author implies serves as a foundation for much Disney’s success at making people feel welcome and overall making it an unforgettable experience, this friendly interaction contributes to the success of the company and it also avoids possible conflicts while maintaining an excellent customer service. The authors also mention how the park prove prompt and safe shuttles throughout different points within the parks and that many exhibitions are only viewed through riding in vehicle supply by Disney, as you ride the park’s transportation you are constantly reminded of things you shouldn’t do in order to avoid getting harm and crowd cooperation is expected at all times. An important part is keeping the family together to ensure parents would look after their kids, as the author states. Another way that Disney implements to ensure social control are many physical obstructions that limit the choices that people can make about where to walk; such as fountains, environmental features landscaping and even signs that direct the crowds to where they specifically want them to go. People are seduced to comply with the social norms set because they are continuously reminded that are for they own protection, fundamental information is given through means such as speaker’s implanted in seats and insignias to ensure a good day. Visitors are continually under intense observation by employees but discipline is based on crow collaboration, which in turn stems from the visitor’s longing to receive the benefits such as riding their favorite roller-coaster or even seeing their favorite Disney character. People, despite the apparent lack of freedom, stay within permitted limits for those who conform to the behavioral requirements this is a small price to pay.
Breaking the park rules could result in expulsion from the park, the author shares a brief anecdote, when he and his daughter visited the park, according to the author during the trip his kid got a wound on her foot making it hard for her to walk, she proceeded to remover her footwear and immediately after was approach by security personnel that advise her to put her shoes back on or she would have to be ask to leave, the author then stated that Disney’s policy is to ensure customers’ safety and that it was best for his daughter if she was allow to walk shoeless even if that meant walking on the sidewalks, the security insisted that failure to abide by the rules would result in removal from the park and that they would have to be instantly escorted out.

Disney is embodied with images of magic, fun and freedom, visitors are encouraged to engage even participate in production during their visits, many unaware of the constant inspection they are under. Control is discreet and hidden, structures and activities have other purposes which are emphasized so that is overshadowed which leads visitors to believe the establishment care, by perpetuating this

discipline.
Another essential aspect of the park’s features are designated picture centers, each spot aims to capture that magical world and the positive representation that constitutes the ideological idea of the park, and excludes anything unappealing to ensure that the Disney vision is properly captured, at these picture spots you get to meet the characters of Disney, everything is so precise. While waiting in line its not fun at all customers are often reminded of the fun about to come these long lines foster a sense of solidarity, everyone’s looking to achieve the same results, the crowd's desire to obtain the benefits Disney has to offer, as the author states “the source of Disney Productions’ power rests both in the physical coercion it can bring to bear and in its capacity induce cooperation by depriving visitors of a resource that they value” (Shearing & Stenning 2008: 358).
Moreover, the authors argue for a comparison between Disney and a panopticon, that is basically a prison system that implements surveillance in order to control the incarcerated, according to the author the both are similar but varies in that Disney’s way to keep the peace is imperceptible and masked in fun but the real reason is corporate gain.