Foucault’s writings on power and control in social institutions have made him one of the modern era’s most influential thinkers. Here he argues that punishment has gone from being mere spectacle to becoming an instrument of systematic domination over individuals in society – not just of our bodies, but our souls.

Gina

The Spectacle of the Scaffold

Bits of this are pretty interesting, for example a part about how any evidence against a person, even if circumstantial, used to be sufficient for that person to be considered at least a little guilty - not just more likely to eventually be found guilty, but actually guilty already. Guilty enough for punishment and judicial torture aimed at uncovering further evidence of further guilt. Also, a part about how the accused was never allowed to know the nature of his supposed crime or the evidence against him, which reminded me of Kafka. But I'm not sure what Foucault's point(s?) really was, and a lot of stuff about the physical body being the focus of the punishment etc left me cold - maybe it went over my head, I dunno. I didn't find the writing very clear, and I wasn't even hungover for some of the parts that I read. Maybe I'm too dumb to get it, or maybe there isn't much to get. Either way, this is my verdict, now tell me yours.

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