The Eye of Power

October 4, 2010

Michael Foucault’s discussion with Jean-Pierre Barou and Michelle Perrot considered the history, relevance, and effectiveness of Jeremy Bentham’s idea of the Panopticon. Without reiterating the physical construct of the Panopticon, it is important to recognize its primary function – to monitor individuals from a central (visible) location, creating the illusion that the individual is being constantly watched.

During the discussion, the concept of “Back Lighting” was discussed. In the example of a prison with a central tower, back lighting is necessary to monitor “the little captive silhouettes in the ring of the cells.” While back lighting was a necessary component of Bentham’s vision, surveillance techniques have evolved dramatically with the rise of different technologies and theories. While it may be argued that the original “Panopticon” is no longer relevant or practical for modern surveillance techniques, the process of centralizing power still remains important. The primary difference between surveillance during Bentham’s era and surveillance today is that Back Lighting is no longer a prerequisite for effective surveillance and monitoring.

The gradual rise and deployment of numerous technologies has made displacement an integral feature of modern-day surveillance. To put it simply, physical presence is no longer required to monitor individuals. To refer back to the jail example, the surveillance capabilities of the guard were limited to his or her immediate physical surroundings. Today, however, technologies allow the “guard” to monitor individuals from a remote location. Remember the H1N1 epidemic last year? During the outbreak, a downright creepy method of remote surveillance was used on students trying to take advantage of the “I have H1N1 and cannot do any work” self-diagnosis/reporting form placed on the UWO website. Students who claimed to have the illness were encouraged to stay at home, reported having the illness, and were given the benefit of the doubt by their professors and were allowed to make alternate arrangements for handing in projects, writing exams, etc. What some students didn’t realize was that by combining student card access logs, CCTV, and parking pass information, their locations were thoroughly monitored by UWO administration. If a student was found to be on campus (ex: swiping their Student Card at the campus rec center) during the time in which they were supposed to be ill and in incubation, professors and administration likely revoked the accommodations granted to these students.

The H1N1 example shows how Bentham’s idea of the Panopticon has evolved to allow for surveillance of individuals from remote locations. While back lighting and physical presence may not be essential to modern surveillance techniques, the presence of centralized power (from remote locations) still remains a necessary technique in monitoring individuals.