Reflection 10

April 12, 2011

          Michael Foucault’s approach to “The Panopticon” created by Jeremy Benthan was interesting. Dr. Wexler’s descriptive drawing and lecture regarding the prison gave a clear mental view. In Foucault’s view, humans discipline themselves; therefore, the Panopticon allowed the prisoners access to accomplish this training. He felt that the body was the site for discourse and disposition. Disciplines discipline us by the discourse (the way of defining its discipline). This sounds wild, but when you think about it closely it becomes clear. The circular architecture of the prison, with no doors on the cells, allowed the prisoners freedom with control because they knew the central tower had officers watching them! There was only one prisoner per cell making it easier for control while more freedom was enjoyed. Within the prison four persuasive items could be found: cloister, prison, school, and regiment.

          At this same time, psychology was born from the human sciences. These delinquents were then analyzed and received psychological help for their mental abnormalities which could include a number of things. Post stress disorder also became a large item with these children. Child labor and abuse can cause various problems in a life.

          This Panopticon was interesting to me. My mind goes back to my mother and how she was raised in a military orphanage (not to be confused with prison). Her father was a Spanish American war veteran. Her mother died when she was ten and her father died when she was thirteen leaving four of the eight children without parents; therefore, she and two brothers and a sister went to the orphanage. This orphanage was different from the regular orphanages because it was more like a college dormitory coupled with household responsibilities. She received her education plus was taught homemaking and a trade; however, chores were maintained as well as a regular military regiment. Eventually, she became a captain and taught military herself. Disciplines discipline us by discourses could be applied here.

           We saw a song clip from West Side Story that really told a story about young people and what they go through growing up. The song spoke of many things that leave them with tainted, troubled minds and behind bars. Some people learn from mistakes and others just continue to make them throughout their lives. Hopefully, more people will be attentive to their lifestyle and how it reflects upon their offspring.

Word Count: 475

                                          The Panopticon

Works Cited

Leitch, Vincent B., ed. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.
          New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2010.  Print.
“The Panopticon.” En.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia, 8 April 2011.
          Web. 14 April 2011.