Choose an example of one aspect of contemporary culture that is, in your opinion, panoptic. Write an explanation of this, in approximately 200-300 words, employing key Foucauldian language, such as 'Docile Bodies' or 'self-regulation, and using not less than 5 quotes from the text 'Panopticism' in Thomas, J. (2000) 'Reading Images', NY, Palgrave McMillan.
Panopticism is a social theory developed by French philosopher Michel Foucault in his book ‘Discipline and Punish’ and is base on the idea of the Panopticon - a circular prison with an observation tower in the centre surrounded by an outer wall made up of cells for the incarceration of mental patients or convicts. Panoptic means something that can always be seen, that controls you. In modern day society an example of something that is panoptic is Internet Shopping and the way companies can monitor customer spending. Through a “system of permanent registration” documenting everything you buy websites like Amazon, Tesco and M&S manipulate and control your spending by sending you emails, texts, vouchers relating to the products you have bought or been browsing online. To control your spend you are lured by money off these products which you should purchase before a ‘cut-off’ date if you are to enjoy the benefit of a reduced rate these or use vouchers for other products you may be interested in and have been browsing online. Websites like Facebook also do this by showing adverts 'spam' that you will probably be interested in and which is related to your age, gender, interests or religion for instance through “The penetration of regulation into even the smallest details of everyday life”(Foucault in Thomas, 2000, p12). The shopping websites have “complete control over” what is presented to the customer. Like the panopticon the customer “is totally seen without ever seeing; in the tower, (the manufacturer or company) sees everything without being seen”. I have found it interesting to see how the Internet experiments with advertising relating to what a customer buys. “The panopticon was also a laboratory; it could be used as a machine to carry out experiments, to alter behavior, to train or correct individuals” meaning that by presenting to or conditioning the customer through various subconscious means the customer is unknowingly influence in an effort to be encouraged to ‘give in’ and buy.
