The Panopticon
The Panopticon is all around us, invisible, shaping, molding and structuring us for a cause that we don't necessarily fit into. Through a silent intimidation and fear it is able to instill in us a conduct code: a way to act. It works for a capitalistic cause, pushing and de-humanizing people to better itself. It is important to realize that the panoptic structure usually has a leader, whom if successful can create mechanic minions to carry out the purpose of the structure as a whole. The mechanism through which rules are conveyed is knowledge of repercussion and threat of punishment. However awful it does sound, it often does maintain structure, but it can destroy the individuality of those who let it possess them. However omnipresent the theory of Panopitism is, it prevails most commonly in the workforce shaping and molding workers for the cause of the person or people who own it. The theory burrows deeper than a set of workplace decency laws; it settles into the subconscious motivations and actions of the workers. Using fictional names, I have chosen to write about my own personal experience with the Panoptic theory. I have seen it, firsthand, change personalities and infringe the freedom of worker privacy. It creeps through us
A few months passed by, things were pretty much the same. Everyone was respectful of one another and we were all getting along just fine. Things began to slide slowly at this point. Management had felt comfortable enough with everyone that they could tighten their grip on silly policies. They began to grow more serious; employees and management began quarreling more often, people were getting laid off. During the summer of 2000 I needed to find a job for the coming school year, one that was flexible and that paid high. I decided on a server job at a local restaurant. Its popularity ranks it one of the best restaurants in the South Shore. On top of award winning service and food, tables turn really fast and the money is outstanding. I began there as a server and was quickly making good money. The people working there were outgoing and funny, pleasant to work with. The management was new, freshly trained and nice at the start. Everyone seemed to be working in harmony, getting tasks done and helping each other out when need be. We maintained a level of seriousness that let us maximize our own profits, while doing good business for the company. We were all working at full capacity, after all working as a server isn't exactly all too serious. Everyone was there to make some quick cash to pay off his or her expenses. Funny enough, the cameras worked. Management began to act differently, less outgoing and personable, more a product of someone else's desire. I felt so invaded by the cameras that I swore I wouldn't act any differently, and I haven't. I've kept my sense of humor, kept nibbling on food when I'm hungry. If they came in the door and told me they saw me eating on camera, I'd throw down my apron and work somewhere else. Nothing is more important to me than respect and trust. If someone puts a camera on me, I feel like I'm in a jail cel
Some common words found in the essay are:
South Shore, , panoptic theory, panoptic theory seen, nibbling food, eating bread, shaping molding, theory seen,
Approximate Word count = 1251
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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