The Utopia of Orwell and Foucault Essay -- Panopticism 1984

The Utopia of Orwell and FoucaultTwo ways of exercising power over men, of controlling their relations, of separating out their dangerous compartmentalisations. The plague stricken town, transversed throughout with hierarchy, surveillance, observation, committal to writing the town immobilized by the functioning of an extensive power that bears in a distinct way over all individual bodies-this is the utopia of the perfectly governed urban center (Foucault, 6) This quote extracted from the Essay Panopticism written by Michel Foucault perfectly describes in level the controls put on the citizens of Big Brothers Oceania in George Orwells 1984. Through control of relation, surveillance, and separating out their dangerous mixtures Big Brother obtains a government system, which is described by Foucault as a Utopia. The Utopia relies upon more than unitary method of control as noted by Foucault, but the outlying(prenominal) most significant method is surveillance. The telescreen rece ived and transmittes simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, close the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it moreover, as long he remained within the field of vision which the surface plaque was commanded, he could be seen as well as hear (Orwell, 6). In Orwells 1984 the surveillance is achieved by the distressing, constant presence of the telescreen. No individual was free of the thought that the vigilant telescreen would catch you in most undefiable act, which would lead to unquestionable vaporization. This enclosed, segmented space, observed at every point, in which the individuals are inserted in a fixed place, in which the slightest movements are supervised, in which all events are recorded (Foucault, 5) The panopticon in Foucault strive is stressing exactly the sa... ...e knew he would be before his ideas were heard. Big Brothers cleverly organized, and cynical government curb Winstons ideas. He used the methods of control presented to you in Michel Foucaults essay Panopticism, which are surveillance, control of relations, and separating out their dangerous mixtures. The telescreens presence modify Winstons way of life. Control of relations changed Winstons outlook on the people in his life. Separating the dangerous mixtures is what killed him. He joined a mixture which was separated, separated by killing him. The ironic similarities within the two full treatment are mind boggling and intriguing, but the truth in it all is what is rightfully remarkable. Works Cited Foucault, Michel. Panopticism. Discipline and Punish. New York Vintage Books, 1979. Orwell, George. 1984. New York The New American Library Inc., 1983.