STUDY TASK 3 - PANOPTICISM

One aspect of contemporary culture which is particularly panoptic is the use of speed cameras on the roads. These machines are placed on roads all over the UK to monitor and control motorists speed and driving behaviour. These cameras have a huge affect on the population and in affect slow every single driver down. Speed cameras work because of the punishment that is associated. If motorists are caught speeding they will be punished which will cost them money and they could potentially be banned from driving in some cases. It is the fear of beeing watched and caught which deters people from speeding just like in the panopticon. "Visibility is a trap," ( Foucault : 64) motorists are forced to pass these money making, controlling contraptions on a daily bases so there is no escape from the gaze of the lens. Speed Cameras cost a fortune to run and not all of them are turned on at all times which means people could easily speed past if they knew what cameras were out of order. The fact that the cameras still have the same effect when turned off is quite amazing, "the inmate must never know whether he is being looked at at any one moment: but he must be sure that he may always be so," (Foucault : 65) it is the not knowing that keeps the automatic functioning of power. Motorists can't take the risk of speeding in these situations as the punishment for being caught is quite extreme. Speed cameras in a way, "induce the inmate into a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power," (Foucault :65) once they know they are beeing watched people will alter their behaviour to suit what is deemed acceptable in this case sticking to the speed limit.

Speed cameras can only photograph cars passing by the camera as appossed to heading towards it. But Simple tricks like having speed markings on both sides of the road work in a panoptic manor tricking motorists that pass by. Drivers may see the markings on their side of the road and in turn slow down, even though there is no risk of being caught, but in the minds of some motorists they believe their is the chance of 'retribution', "they are caught up in a power situation of which they are themselves the bearers," (Foucault : 65) Motorists tend to correct their behaviour without even knowing, other drivers abiding to the rules tends to influence others to follow suit and behave in a manor that seems normal. However this is not always the case as there are still people speeding out their and getting caught which shows the system does not work entirely. People are still breaking the rules and as the world develops we are becoming increasingly monitored accessed and analyzed, "The ideal point of penalty today would be extended without limit to a meticulous and ever more analyitical observation, a judgement that would at the same time be the constitution of a file that was never closed, the calculated leniency of a penalty that would be interlaced with ruthless curiosity of examination." (Foucault : 70)