Design Practice 2 - Study Task 5: Book Analysis - OUGD505

TASK - To find and examine a theoretical book of my choice. Study the book to gain an insight into its themes and content. 

The book I have chosen to analyse is 'Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish'. When studying different philosophers and other possible books, his work really stood out as his key points and issues within the text seem to have great interest and value. Foucault was a French philosopher, historian of ideas and social theorist, among others.  

 

'In this brilliant work, the most influential philosopher since Sartre, suggests that such vaunted reforms as the abolition of torture and the emergence of the modern penitentiary have merely shifted the focus of punishment from the prisoner's body to his soul.'

Summary of Book: http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/disciplinepunish/summary.html

Discipline and Punish, wrote in 1975, examines how the changes of punishment have undergone during the modern ages. Before this, criminals were disciplined by torture on the body which then changed by creating the penal system. No longer were these criminals chastised by inflicting pain on the body, but to reform and torture the soul. Foucault examines how this change created such social control, that it gave those 'in charge' more power in controlling the inmates. It was suggested in doing this, the inmate is much more tested and punished as they are now dominated. Their space, time and awareness went completely. In this text Foucault then examines how this is applied to everyday life. An inmate is controlled through a timetable, how they live, when they eat, when they go outside, is all in another persons hands. He goes on to compare what degree is this in places such as schools, factories, barracks, hospitals etc and 'how they all share a common organisation, in which it is possible to control the use of an individuals time and space hour by hour'. 

As I have just summarised the book and not read the text entirely, I am unsure just how dense the reading is. However I find the whole concept extremely interesting as it creates a valid point to how we are controlled within society. I feel both the book itself and what it stands for, as well as my interest in the subject matter, will benefit and allow for an interesting book cover and poster.