Assignment 102 : Examining Surveillance in Stories - From Fantasy Poems to Modern Web Series

 This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 102 - Literature of the Neo-classical Period, Sem - 1, 2023.

Examining Surveillance in Stories - From Fantasy Poems to Modern Web Series

Table of Contents:-

• Personal Information
• Assignment Details
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Surveillance and the Panopticon in The Rape of the Lock
• The Family Man:A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis of Surveillance and Governmentality
• Surveillance in Shaan's Story
• Rethinking Surveillance: Moving Beyond Orwell and Foucault
• Conclusion
• References

Personal Information:-

Name:- Dhatri Parmar

Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2023-2025)

Enrollment Number:- 5108230032

E-mail Address:-dhatriparmar291@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 7

Assignment Details:-

Topic:-Examining Surveillance in Stories - From Fantasy Poems to Modern Web Series

Paper & subject code:- 102 - Literature of the Neo-classical Period & 22393

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 01 December,2023

Abstract : 

This paper examines representations of surveillance across literature and television through a philosophical lens informed by theorist Michel Foucault. It analyzes surveillance as a form of knowledge gathering tied to power, social control, and normalization of behavior. Texts explored include Alexander Pope’s 1712 mock-epic fantasy poem “The Rape of the Lock” featuring tiny fairy spies, and contemporary Indian political web series like The Family Man about counterterrorism agents. When we look at these different stories, even though they're from different kinds of books or movies, we can learn a lot about how people watch each other and how that affects things like gender roles and how much privacy we have. Surveillance across security, community, and art can isolate people, reduce accountability, and normalize judgment. This constant watching often benefits powerful groups while disadvantage vulnerable ones, as Foucault suggested. However, promoting compassion instead of judgment might challenge this surveillance-driven hierarchy.

Keywords : Surveillance,Power relations, Television dramas, Magical realism, Hierarchy

Introduction : 

Surveillance is when some person or group watches others very closely. They might spy on or monitor people to get information and make sure they are following expected rules. Today cameras, computer data, spies and other methods let governments and powerful organizations see into private lives.

Foucault – Surveillance and Control : 

The French philosopher Michel Foucault studied how surveillance is a type of power and control used by authorities that shapes society in many unseen ways. He said watching people constantly makes them guarded, pressured to act "normal", and easier to manipulate because it feels like they are always being judged(Foucault #). Foucault thought modern life forces people to conform because surveillance is embedded everywhere by design to influence our behavior. This paper looks at imaginative stories depicting different types of surveillance to see how it gives some groups power over others.(Faubion)

Surveillance and the Panopticon in The Rape of the Lock : 

In British writer Alexander Pope's famous 1712 poem “The Rape of the Lock”, tiny fairy creatures called “sylphs” sneak around wealthy homes gossiping about the humans. These fake magic beings spy on the latest fashions, scandals, and romances of stylish ladies and gentlemen in 1700s England for fun. Through fantasy, Pope cleverly uses the silly spying sprites to dramatize real cultural judgment of elites at that time.(Mahida)

The sylphs represent churches, families and neighbors watching upper class manners extremely closely. In The Rape of the Lock, Alexander Pope employs the sylphs, benevolent spirits who are invisible to the human eye, as a metaphorical representation of surveillance. The sylphs' constant monitoring of Belinda's every move and their ability to see into her heart reflect the panoptic gaze, a concept developed by Michel Foucault to describe a system of social control in which individuals are constantly aware that they are being watched, even if they cannot see the watcher.

The sylphs' surveillance of Belinda is initially portrayed as benevolent and protective. They warn her of impending danger, guide her away from temptation, and strive to maintain her virtue. However, as the poem progresses, the sylphs' presence becomes more intrusive and controlling. They begin to dictate Belinda's every action, limiting her freedom and autonomy.

This shift in the sylphs' behavior reflects Foucault's notion of the panopticon as a double-edged sword. While it can be used to enforce norms and maintain order, it can also be used to control and manipulate individuals. The sylphs' excessive surveillance of Belinda ultimately leads to her humiliation and downfall, suggesting that surveillance, even when well-intentioned, can have negative consequences.

Their constant monitoring of Belinda's every move, their ability to see into her heart, and their efforts to control her behavior all reflect the panoptic gaze, a system of social control that has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary society.

The Family Man: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis of Surveillance and Governmentality : 

Srikant Tiwari is a middle-class man who also serves as a world-class spy; he tries to balance his familial responsibilities with those at the highly secretive special cell of the National Intelligence Agency.'The Family Man' is an edgy action-drama series which tells the story of a middle-class man who works for a special cell of the National Investigation Agency. While he tries to protect the nation from terrorists, he also must protect his family from the impact of his secretive, high-pressure, and low-paying job.

The modern Indian streaming show The Family Man is about undercover agent Srikant secretly tracking dangerous militant radicals but hiding this from his loving family. Unlike playful fantasy sprites, this 2019 series tackles serious issues about state intelligence groups spying on citizens and enemies for national security purposes.

Srikant risks even his innocent children’s lives to catch extremists plotting attacks in Indian cities.

He symbolizes a common modern anxiety about covert government surveillance invading privacy for questionable goals. It breeds isolation, suspicion and divides communities through unseen monitoring systems. Michel Foucault would call fictional intelligence personnel like Srikant "governmentality" agents. This means that they bring the powerful influence of the government into everyday life by closely monitoring certain groups of people without being held accountable for their actions. This makes people conform out of fear of being accused wrongly.

Surveillance in Shaan's Story : The Night Manager:

Surveillance lays a significant role in Shaan's story, particularly in the context of Michel Foucault's work on surveillance and governmentality.In Shaan's case, he is constantly being watched by both the Indian intelligence agency, RAW, and the illegal arms dealer, Shelly Rungta.RAW, represented by Lipika Saikia Rao, is interested in using Shaan to gather information on Shelly's illegal activities. Lipika initially approaches Shaan for his help in protecting Safina Kidwai, a young girl who has evidence of Shelly's crimes. However, Lipika's primary motive is to use Shaan as a pawn in her efforts to bring Shelly down.

Shelly, on the other hand, is using surveillance to maintain control over his empire. He has Freddie Rehman, the owner of the star hotel, spy on Shaan, and he also has Shaan's phone bugged. This constant surveillance allows Shelly to stay one step ahead of his enemies and to protect his interests.Foucault's concept of governmentality is also evident in Shaan's story. Governmentality refers to the ways in which governments exercise power over their citizens. In Shaan's case, he is caught in a web of governmentality, as he is being manipulated by both RAW and Shelly.

Shaan, however, is not simply a passive pawn in this game of surveillance. He is also using surveillance to his own advantage. He collects information on Shelly from the trash in his room and mails it to Lipika. He also uses his knowledge of Shelly's weaknesses to gain his trust and infiltrate his organization.Shaan's story ultimately highlights the dangers of surveillance. As Foucault argued, surveillance can be used to control and manipulate individuals, and it can also lead to tragic consequences. In Shaan's case, his failure to protect Safina from Freddie and Shelly is a direct result of the constant surveillance he is under.

Rethinking Surveillance: Moving Beyond Orwell and Foucault : 

George Orwell's novel "1984" paints a frightening picture of a future where the government watches everyone all the time. The government uses "telescreens" and "thought police" to make sure that everyone obeys the rules.On the other hand, Michel Foucault, a French philosopher, saw surveillance as a way for people to control themselves. He believed that people are not just watched by the government, but also by each other. People are constantly judging each other and making sure that everyone follows the rules.Both Orwell and Foucault's ideas are important for understanding surveillance in the digital age.

 However, their ideas do not fully capture the complexities of surveillance today.In the digital age, surveillance is not just about the government. Businesses and other organizations also collect a lot of information about us. We are also constantly giving out our information online, through social media, online shopping, and other activities.This means that we need to think about surveillance in new ways. We need to understand how our information is being collected, used, and shared. We also need to think about the implications of surveillance for our privacy and our freedom.By developing a more nuanced understanding of surveillance, we can engage in informed discussions about its impact on our lives. We can also work to protect our privacy and our freedom in the digital age.(P. Hier)

Conclusion : 

When we compare stories about sylphs creatures, government spies, and secret agents from big companies, we find a surprising similarity: they all deal with problems linked to watching others too closely. Even though these stories are not real, they show how keeping an eye on people can cause issues.

Watching too much without permission makes everyone feel suspicious and scared. Foucault says we should realize that surveillance, especially when it sneaks into private parts of life, usually helps powerful groups control everyone else, limiting our freedoms and responsibility. These stories warn us to be careful because even imaginary inspectors sometimes use reasons like keeping the peace to justify being too strict or causing harm. Moving forward means being kind and finding a balance between rules and keeping people safe. It's about making sure that both the watchers and the ones being watched feel secure and treated fairly, by focusing on doing what's right rather than having too much power to control others.

References: 

Faubion, James. “Michel Foucault | French Philosopher, Historian & Social Theorist.” Britannica, 14 November 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michel-Foucault. Accessed 23 November 2023.

Foucault, Michel. Discipline and punish. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1995.

Mahida, Dr. Beena A. “The Use of Supernatural Machinery in “The Rape of the Lock.”” Golden Research Thoughts, http://oldgrt.lbp.world/UploadedData/706.pdf. Accessed 23 November 2023.

Modi, Sandeep, creator. The Night Manager. Banijay Asia The Ink Factory, 2023.

Nidimoru, Raj, and Krishna D.K., creators. The Family Man. D2R Films, 2019.

P. Hier, Sean. “View of Probing the Surveillant Assemblage: on the dialectics of surveillance practices as processes of social control.” Surveillance & Society, https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/3347/3309. Accessed 23 November 2023.

Pope, Alexander. The Rape of the Lock. Edited by Elizabeth Gurr, Oxford University Press, 2007.

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