Michel Foucault>, a la
Shmoop: Disciple, discourse and power.
>
Bonjour, mon ami.
So nice of you to join me today.
I was just finishing up lunch with a friend.
Take care, Celine.
I'll call you.
Give my best to Rene.
My name is Michel Foucault, and I am a philosopher
and social theorist.
I am also a singer, but that's really more
just something I do in the shower.
I'd like to talk to you about a few things
that I feel passionately about.
You'll know when I'm getting passionate, because
my cheeks get all rosy.
Trust me... my cheeks get rosy a lot.
First is the concept of discipline.
I'm not talking about parents who spank their
children...
...or leather-clad women with whips and stools.
Which is what your children will grow up to
be when you spank them, by the way.
Mais non>...
I'm really referring to disciplinary power
wielded by institutions that are backed by
the state.
The whole "Big Brother" thing.
Except... the rules they want you to follow
have been deeply engrained in you by these
institutions...
...so they don't even need a big monitor with
roving eyes to keep tabs on you.
They know that you are going to automatically
turn on your left turn signal as you approach
the intersection...
...even though there isn't another car for
miles.
If they wanted to send you in a trance to
pick up their dry cleaning, they could probably
manage that, too.
The use of discipline has made us mindless,
obedient sheep.
And that is baaaad.
Here's another one... and I can feel my cheeks
getting rosy already...
"Discourse."
Discourse includes all written and spoken
examples of communication.
We're talking speech, love notes, sign language,
vulgar gestures, semaphore... everything.
But all discourse is tied up to and connected
with all other discourse.
So unfortunately, all of the power hierarchies
in society are bound by language, and can't
really escape them.
For example, we use the word "prison" to describe
capital punishment...
...and therefore, "prison" will always be
the way we think of punishment.
Because of our limited discourse, we can't
really envision escaping these kinds of power
structures.
Last but not least, let's chat about "power"
for a second.
Not every type of power can just be recharged
when it starts flashing red.
There is another type of power... the power
that so encompasses the human mind that it
can actually enact a significant change on
a person's personality, on their thoughts,
their feelings...
Power controls our will.
There is the power of the state, which is
felt when tax time rolls around.
There is the power of people over one another,
which is felt when one demands that their
fiancé sign a pre-nuptial agreement.
Power is addictive... and dangerous.
It can lead to manipulation and domination.
And... we're right back to discipline.
Well, that's just about enough for today.
Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to
go ice my cheeks.
