A panopticon is a circular building that allows all people within it to be viewed at one time. There are no ways of hiding and privacy is non-existent. This is applied in the hope to stop any unruly behaviour and maintain strict control.
I believe that any teaching or educational institute can be seen using similar techniques to create their own panopticon. Leeds Art College for example monitors attendance, the number of times you log in, the types of websites you are using and cctv throughout the whole building. What this results in is a ‘docile body’, one that is obedient and ‘self-regulating’. Foucault concluded that ‘He who is subjected to a field of visibility, and who knows it, assumes responsibility for the constraints of power’. It is impossible to act any other way than that of what is dictated to you. Foucault stated ‘He is seen but he does not see; he is the object of information’, meaning it is not evident that you are being watched but truthfully every move you make is scrutinized by the figure in charge of the panopticon. If you’re caught ‘misbehaving’ then punishment or even exclusion is highly probable. A common form of punishment when the rules of the panopticon were first employed was public humiliation. Not too dissimilar to being excluded or expelled.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Sustainability and capitalism
‘The most common definition of sustainability is from Brundtland Commission’s Our Common Future: “sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. However what is more often than not disregarded is the negative affect this demand may have on those unable to meet the demands.
Sustainability as the mass see it is a fairly new concept despite sustainability being an old term. How we see it today is being ‘green’, producing less carbon emission and reducing your carbon footprint. These are all new terms and ‘buzzwords’ introduced to us within the last 10 years. The ‘green revolution’ has been drilled into us and undoubtedly any negative affects seem impossible or at least improbable. On the contrary what has occurred is the inability for LEDC to meet the new demands set by the capitalist voice that controls the MEDC. ‘The emergence of environmental technologies has further oppressed the poor’ What is therefore realized is ‘the Brundtland Commission resulted in a vague, human centered definition that does not recognize the external limits on the human systems’. Not fully understanding the effect capitalist ideals have more often than not lead to crisis or problems even when it comes to something as seemingly innocent and moral as being sustainable. One has to realize that capitalism encourages consumption and as a result often results in supply problems. If buyers and sellers are given control of markets with a laissez-faire government attitudes, booms and of course slumps are immanent. Therefore with the sale of oil and burning of fossil fuels playing such a large part in a capitalist economy a shortage was indefinite. Sustainability could therefore be identified as capitalisms way of covering its tracks. Yet again a result of new green policies has affected some negatively. ‘Capitalism is not a simplistic linear system in which subsumes singular items. Rather it’s a diverse web that is continuously expanding and trapping things’. Donella Meadows attempts to address the Bruntland Commission’s limitations in her book, Limits to Growth: “a sustainable society is one that can persist over generations, one that is far- seeing enough, flexible enough, and wise enough not to undermine either its physical or social systems of support” (Meadows 8). This is a far more accurate and fair idea of sustainability but one that has not been voiced by capitalist countries. I do however feel It is possible for Capitalism and sustainability to run alongside but a different approach is needed. Although it is a common characteristic of capitalism to think of future generations, this is done within capitalism not outside of it.
‘The most common definition of sustainability is from Brundtland Commission’s Our Common Future: “sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. However what is more often than not disregarded is the negative affect this demand may have on those unable to meet the demands.
Sustainability as the mass see it is a fairly new concept despite sustainability being an old term. How we see it today is being ‘green’, producing less carbon emission and reducing your carbon footprint. These are all new terms and ‘buzzwords’ introduced to us within the last 10 years. The ‘green revolution’ has been drilled into us and undoubtedly any negative affects seem impossible or at least improbable. On the contrary what has occurred is the inability for LEDC to meet the new demands set by the capitalist voice that controls the MEDC. ‘The emergence of environmental technologies has further oppressed the poor’ What is therefore realized is ‘the Brundtland Commission resulted in a vague, human centered definition that does not recognize the external limits on the human systems’. Not fully understanding the effect capitalist ideals have more often than not lead to crisis or problems even when it comes to something as seemingly innocent and moral as being sustainable. One has to realize that capitalism encourages consumption and as a result often results in supply problems. If buyers and sellers are given control of markets with a laissez-faire government attitudes, booms and of course slumps are immanent. Therefore with the sale of oil and burning of fossil fuels playing such a large part in a capitalist economy a shortage was indefinite. Sustainability could therefore be identified as capitalisms way of covering its tracks. Yet again a result of new green policies has affected some negatively. ‘Capitalism is not a simplistic linear system in which subsumes singular items. Rather it’s a diverse web that is continuously expanding and trapping things’. Donella Meadows attempts to address the Bruntland Commission’s limitations in her book, Limits to Growth: “a sustainable society is one that can persist over generations, one that is far- seeing enough, flexible enough, and wise enough not to undermine either its physical or social systems of support” (Meadows 8). This is a far more accurate and fair idea of sustainability but one that has not been voiced by capitalist countries. I do however feel It is possible for Capitalism and sustainability to run alongside but a different approach is needed. Although it is a common characteristic of capitalism to think of future generations, this is done within capitalism not outside of it.
Lefebvre
All spaces exist in a place before you have entered it and therefore an assumption is made that a certain etiquette or behavior is required. The Leeds college of art library for example requires silence, slow movement, no food or drink and generally polite behavior. The rows of books are aligned perfectly in an order that allows free movement between shelves but does not leave much space for sitting or passing others. I guess a sort of claustrophobic affect is created which helps enforce the idea that fast movement like running is disallowed. Another prominent feature of the library is the large security barriers that you must walk through to enter. They supposedly set off alarms if you take a book that isn’t checked out. However I believe they do much more than simply this. They are a powerful reminder of what is expected of you once you have passed them, like bouncers at a club for example. Another factor I see that plays a large part in appropriating the space is the receptionist desk by the entrance. You could say it was panoptic due to its shape. Its half-moon/rectangular shape allows the receptionists to see everyone that enters and leaves the library giving the feeling of being watched. In addition im sure there are CCTV cameras throughout however I have grown so used to this panoptic existence that I haven taken the time to check, pre-existence of space conditions you could say.
All spaces exist in a place before you have entered it and therefore an assumption is made that a certain etiquette or behavior is required. The Leeds college of art library for example requires silence, slow movement, no food or drink and generally polite behavior. The rows of books are aligned perfectly in an order that allows free movement between shelves but does not leave much space for sitting or passing others. I guess a sort of claustrophobic affect is created which helps enforce the idea that fast movement like running is disallowed. Another prominent feature of the library is the large security barriers that you must walk through to enter. They supposedly set off alarms if you take a book that isn’t checked out. However I believe they do much more than simply this. They are a powerful reminder of what is expected of you once you have passed them, like bouncers at a club for example. Another factor I see that plays a large part in appropriating the space is the receptionist desk by the entrance. You could say it was panoptic due to its shape. Its half-moon/rectangular shape allows the receptionists to see everyone that enters and leaves the library giving the feeling of being watched. In addition im sure there are CCTV cameras throughout however I have grown so used to this panoptic existence that I haven taken the time to check, pre-existence of space conditions you could say.
5 bullet points explaining the main thrust of your argument.
Music IS standardized as it is evident in popular music today. Rhianna for example releases songs that replace the last hit but aren’t too different. This is explained in adornos writing.
Record companies only use a beautiful person with an alright voice you have to fit the ‘criteria’.
Pseudo-individualization = disguising standardization
Is it possible to be unique?
All music follows certain patterns and has cadences and melodies so surely all music is standardized….?
I find katy perry annoying beyond belief. Her music videos are particularly cringey. I find it hard to comprehend that she has a largely jouvenile fan base but still represents herself in a slutty, I’ll bow down to any man sort of mannor. She sexualizes everything from the fairy cakes that cover her breasts to the way she acts every time a half good-looking man is around. Her video for Teenage Dream follows her and a boyfriend speeding in a car to a party, there’s nudity and enough sexual petting to get the father of any child fan excited. BLUUUUUGHHH! Its completely wrong and sets a bad example to children.
However I don’t feel she is completely responsible, instead a sort of puppet the record companies use to fill their pockets with money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz2z87KHpN0 - Heres a little example of how child friendly katy perry is.
Music IS standardized as it is evident in popular music today. Rhianna for example releases songs that replace the last hit but aren’t too different. This is explained in adornos writing.
Record companies only use a beautiful person with an alright voice you have to fit the ‘criteria’.
Pseudo-individualization = disguising standardization
Is it possible to be unique?
All music follows certain patterns and has cadences and melodies so surely all music is standardized….?
I find katy perry annoying beyond belief. Her music videos are particularly cringey. I find it hard to comprehend that she has a largely jouvenile fan base but still represents herself in a slutty, I’ll bow down to any man sort of mannor. She sexualizes everything from the fairy cakes that cover her breasts to the way she acts every time a half good-looking man is around. Her video for Teenage Dream follows her and a boyfriend speeding in a car to a party, there’s nudity and enough sexual petting to get the father of any child fan excited. BLUUUUUGHHH! Its completely wrong and sets a bad example to children.
However I don’t feel she is completely responsible, instead a sort of puppet the record companies use to fill their pockets with money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz2z87KHpN0 - Heres a little example of how child friendly katy perry is.
Semiotic analysis
The first part of the newspaper that is most striking is the word ‘GOTCHA’ taking up around a quarter of the page. I feel that slang is used to attract the interests of those most interested in reading a less sophisticated newspaper, typical of the Sun even today. Under the heading it explains simply what is meant by GOTCHA by using more slang. I guess you could say the newspaper is trying to sound like a mate talking to you so is more heart felt. The way they have used the phrase ‘our lads’ increases interest in the reader because one can identify the article as something that is happening to them and/or people they know.
After reading the Heading and captions my eye is drawn to the pictures. What is most obvious about these is how they describe the boats as being sunk and crippled, almost as if the paper was reporting on a sports match or something of far less importance. This is then taken further by calling the Argentineans Argies. I believe this is an attempt to generate patriotic rivalry and mask/dumb down the real seriousness of the situation. To conclude I believe that the sun is taking an almost propaganda approach mass-producing the publication to spread around the whole country. Its obviously one sided, and is attempting to unite its readers against another country by using clever techniques that make the war seem far less to worry about and more something to be celebrating. Hardly a very humane way of celebrating considering the lives of many men were lost.
Adorno – popular music
Adorno believed that all music was standardized apart from his favorite genre of classical. I feel this was his downside as it can be seen as obviously bias. He believed that standardized music exists in order to be preconceived by the listener ensuring success for the record companies. What he theorized is the way it is pseudo-individualized, meaning its sameness is disguised with blue chords and dirty notes. The only reason I can see that he believed classical did not follow the same rules is due to its randomness and unpredictable nature. However despite this there is an argument to say that classical music has perfect cadences meaning it still follows a genre rule.
Adorno believed that all music was standardized apart from his favorite genre of classical. I feel this was his downside as it can be seen as obviously bias. He believed that standardized music exists in order to be preconceived by the listener ensuring success for the record companies. What he theorized is the way it is pseudo-individualized, meaning its sameness is disguised with blue chords and dirty notes. The only reason I can see that he believed classical did not follow the same rules is due to its randomness and unpredictable nature. However despite this there is an argument to say that classical music has perfect cadences meaning it still follows a genre rule.
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