Summary of Panopticism

Michael Foucault’s, “Panopticism” discusses the efficiency and productivity of power that takes place in Bentham’s panopticon. The panopticon is an “annular building: at the center, a tower; this tower is pierced with wide windows that open onto the inner side of the ring; the peripheric building is divided into cells, each of which extends the whole width of the building (285).” According to Foucault the panopticon can serve as a prison, school, hospital, or factory. In the panopticon power is created and controlled by the architectural design of the building rather than by a large number of guards. Inside the panopticon, individuals are placed in cells so that they cannot see or communicate with their neighbors. The central tower has blinds so that the individuals in the cells do not know if they are being watched at a specific moment, but are continually conscious of the reality that they may be being watched at any moment. This illusion of constant surveillance creates power over the individuals. The watchman in the tower is controlled by the power created by an inspector who may enter the tower at any random time to check on the watchmen. The inspector can be a single individual or society in general who is interested to witness the efficiency of the panopticon. These inspections erase any doubt of tyranny. Foucault uses the panopticon as a functional mechanism to explain how power becomes productive. Productivity is valued in society so Foucault concludes, “Is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons (309)?” Foucault believes that Power is a useful tool that is used to increase productivity throughout society.