Panopticism is a theory developed by the french philosopher Michel Foucault. His theory is based upon the panopticon, a type of prison designed in the 1700's allowing all the prisoners to be watched at any given time, though Foucault's theory expands on this as he applies panopticism to past events, such as the plague.
Panopticism can be applied to many modern situations, the most obvious of which being our current state of affairs regarding CCTV observation. The argument being that CCTV cameras are there for our own safety and protection, but to what extent? Foucault argues that after a length of time being observed by an 'unknown power' we being to self regulate even when the panoptic gaze has been removed. We are no longer free to do what we please in a world where someone might be watching, and this is enough to make us 'docile' and 'malleable'.
"All mechanisms of power, which, even today, are disposed around the abnormal individual, to brand him and to alter him."
...To make him self regulate and fit in with society. The CCTV operation is exactly this, we are a surveillance society constantly being 'trained and corrected' by our constant observation.
All quotes taken from Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault (1975)
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