We will break down into groups for discussion of Foucault for as long as needed.
Then, we will return to the group-as-a-whole. The following week, we will
re-read Foucault and try to answer whatever questions remain.
1. What is Foucault's project/goal/task? In short, what is he trying to do in
examining prisons?
2. How does what Foucault is doing differ from other theorists or researchers,
or from politicians or media views?
3. How does the "modern" system of punishment differ from previous systems?
4. Does Foucault have a "theory" of punishment?
5. If Foucault writing about the history, of corrections, or is he really
writing about something else? If something else, what is it?
6. Why, for Foucault, is such a lengthy discussion of "The Body" necessary?
7. What does Foucault mean by the "spectacle of punishment" and why is this an
important them for him? Is contemporary punishment a type of "spectable" in
his sense?
8. In Chapter 2, Foucault discussed "means of correct training." Are these
consistent with our contemporary prison system?
*. If you could add a few questions to this list, what would they be?
*. Foucault attempts to "explain" the origins of current forms of punishment
(incarceration). Summarize Foucault's explanation, and describe how it differs
from those with which you're familiar.
*. What are some key concepts that Foucault uses? How do they direct our
attention to different topics, issues, and policies?
Consider the following questions:
a) How did changing conceptions of the body lead to changes in punishment?
b) What is meant by "the rationality" (or "science/technology") of punishment?
c) What is a "technology of representation?"
d) What is the difference between justice and punishment?
e) What is "panopticonism" and so what?
f) What are the "rules" of the "power to punish?"
g) Is punishment a "social game?"
h) What is the SYMBOLIC value of punishment?
i) How did punishment shift from the public to the private sphere, and why
is it "invisible?"
*. Identify five different suggestions for SOCIAL POLICY from each of the above.
*. If somebody put a gun to your head and forced you (which I'm doing), explain
how you might TEST the claims of Foucault?
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