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.
In our society, the examination hall or room that children are to sit their school exams can be seen as a panoptic. It is environment where everyone is separate, all looking the same way, with no communication, be no physical restrictions to stop them from moving or talking. However an examiner is always watching them, 'this surveillance is based on a system of permanent registration' (Foucault, 1977), this permanent registration is what makes panopticon work.
The sense of power that the examiner seems to hold over the students makes the students become 'docile bodies', the panoptic system with the idea that they are constantly being watched and monitored makes the students 'self monitoring' and 'self correcting'. A panopticon 'automatizes and disindividualizes power',(Foucault,1977) meaning that it works without anyone exercising power, in an exam room the examiner does not have to exercise their authority, just there presences in the room makes the students behave and obey, the 'panopticon is a machine.' (Foucault, 1977)
The layout of the exam room is modeled on the Panopticon, ensuring that each person can be seen by the examiner but the students are unsure if they are individually being watched at any one time, making the examiners power in the exam room over the students 'visible and unverifiable.' (Foucault, 1977)
Foucault uses the panopticon as an analogy for control, this control can be translated into modern culture such as an examination room as well as a lot of other aspects of our contemporary culture, possibly more then people realise.
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