1. A look at Panopticism from the film
The Truman Show
A look at Panopticism from the film

2. The Subtlety of Power Disciplinary power is subtle form of control
We make choices without knowing that we are making the choice
The 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)

3. Power and Visibility
The concept of “surveillance” becomes critical to controlling the behavior of the individual
Doesn’t necessarily mean camera
Surveillance 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.”

4. Power and Visibility
This power emerges through the concept of discipline as a mechanism for controlling populations
Power is exerted through the creation of desire and necessity
Rights
Capital
Expertise / education
Creates “docile” people
that accept the world as it
is because of the potential
benefits it provides

5. 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 street
Use of security cameras
“dummy cameras”

6. 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
If everyone is a terrorist no one is a terrorist

7. 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.”

8. 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

9. We Are Both Objects…
There is a disciplinary force that controls others and governs their free will
Christof is the director
CHRIST OF
TRU
MAN
Is there another force that controls the choices

10. And Subjects
Individuals police others to make sure everyone follows the rules
Discipline creates a structure that allows us to separate normal behavior from abnormal behavior
How do they police Truman?
How do they police one another in the film?

11. Disciplinary Power
In the Truman Show, there are two primary mechanisms of disciplinary power
Fear – 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

12. Discipline Through Fear
One 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 job
His loss of a family member
His environment

13. Discipline Through his job
His job as a insurance agent makes him risk averse because he has to assess risks on a daily basis

14. Discipline Through his job
His job as a insurance agent makes him risk averse because he has to assess risks on a daily basis

15. Fear of Drowning
Truman is afraid of water which keeps him from exploring

16. Fear of Drowning
Truman is afraid of water which keeps him from exploring

17. Fear of the environment

18. Fear of his environment

19. Disciplining Truman Makes 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 jam
Forest fire
Nuclear meltdown

20. Power Through Dependence
Power can also be demonstrated in a much more subtle fashion
Doesn’t have to be fear for your own safety
It can also be through value that you associate with relationships you have with other people
Establishing relationships of dependence makes it impossible for you to leave

21. 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

22. Disciplining the Actors
Tells the actors what to think / what to say
Determines which actors can speak to Truman
The woman
Determines which actors can interact with Truman
The guy on the ladder

23. Free will
Is he free / did he truly escape