But what about the 'social body,' instead of the 'soul?' It seems to me
that Foucault's discipline is in the social body, and fitness appears to be
an example, especially seen from a Gramsci hegemonic viewpoint. For if we
look at this, the disciplining of the social body through unconscious
complaisance, are we not using a Foucauldian interpretation? The everyday
routines of individuals, whether a morning workout or retrieving rations in
a refugee camp, are trained actions that become built into the social body,
social body being influenced by possibly either the status quo or simply the
dominating environmnet. Isn't George Orwell's "1984" filled with examples
of creating a social body through discipline?
Matthew Sargent
-----Original Message-----
From: James F. Parr <jfp3r@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, August 06, 1998 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: Foucault and the Body
>I thought Foucault's whole point was that disciplinary power no longer had
>much to do with the physical body. Societies have developed new and
>better ways to keep people in line beyond the crude exercise of authority
>through pain and dismemberment, e.g., public schools, military
>conscription, sporting events (seen people do "the wave" recently?),
>shopping malls, etc., all of these things have more to do with the modern
>"discovery," i.e., construction, of "the soul." Granted, the "body" is
>involved in all of these things, but really only as a vehicle for a
>well-shaped, malleable, interior-soul-psyche-feelings-what have you.
>
>I know "body criticism," "on the body" stuff is hot right now, but I think
>Foucault is the wrong person to use along these lines if you want to
>develop an argument pertaining to contemporary culture in America. We
>are, to say the least, more "body conscious" than ever, but what amazes me
>is how far it seems people have internalized ideals of fitness, trimness,
>buffness, what have you, with nary a threat of actual punishment a la
>Foucault's poor condemned executees.
>
>Best of luck,
>
>James
>
>James Parr
>Department of English
>University of Virginia
>
that Foucault's discipline is in the social body, and fitness appears to be
an example, especially seen from a Gramsci hegemonic viewpoint. For if we
look at this, the disciplining of the social body through unconscious
complaisance, are we not using a Foucauldian interpretation? The everyday
routines of individuals, whether a morning workout or retrieving rations in
a refugee camp, are trained actions that become built into the social body,
social body being influenced by possibly either the status quo or simply the
dominating environmnet. Isn't George Orwell's "1984" filled with examples
of creating a social body through discipline?
Matthew Sargent
-----Original Message-----
From: James F. Parr <jfp3r@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, August 06, 1998 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: Foucault and the Body
>I thought Foucault's whole point was that disciplinary power no longer had
>much to do with the physical body. Societies have developed new and
>better ways to keep people in line beyond the crude exercise of authority
>through pain and dismemberment, e.g., public schools, military
>conscription, sporting events (seen people do "the wave" recently?),
>shopping malls, etc., all of these things have more to do with the modern
>"discovery," i.e., construction, of "the soul." Granted, the "body" is
>involved in all of these things, but really only as a vehicle for a
>well-shaped, malleable, interior-soul-psyche-feelings-what have you.
>
>I know "body criticism," "on the body" stuff is hot right now, but I think
>Foucault is the wrong person to use along these lines if you want to
>develop an argument pertaining to contemporary culture in America. We
>are, to say the least, more "body conscious" than ever, but what amazes me
>is how far it seems people have internalized ideals of fitness, trimness,
>buffness, what have you, with nary a threat of actual punishment a la
>Foucault's poor condemned executees.
>
>Best of luck,
>
>James
>
>James Parr
>Department of English
>University of Virginia
>