Every Twelve Seconds - Industrialized Slaughter and the Politics of Sight by Pachirat - Book Report/Review Example

Every Twelve Seconds An assessment of the processes and actions as illustrated in Timothy Patirach’s book “Every Twelve Seconds” shows that visibility is one of the important techniques of power at the work place of the slaughterhouse. The slaughterhouse, as illustrated in this book comprises myriad processes that must work together in harmony in order to achieve the intended goals. All the different processes must be connected in a uniform process that allows for the movement of things from the original point until the final product (Pachirat 64). The levels of success in the actions and processes as illustrated in this book are significantly determined by the power processes which enable the connection between the various processes. Power is lost when systems or parts of the systems become obscure or hidden from the sight of the controlling centre. As such, the process of visibility relates to power directly in the sense that one affects the other. Visibility encompasses various elements, which contribute to the understanding and the comprehension of situations that may, otherwise be overlooked. The element of visibility goes beyond the casual perception of physical processes as may be interpreted by biological sight. It entails a comprehensive assessment of situation through a combination of sense and perception. It involves going deeper into the details of things in order to come to terms with the deeper essences and the nuances, which apply to situations at the work place in the slaughterhouse (Pachirat 131). Visibility involves a deeper connection to matters and issues in a way that explores the ethical and moral elements of physical realities as they apply at the work place. Enhancing the quality of visibility enables the distribution of power to different locales at the work place. It enables the harmonization of processes, which in turn adds to the qualities of efficiency and effectiveness at the work place. According to Foucault, visibility increases the element of power for the governing authority in the sense that it becomes possible to monitor the activities of people within the system. Such acts of monitoring enhance the aspect of control because it is only through the power of visibility that the central authorities could exercise their powers. Foucault warns that visibility might be wrongly used in form of a trap. It becomes difficult for individuals to express themselves in ways other than those prescribed by the processes. For instance, the quality of visibility is necessary to sustain the motion of the chain within the slaughter house. Power entails the ability to control. The processes in the slaughterhouse appear to proceed through a seamless continuum that allows power to manifest itself through the systems. The central authority or the controlling structures will always come under threat in situations of poor visibility. For instance, the character of the workers at the slaughterhouse is significantly conditioned by the process of visibility. Visibility assigns some kind of kinetic power to the organizational structure at the work place. It makes the various processes operational, and makes it important for the determination of processes in order to harmonize on relationships at the work place. In order to increase the efficiency of the mechanics at the work place, it is important to create some form of power in a manner that harmonizes the different kinds of processes into one uniform continuum. It might be argued that the different processes in an organization are representations of the distribution of power within the entire organization. As such, it becomes necessary to develop some form of synergies and processes that determine the level and framework of distributing this power. Visibility helps awaken the conscience of the workers to the processes at the work place. It helps them assess the merits of the work they do in terms of how it relates to the overall goals. It also helps in the development of the working relationships between the various processes at the work place. Often, there is an underlying quality of critical thinking, which requires a certain amount of exposure in order for it to manifest. This quality helps in the processes of critical assessment of situations, actions and processes. The organization of some work places is designed in such a way that makes it possible for processes to remain hidden from the eyes and conscience of individuals. The negative consequence of such organizational processes is that they alienate the worker from his real self and dehumanizes him or her. The workers are reduced to part of the machinery such that they are programmed to respond mechanically to the processes at the work place. As such, it becomes difficult to connect between the mechanics of the work place and the issues that connect with the welfare of the workers and the processes. Visibility of at the work place in the slaughterhouse is supposed to enhance the qualities of concern in the handling of cows (Pachirat 40). The author of the book reverses the sequence of happenings in order to bring out the salient features about the mechanization of the killing process. This book is a critique of the various questions that tie into the many aspects of killing. The book invites the reader to project a deeper perspective onto the matter of killing. Through the aspect of visibility, the book projects a searchlight into some of the problematic issues that concern the killing of animals. The animals are brought out in bigger perspectives such that they appear to represent animals in terms greater than the casual representations. The author projects some important questions that necessarily relate the moral and human sentiments that relate to the question of sentiments. It might be important to consider some of the arguments that challenge the conventional and traditional systems of the slaughterhouse. The workplace, according to the system organized alongside the traditional organization is deliberately designed to sustain the status of things. According to the author, they are made with the express intention of keeping the system running. The aspect of visibility would transform the set up of things in ways would mirror new realities and sensibilities to the welfare of the workers and the rights of the animals. To a significant degree, poor visibility at the work place appears to be deliberate plan by the system, which is meant to insulate the workers from the negative qualities of the organization. The invisible order makes things at the work place makes the workers forget the real conditions of their work and lives. The workers do not have the capacity to perceive of reality in any terms larger than the primary benefits as derived from their daily mundane occupations. Their sensibilities and sense of judgment have been dulled by the difficult conditions in which they have to endure day and night. As a result, it becomes difficult to construct reality in ways that offer alternatives to the order of activities and the routine at the work place. The relationship between power and visibility must be explored within the context means and ends. The chain of processes in the slaughterhouse might be considered in figurative terms in order to provide a clear understanding about power and the processes of its distribution. At a workplace where the chain of processes is concealed in mechanical obstacles, the actual representation of power becomes an awakening of the infamies that are systematically perpetrated by the systems. It might be argued that some of the processes involved in the production at the slaughter house. Generally, the author makes the argument about the representation of reality as captured in multiple discourses. Visibility promotes transparency of actions and processes in the slaughter house. Without visibility, it becomes nearly impossible to change the processes at the slaughter house in ways that take care of the sensibilities of the workers and the end-users. As such, the manifestation of processes must be considered in light of moving the processes from the mechanized to one that responds to concerns for animals lives and the need to conduct the killing process in a more organized and civilized manner. Visibility is an aspect that seeks to replace the barbaric and uncoordinated processes that may be witnessed within the work place, and which may pose logistical and cost disadvantages to the system. It is important to consider the matter of visibility as a consequence of structure and system as understood within the context of operations. Works Cited Pachirat, Timothy. Every Twelve Seconds: Industrialized Slaughter and the Politics of Sight. Yale: Yale University Press, 2011 Read More