In the essay, Panopticism, by Michel Focault, he makes the argument that we live in a society of ?surveillance?. Meaning that our society is based on amalgamation of ?forces and bodies? all of which act to create the individual. It is principally this surveillance which forms the basis of power that draws the individual to believe that the world he lives in is one that is continually watching over him. This constant friction of mental forces (those who fear or have a certain curiosity) shapes who the individual becomes within the society. According to this passage, Focault gives support to the basic argument concerning the

The Panopticon, a prison described by Foucault, ?is a machine for dissociating the see/being seen dyad: in the peripheric ring, one is totally seen, without ever seeing? (321, Foucault). This literally means that in the formation of the panopticon those who are being seen can not see one another and the one who sees everything can never be seen. That is the most important tool of the panopticon. Foucault makes this assumption about today?s society by saying that we are always being watched whether we know it or not. One always keeps an eye over their shoulder as a result of the constant fear that someone is watching them. This consideration forms the basis of power for those who have the control and power - society, government, and state. The power gives those in charge a safety net, making the individual conscious of the presence of a hidden onlooker, causing them to think one twice before any move. An excellent of Focault?s theory is how Santa Claus can be used as a form of power to make children behave. ?He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you?re awake. He knows if you?ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake.? Focault?s theory shows that this song about Santa Claus is more than a simple Christmas carol, it is used to plant the constant fear in the mind of a child that they are being watched even when they can?t see who is doing the watching. The mere threat at Christmas time of this hidden force is enough to keep children well behaved. This is only one example of many in our society.

The first phrase in the passage testifies to the basic structure of our society. The goal for our society is ?to procure for a small number, or even for a single individual, the instantaneous view of a great multitude? (333, Focault). The purpose of such a society is so that relations between the individual

Some topics in this essay:
Michel Focault, Foucault Foucault, Santa Claus, , forces bodies, live society, according technique forces, forces bodies pp333-34, carefully fabricated according, technique forces bodies, individual carefully, panopticon communication, bodies pp333-34, focaults theory, fabricated according technique, foucault foucault, santa claus, constant fear, fabricated according,