Foucault & The Panoptic Tower

Michel Foucault, philosopher, critic, theorist, historian and much more
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The Panopticon does pose a good option for reforming inmates, addressing large crowds of people, and entertaining. On the other hand, there is a reason why the architecture has shifted from this style despite its effective results. The truth being that it is no longer practical to have structures constructed in this way is what left it as mere history. Nowadays there are too many prisoners incarcerated with far more creative ideas than in the nineteenth century. There are such things as human and civil rights that each prisoner is entitled to, which means they are granted time in "the yard". Even the most dangerous criminals in maximum security prisons are still allowed one hour of recreation out of their cell. During these times interactions with prison guards occur, whom could potentially be corrupt and aid in their escape. My point in mentioning all this, is that despite the genius of the architecture and its once revered use, has now become obsolete. Concert and lecture halls now have televisions and surround sound to mitigate the problems of vision and hearing in such cases.

Traffic cameras are a fine example of the advancement of surveillance ultimately limiting peoples free will and power. Without knowing who is watching, drivers must control their speed and driving habits as not to run through red lights. I personally do not agree with traffic or speeding cameras, due to the fact that it creates a stepping-stone for a society in which all actions are monitored by government agencies and large corporations. I understand the reason for implementing them, traffic accidents have gone down as a result, however, peoples psychological well-being should also be taken into account. A world where everything and everyone is monitored for the excuse of their "well-being" seems to be the plot for any sci-fi movie these days. With so many technological advancements occurring so frequently, I would not be surprised if events like the ones portrayed in the Terminator franchise. As the article stated,

As we naturalize rules, society could be said to become less willing to contest unjust laws.

This is a clear representation of blind faith with minimal questioning from society. So long as it does not affect or impact your life directly, nobody will raise attention. Thousands of people a month receive a ticket in the mail for a traffic violation that last decade would have gone unpunished. The problem does not lie with all drivers, just a small percentage, installing cameras at major traffic intersections and in close proximity of schools suggests all people are guilty of this habit. In other underdeveloped countries, the streets are lawless, with what seems like two as many drivers and motorists on the road yet there are the same if not less accidents. In most underdeveloped areas, there aren't even traffic lights let alone stop signs. There are many factors that contribute to this suggestion, like low horsepower capability yet, people seem to be more vigilant in my opinion.

The craving for more information could potentially lead to mans downfall. Many scenarios have been theorized in hypothetical situations in the form of films. One of these films is Ex Machina, the story of a man who is chosen to interact with a robot capable of artificial intelligence. The man was supposed to run a series of tests on the subject, then determine whether it was capable of passing as a human or not. Ultimately the mans urge to gain more information and sympathy for its confined state, led to his demise. The internet is one of the most impactful inventions to date, with its capability of linking individuals globally whom without it would most likely never interact otherwise.