The Panopticon in the Jails - Essay Example

The Panopticon Introduction. The panopticon is a kind of building designed to allow a single individual watch or observe all the inmates of an institution. This is often when the inmates are unaware. It is difficult for a single individual or watchman to monitor physically all inmates in all the cells (Panopticon 2010). The panopticon is crucial though in monitoring the behavior of the inmates at all times because they do not know when they are being watched. This invention was made by Jeremy Bentham, who was an English philosopher and also a social theorist. The design of a panopticon is a circular structure which consists of an inspection house at its centre. The involved management is in a position to monitor the behavior of the inmates who are placed at the perimeter of the building. Though the founder of the panoptic- Bentham- said this design is also applicable in churches, schools, hospitals or asylums, he concentrated on the panoptic prisons which are widely recognized today (Semple 2003). Between 1786 and 1787, Bentham travelled to kritchev to pay a visit to his brother. His brother- Samuel- was involved in various projects involving industrial ones for the prince Potemkin. Later, Jeremy acknowledged that it is his brother Samuel who came up with the idea of a circular building at the centre of a larger compound area where managers would be in a position to monitor the skills of all the unskilled workers. Jeremy, however, decided to conceptualize the idea into a prison setting. Once he returned to England from visiting his brother, Jeremy continued to work on his panopticon idea. He even sought the professionalism of an architect. He continued to propose his ideas to authorities with no avail. He was to see the prison but the authorities just turned him down. Thus, he concentrated his ideas in persuading the prime minter (Bentham 2011). His efforts bore fruits and he was given some initial capital to commence the project. After a struggle to purchase a site, he later bought one at the Milbank in 1779. The site however was quite unhealthy and small according to his sentiments. However, his efforts to plead with the government to allocate him more money to buy more land were unsuccessful. The authorities told him to manage with that land by building a much smaller panoptic prison. He continued to pester the government with his idea though he saw they were uncommitted to the project. The then prime minister resigned in 1801 and the project was put to a halt. Due to this, he remained bitter all his life and later demanded for compensation for his fruitless efforts. No true panopticon prison has ever been built even to this day. Though most prisons have incorporated the aspect of surveillance, they do not incorporate the aspect of panopticon. This is because the idea of a panopticon is for a watchman to view the inmates at all time without their knowledge of when they are being watched. With surveillance, however, the inmates are able to know that they are being watched. This objective was very difficult to achieve in the error of new technology. That was the reason why Jeremy spent most of his time trying to change his plans. During the 19th century, designs had been built to allow custodians monitor the behaviors of prisoners outside the prison cells. However, they could not monitor the happenings inside the cell. Jeremy’s ideas came close to realization during the 20th century with the invention of CCTV cameras (Laura 2007). Information panoptic. It incorporates Jeremy’s ideas. However, it does not require the buildings to be built in a certain way or custodians taking patrols over the area constantly. Instead, ICT tools are used. These tools control the intended subjects and their information. It complicates the idea of these subjects to be kept anonymous. This advancement is used by managers to keep track of their employees’ trend of work. Thus, managers evaluate the work done rather than the employees themselves. The workers also concentrate on their work rather than their colleagues around them. The notable difference between it and the one proposed by Jeremy is that this is hierarchical. This means that every department has its own surveillance. Moreover, the worker’s are monitored by a manager, who is in turn monitored by a higher authority be it the president of the organization or any other higher figure in the company. Managers are in a position to keep track about their employees by having adequate knowledge about the systems (Lyon, Surveillance as A Social Setting 2003). Advantages of a panopticon. One can monitor the activities of the inmates or those one is intended to monitor. However, they cannot know the time they are being watched or to know who is watching them. The ones being monitored can change their behaviors or keep it in line because they do not know when they are being watched. A number of negativities can be avoided by isolating those in need of isolation. In the case of prisoners, lack of contact with other inmates can reduce their capabilities of plotting escapes. All inmates being observed must concentrate on the task allocated since any form of disobedience would be seen from the tower. By the fact that inmates believed that they were being watched, they would always act as if they are being surveyed even if they are not. The panoptic evidenced to be a form of very effective form of social control rather than other forms including torture. Criticism of panoptic. The structure has been depicted as one causing oppression and one causing social control. Simply because all the inmates acted as if they were being watched even in times when they were not, then many people thought that the services of an observer were not necessarily required all the time. It is often difficult to make an exact structure depicted by Jeremy due to the modern technology. The panopticon today. In the modern society, the issue of the panopticon has really been improved due to modern technology. There are surveillance all over and an observer in a main room monitoring all the people in the specific location. It is not only applicable in prisons but it is also applicable in schools, hospitals, malls, offices, subways and so on (Tony 2013). This is much more different from the ideas of Jeremy because the people in question are aware that they are being watched. In a mall situation for instance, one can see cameras elected all over. The only explanation for that is that people are monitoring all the activities going on in the mall. This reduces cases of theft or indiscipline in the malls due to the fact that there will be a lot of evidence. In an FBI situation, there is use of ICT devices that are used to track the targeted individuals. This might be a good example of Jeremy’s idea though it is not used to monitor people in the periphery of a building. It might be used even to monitor the activities of an individual especially a dangerous criminal (Eamon 2010). This is to gain incriminating evidence against them to put them behind bars. These individuals might have been followed for a long time. This is however very dangerous because if the individual being monitored knew that their activities were being surveyed, then those involved would be in great danger. This is because, often these guys are involved in illegal business syndicates that they like to keep confidential between themselves and their business partners. This means of surveillance also infringe on the privacy of the ones being monitored. This is due to the way they are monitored everywhere even in their houses. In the world today, society is more panoptic. The internet for instance is a tool where one can easily gain information of an individual. It is often difficult to realize when being watched in the internet. However, some people are more conscious of being watched such that they limit or they are cautious of what they browse or surf in the internet. CCTVs have been elected all over thus and an individual put specifically to monitor the people’s behaviors. Issues of privacy have been breached in the panopticon especially the modern ones. One good example is in the Big Brother show that is aired from South Africa every once a year, the contestants there are heavily monitored by the use of CCTV cameras. Nothing can be done in private. These cameras have even been elected all over the big brother house even in the most private areas- the bathrooms. Though it helps in shaping the character of the individuals there are some issues that need to be concealed. This show is often aired 24/7 in the television. Thus, people are able to know the true colors of the individuals especially because some of them are renowned celebrities. Though there are some issues that are not aired to the general public, there is someone monitoring all those cameras and one can only imagine all that they see (Wagner 2007). These forms of surveillance are very famous in the cities and in the offices. Thus people from interior places might not be familiar with them. They are unable to navigate through all those surveillance cameras. Some might even turn out to be bothered by others invading their privacy considering that village life is peaceful with no one to monitor or survey people. This can be explained by lack of modern technology in the villages. Life in the interiors is very simple and people are more communal. Thus, they are always watching each other’s backs. Though there are few cases of immorality in the villages, the cases are not as prevalent as in the cities. Considering that there is surveillance all over the cities and there cases of immorality and criminality are also rampant, then one can only imagine what the situation would be if the situation was any way different. That is if there were no cameras or any form of surveillance that at least restricted people’s behaviors. That people knew they were not being monitored even in the malls or in the prisons or anywhere else. Then cases of insecurity would be the norm of the day (Monmonier 2004). This situation is worsened by increased rural to urban migration to search for employment. Thus the population in urban areas is quite high and some of these people lack means of survival. Relationship of the movie with the panopticon. The lady in the film is from Spain. In Spain, panopticons are not put into consideration as they are in London. Thus, in Spain, the lady has the freedom to do whatever she wants with no one monitoring her movements. She can be seen feeding chicken, tending to flowers in the farm and all those activities that made her really happy. She seems to enjoy her simple life. However, she decides to visit London where situation is different. In London, there is surveillance everywhere one goes. She can see cameras all over even in the subways, in the public place, in the offices and all over. At some point, she is in a certain secluded place where she is unable to navigate her way out. She is so devastated to an extent of breaking down there and there. This is because she is unable to work out the technology there on how to navigate around and there is no one in the vicinity to help her out. These are problems most people not brought up in such places face. The Truman show 1994. This show also depicts aspects of panoctipon. The show revolves around an individual who is not aware that his life is a reality show. His life is broadcast all over the globe with people watching it without his knowledge. Thus, he becomes curious about the reality and embarks on a long journey of unveiling the truth about his life. His life even before birth is caught on 24/7 CCTV cameras and broadcast around the globe. This show is able to capture his real emotions when faced with certain situations. The producer of this show depicts Truman’s life as perfect. He dissuades him from exploring more about his life through numerous adverts on the dangers of travelling. However, after several situations, Truman start suspecting his near perfect life by the fact that the same people were at the same place every day. He joined one and two together and he later managed to escape his ever captured life. This show gives an example of the dangers of surveillance. Some malicious people could survey an individual for their own benefits. Others could be in search of ruining the reputation of an individual thus capturing the individual everywhere secretly. Thus, people should be aware or cautious of this surveillance because some of them are not genuine. Capturing the movement and behaviors of individuals without their knowledge is sometimes illegal and an individual can sue the ones involved. Recommendations There should be some regulations put in place t ensure that malicious people do not monitor the activities of other individual’s without their knowledge for their malicious gains. This is inflicting on the privacy every individual is entitled to. Those caught should be dealt with appropriately. This technology should also be introduced even in remote areas. This is to equip every individual with adequate knowledge about them so that even when they visit the cities, they will know what to expect. Moreover, this technology should look into issues of confidentiality. Not everyone should have a glimpse of the private life of another individual. Thus, particular individuals should be given the responsibility of this surveillance and they are the ones who should always be held accountable in case of breach of confidentiality. Conclusion In conclusion therefore, Jeremy Bentham made a very important invention. Though he failed to live long to see his invention put into practice, he would have been very happy. The panopticon today are very different from his initial ideas due to modern technology. They are as effective as the earlier inventions. In fact, the modern modifications including the CCTV cameras are more effective. Though people being surveyed by CCTV cameras are aware that they are being monitored, prior inventions that had proposed by Jeremy were not that way. This is because individuals did not know when they were being watched has they kept their behaviors at bay at all times. In case of CCTV an individual can pretend to be in their best behaviors only when they are being surveyed. However, once out of the sight of the cameras, they go back to their normal wayward self. The panopticon has both advantages and disadvantages. Several scholars have criticized it and others tried to make changes to it. What matters now is that the initial invention seemed to work. This is because even the modern means of surveillance have borrowed a lot from it. Therefore, authorities or all individuals of using surveillance should use it in moderation and avoid using it for malicious gains. References Bentham, J. 2011. The Panopticon Writings. Philadelphia: Verso. Eamon, D. 2010. Personal autonomy in the travel panopticon. Ethics and Information Technology, 97- 108. Ernst, A. B. 2012. Beyond Foucault. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing. Laura, H. 2007. Theorizing Surveillance. Contemporary Sociology, 576-577. Lyon, D. 2003. Surveillance as a Social Setting. New York: Psychology Press. Lyon, D. 2008. Theorizing Surveillance. Cullompton: William Publishing. McKinaly, A. 2000. Foucalt, Management and Organization Theory. London: SAGE. Monmonier, M. S. 2004. Spying With Maps. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Panopticon, T. 2010. The Panopticon. Atlantic monthly, 36-37. Semple, J. (2003. Benthams prison. New York: Clarendon Press. Tony, D. 2013. Posner on Privacy. International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 147-160. Wagner, J. 2007. In Pursuit of Privacy. Philadelphia: Cornell University Press. Read More