Jean Baudrillard

Task Two

Task two: Quickly read Adorno's (1941) article 'On Popular Music'. In no more than a few paragraphs, summarise his ideas on pop music, concentrating on key points such as 'standardisation', 'psuedo-individualisation' etc.

Adorno explains the way he see's popular music is based around standardization, where the "chorus consists of thirty-two bars and that the range is limited to one octave and one note". This form of standardization is based around the structure of the music and giving the same familiar experience.

From the structural standardization it leeds to the standard reactions described by Adorno ,"into a responce mechanisms wholly antagonistic to the ideal of individuality in a free, liberal society." The reactions from the popular music is almost predetermined. The effects on the individual is for music to escape things we don't like doing, and also from the way it is produced and designed enter into a false world from pop music, pseudo-individualization.

He also mentions mass culture, the less people disappointed, the easier to sell the product, disguised using ideology. For the emotional spectator there is wishful fulfillment. "They consume music in order to be allowed to weep"

Task One - Clubcard

Task One

Tesco Clubcard

I have chosen to relate the panopticism to Tesco’s Clubcard because from reading about Michael Foucault’s description of the panopticism to has many common foundations as the Clubcards.

The first quote from Michael Foucault, Discipline and Punish (London, Penguin, 1977) that relates Panopticism to the clubcard is ,” This surveillance is based on a system of permanent registration: reports from the syndics to the intendants, from the intendants to the magistrates or mayor”. The system of permanent registration is a form of surveillance from the Panoptigon but this form of surveillance also takes place with Clubcards as the customer is aware that their registration by using there card is being watched by the company/ Magistrates who are ready to take action when necessary.

Leading on from Tesco’s being aware of the registration of the use of a clubcard they now have centralisation and power over the user similar to the following quote, “ The magistrates have complete control over medical treatment; they have appointed a physician in charge; no other practitioner may threat, no apothecary prepare medicine, no confessor visit a sick person without having received from him a written note to prevent anyone from concealing and dealing with those sick of the contagion, unknown to the magistrates”. This registration gives the vital information to Tescos to give them the power to decide what offers they would like to send you within your next bill similar to the actions from the magistrates demonstrating their power and centralisation.

Also “He Is seen, but he does not see; he is the object of information, never a subject in communication” relates to the clubcard as he is seen when using his card but doesn’t see anyone in return, and has the object of information when using his card but different the quote above he is the subject of communication as he receives offers from the store.

“Hence the major effect of the panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power.” This also works with the customer always in the state of conscious of their transactions being watched and gives them the idea that the company can give them offers with again gives the company the permanent power and function.

To conclude the panopticon and clubcard both offer constant judgement, permanent registration and power and centralisation.

The Gaze and Panopticism cntd

Panopticism Surveillance & Society

Media and popular culture lecture