As I was reading Foucault's, Discipline and Punish for my final paper, I made a connection that I wanted to share.
In the beginning of his article, he describes the plague that hit a nineteenth century town. All the people were to stay inside their homes, fearing death if they disobeyed. Everything that happened during this plague hold up was recorded by officials who would come by the houses daily to see if anyone had died, was deathly ill, or was still healthy. This event gave the officials the right to take over the power of the people. Foucault says that the plague is a type of dream for those who are in power because it gives them free reign to govern over the people how ever they please.
I related this to a modern day event, 9/11. I feel as thought the terrorists represent the plague. They was led into our country unknowingly. After that day occurred, we were scared, didn't want to travel or leave home. The Bush administration told us that we were at a code red and that everyone should look out for people who looked like "the terrorists". The people of America did not think twice when Bush told us that we were going to war to fight the terrorists. He had total control. He dreamed of this situation. Any thought?
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2 comments:
i think i have to agree. life post 9/11 has given everyone a sort of place and function. when you go to the airport you have to look out for mysterious baggage. but i don't know if it operates in the same form of the plague. the plague made people accountable for relaying the truth about their condition. individuals then become responsible for their own subjection. so the plauge and panoptican are examples of two mechanisms of power that hold implications about the initement to regulation in everyday life?
this is just sort of me studying and reviewing myself. i can't be held to any sort of accuracy.:)
and by initement of course i mean incitement.
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