Panopticism

Posted on January 28, 2014 by wendlermb15

Panopticism is a way of saying all seeing. Many examples of literature come to mind when thinking of the disciplinary styles. JRR Tolkien’s eye of Sauron, Orwell’s Big Brother, and the spectacles on the billboard from the Great Gatsby. To maintain discipline among a populace, the Panopticon is the ultimate tool.

“anyone, chosen almost at random can operate the machine:” – 202

There needs not be one central operator or agency that is concerned with keeping an eye on everyone at once. People are expected to monitor the behavior of one another. This is very much reminiscent of 1984, where children are taught to spy on their own parents to serve a “Big Brother” who despite being non-existent is everywhere at once.

“But the Panopticon was also a laboratory; it could be used as a machine to carry out experiments; to alter behavior, to train or correct individuals.” 203

Ultimately, the Panopticon can be used on the populace. An instrument that allows people to affect the opinions and actions of people using mainly implicit rhetoric. In this sense we are monitered constantly, and by ourselves. This tool could ultimately eliminate the idea of a prison, by making inmates of everyone.

Confusions:

The only confusion I have is how the Panopticon manifests itself. Is it an intentional creation, like a prison or like barracks? Or is it something that comes around naturally.

thank you for arguing

Posted on January 23, 2014 by wendlermb15

The author spends the entire first chapter being persuasive. The story of his quick thinking manipulation of his son to get the toothpaste is attention grabbing. For many people his age, the idea of being able to persuade your teenager to do something is certainly effective. The short and succinct discussion of persuasion that he uses (detailing the implicit rhetorical gestures of things like advertisements and the placement of fox feces) is primarily to convince the reader that being aware of the nature of persuasive tactics is tantamount to being an effective rhetorician. The author’s down to earth language and informal tone, combined with his use of personal anecdote are effective uses of persuasion in keeping the reader interested and informed. The opposite might be said of other more high brow rhetoricians. Viewing this book about rhetorical strategy while looking for the author’s rhetorical strategies could get sort of meta. Rhetoric-ception. Perhaps I should just take the book at face value. But I think that would be missing the point in a rhetorical class.

HR: class discussion