Foucault, Consumerism, and Identity Essay -- Philosophy

Foucault, Consumerism, and Identity Michel Foucault presents those revolutionary sorts of analyses that are rich non only for their content but for their implications and overbold methodological approach. Just beyond the surface of his works lies such philosophic wealth that one groundwork be overwhelmed by considerations of which vein to tap first, and what to make of the elements therefrom extracted. Ive broken man in some(prenominal) attractive sites this last week. Some, it seemed, hid their treasures as well deep for the scope of this excavation. Some presented me with granite barriers which I do not to that extent harbour the tools to penetrate. At other sites, the earth gave way easily and I made great progress, only to be flooded out. Finally, at the 15th hour, I have struck something shiny. I wish to use Foucaults accounts of socialisation, mixture, and discipline, as the background for my analysis of a modern entity I natter the identity package. I result fructify this concept and show how it gybes into and is suggested by Foucaults works. Following this I will deal briefly with suppose problems with Foucaults account (or lack of an account) of subjectivity. fib gives coherence to a life. fussy episodes make sense in take fire of a uniting theme. The simple world view of the Middle Ages left people satisfied with plumb simple narratives. One knew their personal obligations and had a vague idea of how they fit into the systems of king and God. For the sovereign and the elite, their special stipulation was confirmed in eucharist and artistic representations.11 The masses were unrepresented. The lack of contend for em big businessmanment or neuter may be partly receivable to the fact t... ...of this system. The process of categorisation seems to have an assimilative function. If you cant beat them, label them. If it fits into our picture, it is ours. ra te this way, it seems like we are imprisoned in a menacing ground substance of metaphysical manipulation. However, as I have shown to be the case in pop culture, we are complicit in our captivity, in fact, all too unbidden to participate. 11Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish, tr.Alan Sheridan (New York Vintage,1995) p.192 22With an increase in bureaucracy came an increase in the importance of meticulous knowledge with this, more power and a more intelligible role for the researcher. 33Modern advertising calls this appeal to a certain demographic. 44Quoted in Michael Clifford, Politcal Genealogy After Foucault, (New York Routledge, 2001) p.99 Foucault, Consumerism, and Identity Essay -- PhilosophyFoucault, Consumerism, and Identity Michel Foucault presents those revolutionary sorts of analyses that are rich not only for their content but for their implications and novel methodological approach. Just beyond the surface of his works lies such philosophical wealth that one can be overwhelmed by considerations of which vein to mine first, and what to make of the elements therefrom extracted. Ive broken earth in several attractive sites this last week. Some, it seemed, hid their treasures too deep for the scope of this excavation. Some presented me with granite barriers which I do not yet have the tools to penetrate. At other sites, the earth gave way easily and I made great progress, only to be flooded out. Finally, at the fifteenth hour, I have struck something shiny. I wish to use Foucaults accounts of socialisation, categorisation, and discipline, as the background for my analysis of a modern entity I call the identity package. I will define this concept and show how it fits into and is suggested by Foucaults works. Following this I will deal briefly with supposed problems with Foucaults account (or lack of an account) of subjectivity. Narrative gives coherence to a life. Particular episodes make sense in light of a uniting theme. The simplistic world view of the Middle Ages left people satisfied with fairly simple narratives. One knew their personal obligations and had a vague idea of how they fit into the systems of king and God. For the sovereign and the elite, their special status was confirmed in ceremony and artistic representations.11 The masses were unrepresented. The lack of demand for empowerment or change may be partly due to the fact t... ...of this system. The process of categorisation seems to have an assimilative function. If you cant beat them, label them. If it fits into our picture, it is ours. Put this way, it seems like we are imprisoned in a menacing matrix of metaphysical manipulation. However, as I have shown to be the case in pop culture, we are complicit in our captivity, in fact, all too willing to participate. 11Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish, tr.Alan Sherid an (New York Vintage,1995) p.192 22With an increase in bureaucracy came an increase in the importance of meticulous knowledge with this, more power and a more distinct role for the researcher. 33Modern advertising calls this appeal to a certain demographic. 44Quoted in Michael Clifford, Politcal Genealogy After Foucault, (New York Routledge, 2001) p.99