'Visibility is a trap' - Essay Example

?Visibility is a trap: Discuss Foucault’s ment using examples from modern urban environment to consider how cultures of surveillance are createdin everyday life. Introduction: Visibility is a trap, a famous quote being often narrated and studied in the context of the societal aspect of individuals and their relationship to the how they co relate and respond according to the scenario and situation at hand. It has been studied in different contexts over period of time, each aiming to formulate various findings, all these have been notably with regard to the societal impact and relativity. Aims: The paper looks into the relativity of the saying by Foucault in the retrospect of the modern day along with the forms and nature of surveillance that is being performed in the same context to evaluate how true his statement stands in an urban background. Brief overview of Foucault’s work and impact: Foucault’s work and contribution extend to the social domain as well as philosophy. His philosophical work is being expressed with context to the history and the changes as they take place in parallel and with time. For example the most important factor and understanding in his study is that of the most prevailing factor in form of the urban drive and urban migration. As a result of the urban drive, quite a few patterns have changed and the outlook has changed in a certain definite way in contrast to what it was in past. The visibility being a trap concept is one similar phenomena being derived from the same urban ambiance and its co relation has been drawn in the same pattern. Urban society and the digital element: Modern urban societies are characterized by presence of digital dominance, with everything being handled by the computers and digital devices, apart from their servicing features; they also provide the functions of monitoring and surveillance in certain specific way. For example all the metropolitans have established cameras and monitoring systems, this is also true in the case of highways, buildings and the official work places, where each action is being monitored in a closed and disclosed both ways (Ingersoll 2008, 186). Origin of the concept of visibility: The term can be loosely coined with observation, monitoring and surveillance and its routes stretch back to the last decade of 18th century when the word Panopticon (Dalton & Evans 2004 ,67) was first used for the purpose of watching over the prisoners to notice their activities from a common and panoramic view point enabling for clear observation against their any objective moves that would create any disturbance and turbulence. Characteristic traits of modern urban environments: A modern urban society is characterized by observation of individuals in their working environment. The roles are defined in such a manner that each team and its member works in a tier and hierarchy (Chow 2012, 47) in strict scrutiny and observation. This observation and direct exposure has been termed as a trap by Foucault in his assessment and the quite famous quote. Various proponents of the field from research on social studies and sciences have tried to investigate the aspect of the correlation and affectivity and relevance to the society in certain specific way and each of them has found some material and substance in this regard which would lead to the assumption that urban societies depict more relevance to this concept than any other mode of social outfit. Two common schools of thoughts prevail from the overall discussion, each presenting their views and stressing for the statement at hand and observing and presenting it in different manners and checking its relation to the various variables of the society how they would have an impact on the individuals as well as those who are related to the other people in the society in one way or the other (ernst 2012). The need: The possible need driven by the visibility factor can be that of not just the establishment of the order in the society but also making things easier for people in a bigger perspective. It allows for adopting the patterns and behavior adjusting to the norms, values and cultural system that is prevalent in the present day. Another dimension to the urban environment and visibility and strict scrutiny is that of possible loss of self confidence and ability to work out of the box in a creative manner and work to the natural instincts, constant observation and surveillance in certain scenarios lead to getting bogged down and as a result and consequence loss of natural instinct and ability to produce that would otherwise be produced in a naturally handled environment. Surveillance as a social phenomena: Surveillance has become a part of socially accepted and undertaken element within the society in an declared as well as undeclared manner. The declared one is that of the roles being assigned and strict scrutiny in place, while the undeclared is that of the adapted patterns and how individuals are inter related to each other in one way or the other (Bristow 2008, 322). The domain of visibility and scrutiny: In the context of the phrase, this rule applies generically and in a total manner to the every individual who may be associated in a certain way to the overall rural environment and the businesses and functions that are being conducted in parallel. Ranging from the rank to the file, everyone is enrolled in to this and each is under equal scrutiny, rather those at the top level are at direct level of scrutiny and observation with more expectations. In the retrospect of power: The term has also been expressed with regard to the power and the ability that is gained which is most clearly prevalent in the rural classes and society, with the hierarchies being defined and roles assigned. As a result of more and more power being concentrated in a certain domain, it leads to further expanding of the scrutiny and check over the individuals which has been termed as the trap in this scenario (Mirzoeff 2002). The element of surveillance: The factor of surveillance is not just limited to the practical domain; rather it has shown up in forms of theoretical work over period of time in recent years and more significantly in the previous decade. This has emerged as a tool and as a weapon to control various factors and elements; one of them is that of monitoring and creating a sense of control and uniform operations within the society in the different domains and walks of life. The original traces of this can be stretched to the 18th century ( reference), in form of the work by Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon. The element of visibility: The Panopitcon concept that has touched upon by Bentham was an invisible one and it did not allow for the guards who could monitor the prisoners. Two perceptions prevail with regard to the monitoring, one is that of the visible form of monitoring and other is like the Panopticon observation where the guards could not be seen and were not visible. To some, the direct and visible form of observation and guarding is an obstructing one and leads to the impeding of the natural flow, while the later may yield better outcomes. This approach can be applied in the various domains, ranging from the business enterprises, to the daily life activities, and as the question is directed, it is directly applicable to the urban atmosphere in which the activities are more integrated and inter related with one another and observations are quite in common and each entity is related to other in a certain specific way (Mirzoeff, 2002). Broader perspective of the surveillance: The element of surveillance has gained central importance and significance with regard to the prevailing scenario, with the global order and global environment, and everything that takes place in part of the world and tending to impact and influence the activities in the other part of the world, the surveillance factor has become more influencing and essential to retain and maintain the global peace and control over various activities, in such scenario, both the visible as well as invisible form of security measures are being adopted (Lyon 2007, 57). Conclusion: The statement stands totally valid and adjusting in the urban environment, it has been proved through analogy and relevant studies of similar concepts. The modern times being that of technology and digital interface, have made things more brighter in one aspect, in terms of security providing, on the other hand, it has led to the strangulating of the free air on the masses when it comes to their sense of freedom, sense of free will and free work, and they have a common feeling of being monitored and watched after in every place be it the public and open place or the inside walls of house or the buildings where they work. The overall phenomena drives advocates in favor as well as the ones against it, some term the trap a blessing, others are totally distasted by it and term it caging of the free beings who are born free and should be allowed to live freely (Berman 2004). References: Berman, J., 2004. Empathic Teaching: Education For Life. s.l.:Univ of Massachusetts Press,. Bridge, G. & Watson, S., 2010. The Blackwell City Reader. s.l.:John Wiley & Sons. Bristow, J., 2008. 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