Panopticism - writing task

Media networks have increasingly evolved over the last few years. The social demand and the need of people to communicate instantly about their daily life, activities, interest and thoughts has changed the concept of ‘being watched’ to ‘want to be watched’ to an extent. Updating status with the current activity and even the location on social medias such as Facebook and Twitter is clearly not only a way to socialise but also a ‘proof’ that what the person is doing is acceptable.

Remembering the opposition that many people had in time where security cameras where places in public places to help the fight against crime created paranoia among the society about always being watched; the position was clearly generated: you are being watched, but it shouldn't matter if you’re not doing anything wrong. In order to control a society it became necessary to implement a concept of self-behaviour to avoid getting into trouble. This growing need of social acceptance is alarmingly growing and not only that, but the demand of knowing the same about other people around you is transforming society in a sadistic way. People want see more.   

This is one of the posters advertising the film. It is expressing the point of being a sadistic way of the people in power to control certain part of the population while entertaining themselves. A society thirsty  and sadistically curious. 

   

This concept of the relationship between the institution with power and a society that’s being controlled silently gave clear inspiration to the creation of a brilliant transmedia story: The Hunger Games.
Starting as a science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins, is a story spoken from a 16 year old Katniss Everdeen who lives in a postapocalyptic North America called Panem. The main power source of this new nation is called ‘The Capitol’ which exercises political control over the rest of the nation by making an annual event in which a selected group of young people from the different districts are forced to compete in a televised battle to the death. In this world the people from the capitol, are represented as constantly thirsty society for something new, something entertaining, reflecting the idea of a reality show. The rest of the districts have to live under an oppression that is characteristic of each and one of them depending on the primary activity for development. 

The hunger games represent a reminder of punishment against past rebellions against the Capitol, but even thought is a cruel event, it is consider the main television even of every year.  The arena, despite the fact that every year is completely different, can be considered as a new representation of the Panopticon; an area that is controlled by the Gamemakers and that is constantly watched by hundreds of hidden cameras, broadcasted among the whole nation. The “tributes” or contenders have the notion that this is unavoidable, that they have to kill the other ones and that if they are interesting enough they can get higher ratings and therefore sponsorship that could help them save their lives.

This is the representation of the Gamemakers in the film adaptation. They are sitting around a 24 hour and complete view of the arena while the Hunger Games are taking place. Here they decide what to show to the society and if it gets boring for the audiences, then they'll make sure 'something' happens for their entertainment. 

Within the story you get to see a point of perspective and the transition from a lower class citizen that before she was chosen she used to accept reality as it was. Important part of the story is the transformation of this character in contrast to the realisation and new desire to stand against this power, to start a rebellion.

Among the issues the story tackles, oppression and the effects of war are the strongest ones, and along the way there are numerous morally complex strategies that are well reflected on the film adaptation directed by Gary Ross. 

Panopticism

[Discipline]
1.       Activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.2.       Punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.3.       Behaviour in accord with rules of conduct.

The concept of madness started around the 19^th century having only a few houses around England where only a few “lunatics” would be taken care under special treatment. Before that, there were houses of correction for the unemployed and idle where the idea was to modify their behaviour.

Surveillance, disciplinary power and good behaviour are some concepts that have driven society to many of the mayor human events in history.

An architectural perfect example is the Panopticon; an institutional building designed in the late 18^th century with the only purpose of observing. With circular floor plan and an inspection house in the middle the concept was to have the authority/institution observing at all time from every angle. Being Invisible to the observed at all times, created a state of conscious and permanent of always being watched inflicting self-punishment and keeping a good behaviour. Having no way to escape from the gaze the concept was planned to be implemented for schools, hospitals, day-cares and asylums, but the main function was destined for a prison.

The concept of the Panopticon was designed by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham. The top image is the abandon building of the prison Presidio Modelo in Cuba, currently a museum. 

This became a new mode of power; understanding that you’re constantly looked at, under surveillance, therefore the term Panopticism.

Now a day the concept of surveillance is part of a daily life, probably with a different approach, but concepts like open working spaces, lecture theatres, street security cameras and even google maps create a self-regulation on the social behaviour. This disciplinary technique is considered as a ‘gentle punishment’ applied to achieve docile bodies; self-monitoring, self-correcting, obedient bodies and over all, hyper efficient.

The modern concept of open offices is under cover by a friendly working environment based on co-working and social interaction, while the main object is to have and easy view of the employees optimising their efficiency by having constant pressure.  

Not being power a capacity that people can have, it’s a relation between different individuals that only exist when it is being exercised, and this exercise relied on the capacity for power to be resisted; ‘where there is power there is resistance’. 

Power to the Pixels exhibition

Before the Christmas break we had a public exhibition for our projects done for Game Art & Machinima.
It was quite cool the idea of having your work shown to the public and more than that just the experience of preparing for it it's quite different than when you do a presentation on a classroom.

The advertisement took place without much time in advance which I think was the reason for it being a bit quite. Another reason I think was the location; despite the fact that is in an area where there's and artistic community, I don't think it was the right one to attract public in general.  
It was cold and I was tired, so probably it wasn't the best of the moods to go out and network, but it certainly was an incentive to start considering in the future as seeing your work on walls sure feels nice.