Panopticism or Fascism?

[An idea that has become central to American life in the 21st century.]

2. A prison system, whereby the jailer can keep in view all of the inmates, all of the time.

Panopticon: the ambition of many of the present leaders of the United States, ostensibly to fight a war against terrorism. (www.foucault.info.html)

In the 1700’s, a man by the name of Jeremy Bentham came up with an idea for a device that would allow those in power to maximize the observation of its population while at the same time, keeping the observed under control. This device was dubbed the ‘Panopticon’. The main idea of this structure was a building constructed in the form of a ring. Located inside this ring, was a tower, possessing windows that opened onto the inner face of the ring. Housed in the ring surrounding the tower were any sort of people from different walks of life: Bentham suggested a lunatic, medical patient, convict, a workingman, and a schoolboy. In the middle, inside the tower, is nothing but a lone observer. The people in the ring are constantly

In this, the age where anyone can possess a digital camera, and where everybody is surrounded by interactive television and all kinds of high-tech miniature equipment, we as a people are consistently led to believe that everyone is being watched by someone else, as in maybe an anonymous security guard. Foucault predicted modern society as placing all of us under constant surveillance (Chesier, www.foucault.info.html). This prediction has of course come true. Government projects like Homeland Security and “Total Information Awareness” have created the kind of 24 hr. surveillance that the Gestapo and the KGB would have drooled over. However, unlike Bentham’s idea, there now exists a true ‘Panopticon’, but this is one where the subjects either do not know, or do not believe that they are being watched. And these citizens are not criminals, patients, or lunatics, so why the need for the spying? It’s because our particular governing body perceives us as just a big a threat to its ultimate power as it does the thousands of other people who don’t live here and say they hate America. What a fascist state America is in danger of becoming.

hope of us looking back. We as a people are trapped in a ‘Panopticon’ that most of us are not even aware of, because it lacks walls, bars, and guards. If we have chosen to ignore that our government is watching us, we surely must acknowledge that they possess the means to do so. So as a result, we are always aware of the consequences of our actions, and their effect on the norms that have been imposed upon us.

Some topics in this essay:
Jeremy Bentham’s, Jeremy Bentham, Gestapo KGB, Bentham English, Matrix Matrix, Vincent Gattaca, Fascism Panopticon, Information Awareness”, Homeland Security, believe watched, 18th century, jeremy bentham, bentham’s idea, jeremy bentham’s,