Introduction. Barbara Mitra 1

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1 Introduction Explore ideas relating to the Panopticon Apply these to reality television Highlight ideas about the surveillance society The media as judge Superpanopticon Learning Outcome 2 Critically apply theoretical considerations to generic popular texts Assignment choice A textual analysis of television programme in relation to surveillance and panopticon Analysis of television itself in relation to surveillance (which can include online television, recording with Web 3.0 etc.) Barbara Mitra 1

2 Big Brother and Reality TV Big Brother surveillance The Truman Show (1998) 15 minutes of fame Why viewers watch Voyeuristic pleasures Suffering of others reassures us Schadenfreude (pleasure at the misfortune of others) Barbara Mitra 2

3 THE PANOPTICON Bentham - 18 th century Inmates housed where every movement is observed by watchtower Foucault disciplinary power exercised by individuals Self-policing Barbara Mitra 3

4 REALITY TELEVISION Some types of reality TV Crime, intimacy, lifestyle Media as judge Phelan panopticon applied to television TV producer as guard, television viewer (us) as prisoner Big Brother and panopticon (see editing of reality television) New technologies superpanopticon (Mark Poster) Barbara Mitra 4

5 The gaze and self regulation Surveillance society (see Britain is surveillance society) Gets individuals to monitor their own behaviour Surveillance ingrained in contemporary life Self regulation at the heart of Enlightenment Kant Morally acceptable Foucault Other means of monitoring e.g. records, census etc. Barbara Mitra 5

6 SUPERPANOPTICON Information compiled into profiles It is possible to have a record of everything Information accessible We participate willingly Total surveillance Mass surveillance society But agency is possible (e.g. Jack Dee Celeb Big Brother) Barbara Mitra 6

7 Surveillance Studies Foucault panopticon is about the design of institutions Deluze networks of expanding surveillance systems, mechanics, policies, techniques Bentham tower is at the centre of surveillance Foucault prisoners at the centre of panopticon Deluze act of watching/being watched is in flux Set of relationships which are fluid/flux Barbara Mitra 7

8 Media Media gaze being watched Reality television as panoptic subject part of networked identity including through technology Images used for conditioning our behaviour Control imposed on watchers and watched 8

9 Mathiesen and the Synoptic Panopticon = few (those looking) survey the many (those being looked at) Synopticon = the many (the lookers) survey the few (the looked at). E.g. 24 hour news cycle, internet etc. But may be a representation of the real Where does power lie? Contemporary cities - prison like through surveillance. Barbara Mitra 9

10 Barbara Mitra 10

11 Essay titles Surveillance looking at a programme or programmes in relation to:- Self-surveillance Panopticon ideas and surveillance (e.g. reality TV and values) Synopticon (e.g. documentary about government etc.) Panopticon e.g. Smart TVs and surveillance. Digital television and the panoptic Barbara Mitra 11

12 Previous years essays Elements of surveillance/panopticon in Judge Judy. Can Surveillance/panopticon ideas be applied to Orange is the New Black? Analysis of GPs Behind closed doors in relation to surveillance and panopticon. Barbara Mitra 12

13 Key ideas Media in relation to self surveillance similar to the Panopticon Reality television providing us with norms to monitor our behaviour Not just media part of surveillance society (Superpanopticon) Where the images are part of control in relation to surveillance We judge and are judged The image has overtaken the structure (or architecture as Bentham first wrote about) Barbara Mitra 13

14 References Barker, C. (2008) Cultural Studies, London, Sage. Durham, M. & Kellner, D. (2001) Media and Cultural Studies Keyworks. Oxford, Blackwell. Fetveit, A. (2004) Reality TV in the Digital Era In R. Allen and A. Hill (eds.) The Television Studies Reader, London, Routledge. Rabinow, P. (ed.) (1991) The Foucault Reader. London, Penguin. Wong, J. (2001) Here s looking at you: reality TV, Big Brother and Foucault. Canadian Journal of Communication, 26(4), pp Barbara Mitra 14