The Truman Show A look at Panopticism from the film
Dec 28, 2015
The Truman Show A look at Panopticism from the film
The Subtlety of PowerDisciplinary power is subtle form of control
We make choices without knowing that we are making the choiceThe function is so engrained in our routine that it is a pre-
conscience decision Foucault's argument is that disciplinary power (the
panopticon) becomes so normal that we do not even realize that our choices are controlled
Eliminates the necessity of overt control / dominance because we begin to police ourselves We are subjects (free will) We are objects (conscience)
Power and VisibilityThe concept of “surveillance” becomes critical to
controlling the behavior of the individualDoesn’t necessarily mean cameraSurveillance can occur through anything that
modifies our behavior
Panoptic Power is exerted through visibility
“Discipline makes possible the operation of a relational power that sustains itself by its own mechanism and which, for the spectacle of public events, substitutes the uninterrupted play of calculated gazes.”
Power and VisibilityThis power emerges through the concept of discipline
as a mechanism for controlling populations Power is exerted through the creation of desire and
necessityRightsCapitalExpertise / education
Creates “docile” people
that accept the world as it
is because of the potential
benefits it provides
We are objects of “surveillance”…
The foundations of the criticism is the normalizing function of repression Panoptic power – the idea of constant presence
as a mechanism for controlling populations
Moving disciplinary power from the
penitentiary to the streetUse of security cameras“dummy cameras”
And subjects of surveillance
Its purpose is to make it so that every individual is simultaneously the watcher and being watched at the same time “plain clothes cops” “the informed citizen”
“if
Panopticism in the Parent Child Relationship
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Lyrics:
“He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you’re wake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.
You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I’m telling you why; Santa Claus is coming to town.”
The Hidden Meaning:“He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you’re wake,
he knows if you’ve been bad or good”This song signifies Santa’s omniscient abilities
“You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I’m telling you why”
It controls children’s behavior through fear of not getting gifts
We Are Both Objects…There is a disciplinary force that controls others
and governs their free willChristof is the director
CHRISTOFTRUMAN
Is there another force that controls the choices
And SubjectsIndividuals police others to make sure everyone
follows the rulesDiscipline creates a structure that allows us to
separate normal behavior from abnormal behaviorHow do they police Truman?How do they police one another in the film?
Disciplinary PowerIn the Truman Show, there are two primary
mechanisms of disciplinary powerFear – knowledge of potential consequences
mitigates Truman’s desire to explore or leave the island
Dependence – the idea of dependence reduces his ability to leave the island
Discipline Through FearOne of the major themes of the movie is the
idea that they must mitigate his desire to leave the island
According to Cristof, they had to manufacture reasons to keep Truman from escaping the island. This happens in a lot of places:His jobHis loss of a family memberHis environment
Discipline Through his jobHis job as a insurance agent makes him risk
averse because he has to assess risks on a daily basis
Discipline Through his jobHis job as a insurance agent makes him risk
averse because he has to assess risks on a daily basis
Fear of DrowningTruman is afraid of water which keeps him from
exploring
Fear of DrowningTruman is afraid of water which keeps him from exploring
Fear of the environment
Fear of his environment
Disciplining TrumanMakes him fear risk
His job as an insurance salesman (risk averse) – frames all his choices
His father dies in the ocean to make him fear sailing His teacher tells him there is nothing left to explore His wife wants him to have a child His travel agent has posters that highlight dangers of
travel and cant book his flight His bus driver breaks down the bus When he wants to drive away
Traffic jamForest fireNuclear meltdown
Power Through Dependence
Power can also be demonstrated in a much more subtle fashionDoesn’t have to be fear for your own safety It can also be through value that you associate
with relationships you have with other peopleEstablishing relationships of dependence makes it
impossible for you to leave
Power through Dependence
Family His mom gets sick
Mom gets sick in order to prevent him from going after girl when she leaves the island
He gets married Makes him dependent on other people so he cant just do whatever he
wants
His dumb friend Makes it impossible to leave – doesn’t want to abandon his friend
Having a child Cause kids crush dreams
They want to delay the travel in order to make the pregnancy possible
Disciplining the ActorsTells the actors what to think / what to say
Determines which actors can speak to TrumanThe woman
Determines which actors can interact with TrumanThe guy on the ladder
Free willIs he free / did he truly escape