Module: Understanding Social Change
Seminar 7 – Foucault
Foucault’s Basic Concepts, Intellectual Influences, and Theoretical Orientation
Most of Foucault’s work tends to draw from the collective standpoint of
understanding society.
He talks about constructionism and disciplinary in society.
He also talked about Panopticon.
Michel Foucault: 1926-1984
What was Foucault’s way of examining society in order for him to come up
with his theories? Disciplinary and punishment which came from his
understanding of history. He was interested in the way in which ideas have
expanded through history.
To look at the past to see why we have come to this particular point in the
present and learn the lessons.
He is difficult to characterise because he has so many quadrants.
Looks for progress not in terms of grand strategies.
Part structuralist
Part post-structuralist
Genealogy he was interested in how the current ideas we live in have
come from a historical basis.
Questions
(1) For Foucault, the history of modern society is represented by an increase in
individual surveillance – a good contemporary example is the use of your
mobile phone. It knows what you like and dislike. Another example is the use
of CCTV – your whole commuting journey is monitored. It’s enlightening and
frightening at the same time. Another example: the Census survey.
(2) Docile bodies are bodies that can be subjugated, transformed and improved –
docile bodies comes through the process of surveillance and regulation. He
says that this leads to a normalisation.
(3) We see disciplined bodies in prison, at school and in clinics – we see
disciplined bodies everywhere. It’s not a top down process. The discipline
process is part of everything that we do. Power is not itself a discipline. Power
is simply how it is exercised. Example: going to the gym – you create a
discipline of your own body.
Seminar 7 – Foucault
Foucault’s Basic Concepts, Intellectual Influences, and Theoretical Orientation
Most of Foucault’s work tends to draw from the collective standpoint of
understanding society.
He talks about constructionism and disciplinary in society.
He also talked about Panopticon.
Michel Foucault: 1926-1984
What was Foucault’s way of examining society in order for him to come up
with his theories? Disciplinary and punishment which came from his
understanding of history. He was interested in the way in which ideas have
expanded through history.
To look at the past to see why we have come to this particular point in the
present and learn the lessons.
He is difficult to characterise because he has so many quadrants.
Looks for progress not in terms of grand strategies.
Part structuralist
Part post-structuralist
Genealogy he was interested in how the current ideas we live in have
come from a historical basis.
Questions
(1) For Foucault, the history of modern society is represented by an increase in
individual surveillance – a good contemporary example is the use of your
mobile phone. It knows what you like and dislike. Another example is the use
of CCTV – your whole commuting journey is monitored. It’s enlightening and
frightening at the same time. Another example: the Census survey.
(2) Docile bodies are bodies that can be subjugated, transformed and improved –
docile bodies comes through the process of surveillance and regulation. He
says that this leads to a normalisation.
(3) We see disciplined bodies in prison, at school and in clinics – we see
disciplined bodies everywhere. It’s not a top down process. The discipline
process is part of everything that we do. Power is not itself a discipline. Power
is simply how it is exercised. Example: going to the gym – you create a
discipline of your own body.
