Deleuze
Lecture
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To Read
Synopsis
In Postscripts on the Societies of Control, Gilles Deleuze presents a critical extension of Michel Foucault’s analysis of disciplinary societies. Deleuze argues that we have transitioned from societies centered around institutions of discipline (such as schools, factories, and prisons) to societies of control, where power is decentralized and operates through continuous modulation and monitoring. Unlike disciplinary societies, which sought to mold individuals into specific roles, control societies are characterized by constant surveillance, flexibility, and a focus on data and information. Deleuze’s essay provides a framework for understanding how contemporary technologies, particularly digital technologies, contribute to new forms of social control that are more pervasive and subtle than the overt mechanisms of discipline described by Foucault.
To Watch
Guiding Questions
- Transition from Discipline to Control: How does Deleuze describe the shift from disciplinary societies to societies of control? In what ways are these new forms of control more pervasive and subtle than the disciplinary mechanisms described by Foucault?
- Digital Technology and Control: Deleuze’s concept of societies of control is particularly relevant in the context of modern digital technologies. How do contemporary technologies such as social media, surveillance systems, and big data analytics contribute to the kind of control Deleuze describes?
- Updating Deleuze’s Ideas: Given the rapid advancement of digital technologies and their integration into daily life, how might Deleuze's concept of control societies be updated or expanded to reflect the current digital landscape? What new forms of control might we need to be aware of today?
