1. Pomo theorist: Focault
Objective:
-to be able to understand Focault’s theory
Outcome:
-be able to apply his theory to media ‘texts’

2. Starter 1
• A) 3 prison officers, 5 prisoners
– Officers in centre
– Prisoners around them
• B) 3 prison officers, 5 prisoners
– Officers in classroom
– Prisoners in small room (cell)

3. Starter 1 - Questions
• Scene A
–
–
–
–
How did you feel?
Why did you feel that way?
How did you behave?
Why do you think you behaved that way?
• Scene B
–
–
–
–
How did you feel?
Why did you feel that way?
How did you behave?
Why do you think you behaved that way?
• The difference?
– How do did you behave differently from scene a to b?
– Why do you think you behaved differently?

4. Starter 2
• Imagine your ‘best’ Facebook profile picture
– Does it actually look like the ‘real’ you?
– How did you make yourself look ideal?
– Why did you make yourself look ideal?
– Why do you think the idea of an audience looking
at this picture/profile changes you and your
behaviour?
– What is the ‘effect’ of ‘idealising’ yourself online?

5. Key terms
• Pan = ?
• Optic = ?
• Voyeurism = ?

6. Key terms
• Pan = sweeping movement to reveal more
(broad view or broad in scope)
• Optic = using sight
• Voyeurism = the act of watching

7. Key Terms
• Panopticon = circular prison well cells around
outside with central surveillance station
• Panoptic/Panoptical = including everything
visible in 1 view

8. Panopticon – the prison
• The Panopiticon was an innovate prison
design by English philosopher Jeremy
Bentham in 1785. In it he designed a prison in
which all inmates could be constantly
watched or be under the threat of being
watched.

10. Michel Foucault (1926-1984)
• Foucault's ideas centred on
History, particularly around how
we know about the world around
us and each other. He wrote
extensively on the history of
sexuality and gender and was a
pioneer of "Queer Theory" he
main contributions include.
• Panopticalisation
• Knowledge and Power
• He died from an AID's related
illness in 1984

11. Focault – main points
• Foucault's ideas explain why we are so obsessed with Voyeurism in
Postmodernity.
• Foucault thought that ‘the panopticon’ was interesting and started to
apply the idea to Society
• Foucault suggested that the act of watching (voyeurism) was an act of
power and control on part of the viewer. We are never ourselves in social
situations until we are alone away from others controlling sight.
• Because of this people act differently and the act of watching becomes
an act of control.
• Recently Foucault's ideas have been used to understand Reality TV and
the Media.

12. Task
Group 1
Catfish
Marisha
Jodie
Laura
Group 2
Group 3
Reality TV:
big brother/
I’m a celeb, get me out of
here!
Social Networking:
Facebook, twitter etc
Chelsea
Pam
Russ
Abigail
Rosie

13. Task
• To what extent are these texts ‘Panopticon’s?
• How does the feeling change for the audience vs. the people being
watched?
• Are the people in the texts (contestants/people’s profile) real or
hyperreal? How? Why?
• How does it feel watching these texts?
• The audience are voyeurs; are they dependant on observing others? Why?
• How is the audience ‘in control’ while watching/observing these texts?

14. Presentations
• Present your sheets

15. Summary of Focualt
 Voyeurism (the act of
watching) changes the way
people behave/present
themselves
 Reality TV reflects a
voyeuristic Postmodern
society
 Social Networking and the
internet give us greater
control over voyeurism

16. Homework – Due Thur
• Choose 1, 2, 3 of the ‘texts’ today.
• Task: Write a written response applying Focault’s theory
– Start essay by explaining context of the panopticon and
Focault’s theory (main points)
– Use the questions as prompts
– If doing 2-3 texts, compare similarities/differences
– About 1-1 ½ pages