Foucault Reading

Throughout the reading, Foucault portrays society as a large body whose purpose is to “shape and train” it’s citizens. He discusses the matter of the workshop, the school, and the army, as being subjected to a “micropenality” of time, activity, behavior, speech, the body, and sexuality. In society today these three institutions are run very similarly to one another, some stricter than others. In the workplace arriving on time is very important. “Lateness, absences, interruption of tasks”, will ultimately lead to some form of punishment, whether it is restricted working hours or getting fired. This sentiment of punishment trains citizens to arrive in a timely fashion and perform up to their best standards. In schools activity is taught to be very important for the success of students. “Inattention, negligence, [and] lack of zeal” calls for some sort of punishment to straighten a student out. Students are taught in schools to pay attention and work hard to become successful. If they are found goofing off or violating the rules some form of suspension or detention is inflicted. In the army behavior is heavily doted upon. If a soldier acts out, there is usually some form of exhausting physical punishment inflicted, or mental punishment where they are put down and reprimanded. This form of punishment trains soldiers to obey their commanders and not to act out against the rules. The body, which focuses on “‘incorrect’ attitudes, irregular gestures, [and] lack of cleanliness”, causes notion for punishment in all three institutions. In the workplace a boss may casually mention to a coworker that they are not hygienic and should alter their daily regiment, or if they have an attitude problem they may receive a warning before any drastic measures are taken. In schools, a student may also receive a warning before any form of punishment is inflicted. But, in the army any form of acting out or bad attitudes calls for immediate punishment where the soldier is publicly embarrassed. Finally the social norms regarding sexuality prohibit “impurity [and] indecency” in any of the institutions. Forms of punishment may vary, but ultimately any person, an employee, a student, or a soldier, would be reprimanded for inappropriate sexual actions. Overall, Foucault portrays society’s reliance on the sentiment of punishment to force individuals to act accordingly to social norms. All institutions may be regarded as similar because any actions deemed inappropriate result in either physical punishment or embarrassment. This sort of control over society allows for an institution to be regarded as a machine that forms and shapes citizens to act accordingly to society’s regulations.