According to Foucault, individualism is harmful and is constructed through the acts of disciplinary power. Thus, Foucault describes disciplinary power as a novel form of governance that modern society employs to exercise power through the use of constant surveillance (Rabinow, 1984). Disciplinary power works by conditioning, training and supervising individuals to behave in a publicly accepted manner. Prior to the emergence of disciplinary power, traditional sovereign power was demonstrated which encouraged physical violence and strict rules and regulations to control individual (Rabinow, 1984). Controversially, disciplinary power is now a subtle form of physical power which renders more control but strays away from corporal punishment.
…show more content…
Although this remains true, this is increasingly seen within the educational system. From an early age, the school system teaches children what they should and should not do according to school standards. Thus, children are expected to remain seated while the teacher speaks, raise their hand if they have to speak and follow a routine outlined by someone of a higher power. If an individual deviates from these norms they are compared to their peers in a negative light and consequently punished. To further illustrate how normalizing judgment is seen within schools is seen when a higher power measures children in quantitative terms by issuing grades for academic achievement. This produces a hierarchal system of academically gifted children verses those who are not. Moreover, standardized testing is issued to students, which allows for the creation of a conformed group of individuals who successfully complete the test. Consequently, if a student fails to pass a standardized test, is talking out in class or not following orders, they are visibly deviating from the norm. Erroneously, they are abnormal in the eyes of higher power which is a punishment in itself. In modern society, many children are senselessly being diagnosed with learning disorders and there is an increasing issue with bullying. Thus, these children are examples …show more content…
Thus, the case, or an “individual may be described, judged, measured, and compared with others” (Rabinow, 1984). Foucault remarked that the use of examinations construct a highly homogenous group. According to Foucault, normalizing judgments, especially within schools form an environment where persons are highly individualized and easily comparable to others. Comparatively, CCTV’s act in the same manner. Individuals who are trained to watch recordings or live-feeds of CCTV surveillance are trained to look at what is going against the norm and pay less attention to normal behaviour. Unfortunately, the emergence of CCTV’s hierarchal power has eliminated front line policing jobs that would be able to judge a situation more accurately than what is being recorded on camera. For example, a person running out of a store would like abnormal on CCTV but could potentially be as simple as someone in a hurry. Thus, Foucault illustrates that this is a sinister form of power because hierarchal power and normalizing judgments, combined create homogenous society that can negatively effect society and how individuals are perceived through hierarchical
Although this remains true, this is increasingly seen within the educational system. From an early age, the school system teaches children what they should and should not do according to school standards. Thus, children are expected to remain seated while the teacher speaks, raise their hand if they have to speak and follow a routine outlined by someone of a higher power. If an individual deviates from these norms they are compared to their peers in a negative light and consequently punished. To further illustrate how normalizing judgment is seen within schools is seen when a higher power measures children in quantitative terms by issuing grades for academic achievement. This produces a hierarchal system of academically gifted children verses those who are not. Moreover, standardized testing is issued to students, which allows for the creation of a conformed group of individuals who successfully complete the test. Consequently, if a student fails to pass a standardized test, is talking out in class or not following orders, they are visibly deviating from the norm. Erroneously, they are abnormal in the eyes of higher power which is a punishment in itself. In modern society, many children are senselessly being diagnosed with learning disorders and there is an increasing issue with bullying. Thus, these children are examples …show more content…
Thus, the case, or an “individual may be described, judged, measured, and compared with others” (Rabinow, 1984). Foucault remarked that the use of examinations construct a highly homogenous group. According to Foucault, normalizing judgments, especially within schools form an environment where persons are highly individualized and easily comparable to others. Comparatively, CCTV’s act in the same manner. Individuals who are trained to watch recordings or live-feeds of CCTV surveillance are trained to look at what is going against the norm and pay less attention to normal behaviour. Unfortunately, the emergence of CCTV’s hierarchal power has eliminated front line policing jobs that would be able to judge a situation more accurately than what is being recorded on camera. For example, a person running out of a store would like abnormal on CCTV but could potentially be as simple as someone in a hurry. Thus, Foucault illustrates that this is a sinister form of power because hierarchal power and normalizing judgments, combined create homogenous society that can negatively effect society and how individuals are perceived through hierarchical