Foucault Explained Simply

Summary

Michel Foucault’s 1982 essay *Subject and Power* explores how individuals are shaped into subjects through various social institutions. Foucault argues that power is not a fixed entity but a dynamic force that operates in relationships between subjects. He highlights three types of struggles: domination, exploitation, and subjection, with a focus on subjection as the most significant. Foucault challenges traditional views of power and offers a nuanced perspective on how it operates within society. His ideas, while influential, have faced critiques regarding their abstraction and the fluidity of power compared to real-world experiences of concentrated authority.

Takeaways

• 😀 Foucault's 1982 essay *'Subject and Power'* clarifies his focus on understanding how individuals are made subjects within society.
• 😀 Foucault distinguishes between 'subjects' (people who act and perceive) and 'objects' (non-sentient things).
• 😀 Foucault is more interested in how human beings are shaped into subjects by institutions, rather than just focusing on power itself.
• 😀 Power, according to Foucault, is not simply concentrated in governments or corporations, but operates through a range of institutions like schools, media, and the church.
• 😀 Foucault suggests that power should be studied by examining specific sites where it operates, such as areas of resistance or struggle.
• 😀 Foucault identifies three types of struggle: against domination, exploitation, and subjection, with the latter being his central focus.
• 😀 The struggle against subjection involves how individuals are pressured or incentivized to adopt specific societal roles and identities.
• 😀 Power, for Foucault, is not a thing but a relationship – a set of actions that modify the behavior of others in society.
• 😀 Foucault challenges the idea that power is something possessed, instead arguing it exists within the practice of power relations.
• 😀 While Foucault’s ideas on power are influential, critics argue that his focus on power's fluidity overlooks the concentration of power in specific institutions.

Q & A

What is the central theme of Foucault's essay 'Subject and Power'?

The central theme of Foucault's essay 'Subject and Power' is the exploration of how human beings are made into subjects through various institutions, disciplines, and power relations. Foucault argues that understanding power is essential, but the focus of his work is the subject and how they are shaped by power.

Why does Foucault say power is not the subject of his research?

Foucault explains that despite often writing about power, it is not the main focus of his research. Instead, he is more interested in the subject, specifically how people are made subjects through different societal influences and institutions.

What is meant by the term 'subject' in Foucault's essay?

In Foucault's essay, a 'subject' refers to a person, an active being who perceives and acts within the world. The subject is distinguished from objects like things (e.g., the Snorlax squishmallow) as they have agency and consciousness.

How does Foucault view the process of being made a subject?

Foucault believes that people are not just born subjects but are shaped by external influences such as schools, governments, and media. These institutions teach us how to be human, how to think, act, and perceive the world.

How does Foucault critique the traditional understanding of power?

Foucault critiques the traditional view of power as something limited to politics, government, or economics. He suggests that power also operates in various other institutions like churches and media, influencing us in ways beyond just laws or economics.

What is Foucault's method for understanding power?

Foucault's method focuses on examining specific sites where power is evident, such as areas of struggle and resistance. These sites allow us to see power in action and understand the strategies and techniques it uses.

What are the three types of struggles Foucault identifies in relation to power?

Foucault identifies three types of struggles: (1) struggle against domination, which involves groups fighting for control over others; (2) struggle against exploitation, involving class conflict between the wealthy and working classes; and (3) struggle against subjection, which concerns how individuals are pressured to adopt certain roles or identities in society.

What is the focus of Foucault's interest in 'the struggle against subjection'?

Foucault is particularly focused on the struggle against subjection, which refers to how people are pressured or incentivized to adopt particular identities or roles within society. This form of power is subtle and complex, often taking the form of encouragement or social expectations.

How does Foucault define power?

Foucault defines power not as a static entity or possession but as a set of relations between subjects. Power is seen as actions brought to bear on other actions, where one subject modifies or influences the actions of others within society.

Why is Foucault's approach to power considered a critique of traditional power studies?

Foucault's approach challenges traditional power studies that focus on institutions or grand theories of power. Instead, he argues that power is best understood through relational dynamics between subjects in society, rather than as something possessed by institutions or individuals.