Michel Foucault developed a theory of power that challenged traditional views. He argued that power is not something exercised from the top of society down, but rather circulates throughout society through dominant discourses. Discourses shape how people think and act, determining the form of society, yet no one fully controls the discourses. Foucault analyzed discourses surrounding areas like prisons, mental illness, medicine, and sexuality to understand how power functions in society.
Applying a Foucauldian Power Analysis to University / Community RelationsMichael Dillon, Ed.D.
This session will demonstrate an application of Foucault’s views of power relations to analyze University / Community relationships. Participants will be able to incorporate a Foucauldian analysis of power relations to their engagement with the community as well as other interpersonal relations.
A lecture on Foucault's History of Sexuality Volume 1, for Arts One (a first-year, interdisciplinary course) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Applying a Foucauldian Power Analysis to University / Community RelationsMichael Dillon, Ed.D.
This session will demonstrate an application of Foucault’s views of power relations to analyze University / Community relationships. Participants will be able to incorporate a Foucauldian analysis of power relations to their engagement with the community as well as other interpersonal relations.
A lecture on Foucault's History of Sexuality Volume 1, for Arts One (a first-year, interdisciplinary course) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Rethinking Michel Foucault: The Political Circle of Parrhesia and DemocracySydney Democracy Network
As part of SDN's seminar series, Professor Henrik Bang (University of Canberra) indicates perspectives on Michel Foucault that can inform our understanding of democracy.
Michel Foucault has become an exemplar in the disciplines of philosophy, sociology, history, linguistics and literary criticism. Ironically, he has never made much of an impact upon the political discipline, to which he first of all belongs, and in which he deserves a prominent position as one of the best political theorists and researchers of all time. In particular in his later strings of lectures from 1978 to 1984 he develops an empirical and normative approach to studying the political as governmentality.
The usefulness of Marxism and Critical Theory to International RelationsOwen Bell
Outlines Marxism and Critical Theory as frameworks used to understand relations between states. Assess the extent to which the liberal international order can be understood as a capitalist construct.
At the Policy department at the University of Birmingham Aston, Dr Calzada delivered the lecture on 'Frankfurt School and Critical Social Theory'. He underlined the importance of this third-way of approaching policy and social issues in-between Marxist and Weberian theory. Jurgen Habermas centred his main contribution and the debate around democracy, digital commons and participation.
This PowerPoint serves as an introduction to Michel Foucault and one of his most famous theories. It includes an example of his theory in action, and a short bibliography.
Rethinking Michel Foucault: The Political Circle of Parrhesia and DemocracySydney Democracy Network
As part of SDN's seminar series, Professor Henrik Bang (University of Canberra) indicates perspectives on Michel Foucault that can inform our understanding of democracy.
Michel Foucault has become an exemplar in the disciplines of philosophy, sociology, history, linguistics and literary criticism. Ironically, he has never made much of an impact upon the political discipline, to which he first of all belongs, and in which he deserves a prominent position as one of the best political theorists and researchers of all time. In particular in his later strings of lectures from 1978 to 1984 he develops an empirical and normative approach to studying the political as governmentality.
The usefulness of Marxism and Critical Theory to International RelationsOwen Bell
Outlines Marxism and Critical Theory as frameworks used to understand relations between states. Assess the extent to which the liberal international order can be understood as a capitalist construct.
At the Policy department at the University of Birmingham Aston, Dr Calzada delivered the lecture on 'Frankfurt School and Critical Social Theory'. He underlined the importance of this third-way of approaching policy and social issues in-between Marxist and Weberian theory. Jurgen Habermas centred his main contribution and the debate around democracy, digital commons and participation.
This PowerPoint serves as an introduction to Michel Foucault and one of his most famous theories. It includes an example of his theory in action, and a short bibliography.
Media Life is a course intended for undergraduate students across campus. Its goal is to make people aware of the role that media play in their everyday life. The key to understanding a "media life" is to see our lives not as lived WITH media (which would lead to a focus on media effects and media-centric theories of society), but rather IN media (where the distinction between what we do with and without media dissolves).
One of the revolutionary ideas put forward by Foucault is the various measures of surveillance, to ensure discipline in a society. Such a consented voyeurism always has a panopticon structure. Foucault talks about the age old prison, and how such surveillance structures are employed in other institutions from mental asylums to public schools to ensure discipline. The 184 idea of a big brother watching has gained prominence today with the internet, satellites giving rise to a virtual panopticon today.
You are attending an international journalist event and have bee.docxavaforman16457
You are attending an international journalist event and have been chosen to give a presentation of the roles of the media in influencing government and its citizens. Identify and describe the possible roles of the media in influencing government and its citizens using specific descriptive examples. Please create a PowerPoint presentation to assist you in your presentation.
As you complete your presentation, be sure to:
Use speaker's notes to expand upon the bullet point main ideas on your slides, making references to research and theory with citation.
Proof your work
Use visuals (pictures, video, narration, graphs, etc.) to compliment the text in your presentation and to reinforce your content.
Do not just write a paper and copy chunks of it into each slide. Treat this as if you were going to give this presentation live.
APA format
Length: 8-10 substantive slides (excluding cover and references slides)
Font should not be smaller than size 16-point
Parenthetical in-text citations included and formatted in APA style
References slide (a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources within the last five (5) years plus the weekly lesson )
Title and introduction slide required
weekly lesson:
Political theory was born in ancient Greece. Philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle provide us with the foundations of political theory. Plato's work,
The Republic
, includes the allegory of the cave.
The story goes something like this: You find yourself in a cave, chained to the ground, facing a stone wall. You cannot stand. All you know are the images that play out before you which are the shadows cast by a light source from behind you. You cannot see behind you, but you know that there are others in the cave with you. This is the only state you have ever known. It is your only reality of the world. Plato goes on to explain that one day, people come and remove your chains and take you out of the cave. As you can imagine, you are scared and frightened. You fight these individuals as they drag you into this new setting. However, over time you learn to accept the larger image of the world around you and come to understand life outside of the cave. You then attempt to go back into the cave to free others.
This story was Plato's attempt to explain the world around us. We only know or believe what we are exposed to. If we do not break the chains and leave our cave, we will not be exposed to anything else. What is outside our cave? Do you consistently receive your political information from one source? Did you grow up in a family that watched the same news station every night? Do you only read one news source?
This allegory emphasizes the value of knowledge. Aristotle took Plato's works and expanded on them. Plato's work was abstract and viewed people as lacking reason while Aristotle's approach focused on human rationality. Aristotle was the first to define political science and became known as the father of political science.
A brief lecture on the theories of Max Weber and an introduction to interpretivism. Also includes a social theory quiz on the works of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim.
Essay Questions. You will select one of the following questions on w.docxtheodorelove43763
Essay Questions. You will select one of the following questions on which to write an extended essay.
CREATE YOUR OWN QUESTION: Submit an essay question on which you would like to write to Dr. Holland by Monday 4/20. Prior approval required.
Using one or a combination of theories use them as a critical lens to analyze a movie (sociological movie review), a music video or popular culture.
Compare and contrast Marx’s theory with the explanations provided by Fanon and Cesaire.
How did the theory change from the first feminists to the second and third wave feminists
we studied? What changed and what remained the same?
Explain and assess the importance of Gramsci’s idea of hegemony and examine how it was
adopted by other theorists we studied.
Which theorist we have studied best embodies Gramsci’s idea of an organic intellectual?
Explain what and how this theorist uses theory to inform consciousness.
Explain Gramsci’s theory of Hegemony and using it analyze the current situation and
possibilities for social change. Envision how this happens using Gramsci’s analysis.
Explain what Audre Lorde meant by the Master’s Tools and apply it to an analysis of a
particular problem of the social structure.
How does Hartsock argue that women are a “colonized other” and what consequences
does that have for understanding the position of women?
How is Smith’s idea of bifurcation of consciousness similar to and/or different from Dubois’
double consciousness? Describe what is meant by both.
Define and explain the similarities and differences between Intersectionality (Crenshaw)
and the Matrix of Domination (Collins). Then write about a real-life example that
illustrates these ideas.
What are the major differences and similarities between the early feminists and
contemporary black feminists?
What similarities and differences are there between the Power of Nonviolent Action and
the Black Panther Party programs for social change and those of Fanon and Cesaire?
How does DuBois provide a materialist explanation of white racism in his writings on the
racial wage? Does Dubois complicate or challenge Marx’s account of class and class
conflict (which you will need to explain)?
How do WW Rostow and Immanuel Wallenstein provide differing explanations of how
nations develop economically? Which do you think is the best explanation? Why?
How does Dubois idea of double consciousness relate to James or Mead’s theories?
How does theory provide a basis to inform action for social change? Be specific and draw
on particular theorists we have examined.
How is the analysis of postcolonial theorist similar to and different from that of feminist
theorists? Be specific.
How does Anzaldua’s image/concept of the borderlands help to complicate and explain
identity? What relevance does it have for contemporary theory (explanations)?
We know the concept of alienation/estrangement through Marx. Estrangement is
distancing of people from each other or what is im.
2. The Poststructuralist Theory of Power
th
“We had to wait until the 19 century to find out
what exploitation was... maybe we still don't
know what power is today. The theory of the
state, the traditional analysis of the state doesn't
explain how power functions. This is today's
great unknown: who exercises power? And
where? We know very well that power is not in the
hands of those who govern. The notion of the
'ruling class' is neither clear nor well-developed.”
Michel Foucault, 1972
3. Foucault developed a radical new way of looking at power
that has become perhaps the most influential theory in the
social sciences (sociology, philosophy, literature, political
theory) in the last few decades.
Power isn't something that can easily be seen and
understood. It is not as simple as Weber's view of the
policeman (coercion) and politician (authority).
4. Weber, Marx, Functionalists and all previous theorists have understood
power as something that is exercised from the top of society downwards.
Bourgeoisie Army/Police Government/Parliament
Working Class/Proletariat Ordinary People Weak and powerless
Foucault challenged this and said that power is something that circulates
around society at all levels.
What does this mean?
5. Power isn't about forcing people to do what you want: it is
determined by the way we think and talk about the things
we do in everyday life.
KEYWORD: 'discourse'.
discourse'
The discourses that are dominant in society are what
shape how we think, act and behave: to understand
power we need to understand the discourses in our
society.
The discourses that are dominant determine the shape
society will take: and no-one is in full control of the
discourses that shape our lives.
6. EXAMPLES:
Which of these claims are part of the discourses that
shape our lives today and which belong to the past?
Which of these things could a modern politician get away
with saying?
European culture and society is the best in the world.
Criminals need to be violently punished to show that
crime is an offence against the king.
Homosexuality is unnatural and a perversion.
People with mental illnesses should be hidden away
from society and don't deserve to be treated with respect.
Children do not need to be listened to.
7. These are all discourses of the past that are no
longer part of our mainstream discourses.
What discourses or ways of talking have replaced
these attitudes and how has this changed
society?
8. Poststructuralism and politics
What difference does the idea of 'discourses'
make to politics?
Think about theories of political change. What is
the Marxist idea of how to bring about change?
Strikes, union action, revolution.
What is the poststructuralist view of how to bring
about change?
Change the discourses in our society: this will
then change how people think and act.
9. Foucault's Concept of Political
Struggle
“Every struggle develops around a particular focal point of power (a
boss, a security guard, a judge, a prison warden, a union
representative, a newspaper editor). Pointing out these focal points
of power, denouncing them, talking about them in a public place
constitutes a political struggle because speaking up on these
topics, breaking into the network of institutional information,
naming and saying who did what, is already turning the tables on
power, it's a first step for other struggles against power. When
doctors who work in a prison or the inmates themselves make a
speech against conditions in prisons, this is a political struggle
because it temporarily stops the prison and its administrators from
speaking.”
10. For Foucault, a key question when we are trying to understand
how power works in society is: 'who has the right to speak?'
Compare these groups and the different extent to which they are
able to speak, to construct the discourses in our society?
The Deputy Prime Minister
A teenager convicted for stealing during the riots
A journalist for The Daily Telegraph
Someone who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia
A secondary school head teacher
A famous author
An unknown musician
A working class housewife
Foucault said we should carefully analyse who has the right to
speak and who doesn't and that real political change from giving
voice to those whose 'discourses' are normally excluded.
11. Foucault's Areas of Interest
As we have seen, Foucault thought that political action should be about
understanding and changing discourses about particular aspects of society.
His theory of political change emphasised dealing with one area of society at a
time, rather than trying to change everything in one go
Areas he chose to analyse:
The discourse surrounding prisons and punishment
The discourse surrounding insanity and mental health
The discourse surrounding medicine in our society
The discourse surrounding sexuality
12. (1) Read the opening section of 'Post-structuralist Theories of
Power' to reinforce what we have already talked about (Pilkington,
pp.78-81)
(2) Read 'Changing discourses of punishment and new forms of
power'. Describe what Foucault thought was the previous
discourse surrounding punishment and the discourse that replaced
it.
(3) Write your own definition of the term 'disciplinary power'.
(4) Write your own definition of the term 'normalisation'. How does
this relate to the power doctors have had within society?
(5) In what way would Foucault say 'surveillance' is part of our lives
in a way that it wasn't in the past?
(6) Make a list any similarities and differences between Foucault's
thought and Marxist thought.
13. Evaluating Poststructuralism
Foucault's thinking has been highly influential but has also had its
critics. Use the 'Evaluation' section to make at least two points of
positive and negative evaluations of this theory of power.
What are the strengths of the theory? What can it help us to
understand?
Why would some Marxists have a problem with this theory?
What does Foucault say about the 'truth' of discourses? Why might
this be a problem for his theory?
