Some important definitions from this unit:
Bricolage: The practice of working with whatever materials are at hand, "making do" with what one has. Used by Dick Hebdige to refer to the activ ity of taking commodities and making them ones own by giving them new meaning.
Counter-bricolage: The practice used by marketers and advertisers to "borrow" and sell as commodities aspects of bricolage style.
Example: when counter-culture styles of the "hippie" movement of the '60's were redesigned and resold to consumers.
Panopticism: Concept used by French philosopher Michel Foucault to chracterize the ways that modern social subjects regulate their own behavior. Borrowed from nineteenth century philosopher Jeremy Bentham's idea of a panoptic prison, in which the prisoner can always be observed by the guard tower yet not know when that gaze is directed on him and when its not. Foucault suggested that in contemporary society we behave as if we are under a scrutinizing, panoptic gaze and that we internalize the rules and norms of the society as we imagine ourselves to be always under a watchful eye that expects us to perform this way.
Retail Therapy: Shopping with the purpose of improving the buyers mood or disposition
Consumer culture: the theory that human society is strongly influenced by consumerism.
definitions from Marita Sturken/Lisa Cartwright's book, Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture
For this unit I decided to focus on the concept of "panopticsm" (see above for definition). Panopticism encourages self-surveillance and enforces a sense of societal disciple and punishment. The first thing that came to my mind was the idea of traffic light cameras. This program affects me personally as the city of Rochester, NY where I'm from, recently installed these traffic light cameras in the downtown area. Although I don't live directly in the city, I drive through there a lot and would definitely be affected by these cameras.
This website further explains the program: traffic light cameras
The concept of traffic light cameras has been criticized by some and promoted by others for a variety of reasons. Many dislike the "big brother" feel of the cameras and think that it is an invasion of privacy. Others feel that the cameras are necessary for enforcing safe driving. I think both sides of the argument would agree that the cameras reinforce a system of power and the knowledge that there is always the potential that someone is watching their actions.
I personally feel that the traffic light cameras are useful in that they encourage safe driving and enforce traffic laws, but I definitely see both sides of the argument. It does feel sort of creepy knowing that you're being watched by someone you cant see. Just like in Bentham's idea of a panoptic prison, there is the potential of someone of power witnessing your actions, although you cant always see them. However, the data that has come from this program really shows that the concept works. In the first week of the program in Rochester, 518 violators were caught on camera. More than 500 people ran the red light at a busy intersection. No doubt, this number decreased dramatically in the following weeks.
Do you guys think that the traffic light cameras are an invasion of privacy or necessary to enforce safety?
Is it more important to enforce safety than the individual rights of motorists?
Something to think about: the intersection in downtown Rochester where the camera's are installed is extremely busy and is next to a popular row of bars.
Also, most camera's have a sign that warn people that they are being photographed.
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