The Synopticon

November 1, 2010

After hearing so much about Bentham’s Panopticon over the last few years in MIT classes I had often wondered if a contrasting theory existed. In “The Viewer Society” Thomas Mathiesen introduces the term “synopticon” as a direct counterpart to the panopticon. Instead of “the few seeing many” (panopticism) technology and the mass media have now enabled an environment where “the many see the few” (synopticism). The article specifically references radio and television as the most useful mechanisms used to achieve a synoptic state. Today, websites and social networking online promotes instantaneous viewing of “a few” by literally anyone in the world with an internet connection.

The power of the synopticon has evolved in unison with society’s naturally voyeuristic nature. People have always been infatuated with the lives of others. No example is more obvious than the role celebrities play in global culture. Websites like TMZ, Perez Hilton etc. and television shows like Entertainment Tonight expose the lives of few individuals on a daily basis for entertainment purposes. During the summer I couldn’t help but realize that it was much easier to find pertinent information regarding Lindsay Lohan’s pending jail time than it was to find updates on the BP Oil Spill tragedy. This is just one example of how celebrities (few) are seen by many via technology and mass media creating a synoptic environment.

Aside from television, the internet (specifically YouTube)  has created an online database of few individuals who can potentially be seen by endless individuals. What separates the Internet from reality is that these few individuals can be viewed over and over again without the footage disappearing. While some virally-successful individuals have embraced their online popularity and used it to their advantage (i.e. Antoine Dodson), I imagine that many are embarrassed of their actions and would prefer the videos to be taken down (i.e. people videotaped while extremely drunk or high on drugs; Double Rainbow guy, etc).  It is important to recognize that even though we may often enjoy being on the viewing side (part of the ‘many’), we are always in a constant state of vulnerability (to become part of the ‘few’). Smartphones with cameras, cctv, and other technologies can be used to capture us at our worst, and we may even be exploited online for the enjoyment of others. We must always be accountable for our actions. You never know when you might trip over a curb and later find yourself on a “failblog” video with 4 million views.

One final thought I would like to consider concerns the third parallel expressed by Mathiesen: “panopticism and synopticism have developed in intimate interaction, even fusion, with each other.” While modern technologies have promoted a growing synoptic culture, does this also mean that the panoptic methods of surveillance will continue to become more widespread and sophisticated?