Unveiling Panopticon through Youth Detention Centres (research paper_sem 7)

APPROVAL CERTIFICATE

Research Paper title: Unveiling Panopticon through Youth Detention Centres

The following study is here by approved as a creditable work on the approved subject, carried out and presented in a manner sufficiently satisfactory to warrant its acceptance as a pre-requisite for the Bachelor of Architecture program.

It is to be understood that by this approval, the undersigned does not necessarily endorse or approve any state ment made, opinion expressed or conclusion drawn therein, but approves the study for the purpose for which it is submitted.

Date: December 21st, 2020 Submitted by: Kharanshu Sharma 08217301617 2020-2021 Signature of the Author Guide (Prof. Avtar Singh) Signature of the Guide

Prof. Rajat Ray Research Paper Co-ordinator Rekha Bhaskaran Research Paper Co-ordinator

Prof. Dr. Neeraja Lugani Sethi Dean USAP

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to all those who have helped me write this research paper, Prof. Avtar Singh for the constant guidance, support and motivation. Your insighful comments helped me give life to the initial idea.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my family, my senior Mohammed Sharoom, and fellow classmates Suhail Rehmani and Shivani Chandra for their support and patience throughout the journey.

Problems and reforms have been the impetus of advancement for ages.

These may be both material or living in nature. Either consciously or subconsciously, humans use different modes to solve these issues. The dynamics of architecture is highlighted when it is moulded according to the user’s physical and mental abilities or constraints available1

In times when people were the problem, protection was needed against the deviant2 (Webster, since 1828) and hence was born the concept of Isolation. We created spaces, a world within the world to bring out this concept to life. The next hurdle was about the guarding and inspection of such spaces.

To overcome this through architecture, Jeremy Bentham, a social reformer, came up with a concept called Panopticon 3 (Webster, since 1828).

In his letters he mentions that the scope of the concept would not just be limited to carceral 4 spaces, but cater reformations of morals, preserve health, invigorate industry, diffuse instruction, lighten public burdens, seat the economy; all single-handedly.

Any concept or idea has two forms- the abstract and the physical one. The former was outlined by Bentham. Being a social reformer, he talked about principles of Utilitarianism, where he believed in providing maximum people with the greatest amount of good 5 (Bentham, 1823).

This, like all other concepts was also of a dual nature. In order to measure its physical manifestation, certain guidelines were also laid by him.

When a person comes up with an idea, his thoughts and beliefs cannot be secluded from it. So it is safe to say that the Panopticon was also reflective of Bentham’s beliefs.

1 The physical and mental abilities act as variables to all the other dimensions of the environment which are taken as constant.

2 straying or deviating especially from an accepted norm

5 Good refers to the greatest amount of pleasure

The core idea behind Bentham’s concept was to capture the essence of be ing invisibly omnipresent, which according to him would instil within the mind of those being watched a compelling force causing them to regulate their behaviour.

Nonetheless, the idea was not only limited to self-probation but also the true ethical sense reflected in Jeremy’s utilitarian principles; the subject of social reform which influenced the very initiation of such a concept; and the idea of security and guardianship.

When it comes to giving material form to the abstract thoughts, there might be certain gaps between the proposer and the designer6

As for Bentham, he hired the architect Willey Reveley (Furlong, 2015) to bring his concept to life, in the body of a prison.

What Bentham perceived from Panopticon’s architectural manifestation can be understood by studying this one area of application chosen by him, for which he stated numerous elements after discussions with architects. The elements were further refined and developed during its execution by Reveley.

O1 6/

52-59

8-15 O2 Conceptual Framework 16-21 O5 Foucauldian Extensions School & Prison: Discipline & Punish 44-51 O6 Applying Discipline & Punish to Youth Detention Centres

O3 The Benthamian Panopticon

Jeremy Bentham & his inspection principle

22-39

O4 The Benthamian Panopticon

40-43

O7

Introduction & Objectives

Jeremy’s structure of the prison was shaped by it’s circular form, with the Prisoner’s apartments positioned on the circumference and Inspector’s lodge in the centre.

An intermediate or annular area was obtained through the spread of vacant space betwixed with the respective intermediate and surrounding lodge and cells.

Towards the outer circumference, along the cells were windows or openings split up by blinds; placed much above the prisoner’s line of sight. The inner circumference used iron grating caged the cell, and created a smaller opening as a door in the very grated bars.

To avoid communication among the prisoners, partitions were made a few feet beyond the grating which Bentham termed as Protracted Partitions, and its ceiling adorned with lamp fixture for night security.

As stated earlier, Reveley was responsible to manifest the abstract nature of Bentham’s ideas in a physical canvas.

Given below are the sketches drafted by the architect.

Elevated view, the panopticon prison, 1971

The inmate cells are marked in H; M represents the skylight responsible for light and ventilation of the prison building

One of the many objectives of this dissertation would be to explore if there’s a significant gap in the aim and delivery of Panopticon’s proposal. If so, analyse the dimensions responsible for this dilution; another being: to look into the wide variety of existing applications of the Panopticon, as enlisted by Bentham.

The limitlessness of his concept is talked about in the sense that Prison was just one area of application.

The scope of this paper would be to look into the further such possible proposals, the core idea being watching over a certain group of people without them realising the exactness of the timing and restrictions of the keepers.

He also enhances that the physicality might not necessarily be a circular form, rather can be applied to any possible form.

Looking into the flexibility of Panopticon’s physical nature of application is another aspect to be covered here.

Ever since the prison was made in 1817, many scholars analysed the concept through their lens and gave their inputs.

Although it remained unnoticed for a certain time span, the French philosopher, Michel Foucault was responsible for refocusing the light to Panopticon and making it available to a wider audience through his works. He, being a social theorist, incorporated his ideologies to the existing abstract of Bentham and symbolised it through a social medium by making

Panopticon a symbol of power and politics .

Foucault offered some strong contradictions from Bentham in reversing the centre of the institution from the watch guards to the prisoners themselves.

Apart from this, his works were more focused on disciplinary architecture (Foucault, 1975) and the idea of discipline and punishment in carceral spaces.

Foucault was also the man behind the terminologies ‘normal’ and ‘deviant’ .

The objective of an in depth study of his works is to look for the voids, with respect to the original idea coined by Jeremy and his way of interpretation, the reasons behind it and how it has shaped the building typologies and its architectural elements, as listed earlier.

Foucault’s oeuvre alone and further works on his concept were also tried to be applied to institutions other than Prisons like healthcare facilities, mental asylums, and schools where the disciplinary realm took shape.

Talking about schools specifically, the idea of inspecting children without them knowing the exact time and place as to who is watching them, is how a parallel can be drawn.

After looking at the works of two renowned scholars in the field of Panopticon, certain concepts can be recognisedthe idea of utilitarianism, discipline, power, inspection.

The shift from the original utilitarianism and inspection to discipline and power is what has to be looked upon.

Although Bentham never directly used the term ‘surveillance’1 , based on his concept, an extension of the word Panoptic Surveillance 2 was put together.

One dimension that Michel didn’t take into consideration was the advent of technology which gave us contemporary instruments like the CCTv that aims to fulfil the purpose of Surveillance.

Yet another objective of the paper would be to explore the vents between the concept of Panopticon and Surveillance, and how the incoming of technological devices does not replace the architectural problem- solving strategies in the Panoptic realm.

1 close watch kept over someone or something (Webster, 1828)

2 Surveillance that is constant and uneasing, some times barely visible, and the observed never engages with the observers. (Kenton, 2013)

Hence the intent of my work would be : After clearing the air of the highlighted objectives and scopes,

To portray the extent of freedom that can be granted while designing areas that are otherwise caged by the physical or non-physical presence of Panopticon.

In order to obtain this, the hypothesis proposed is,

For any given space under surveillance, where Panopticon is applicable; there exists a certain ratio of Discipline and Incarceration .

The idea henceforth is to dig into the following aspects –

•Application of Panopticon in Schools

•The definition of discipline and punishment

•Application of discipline and punishment in panoptic establishments; and hence schools

•To establish the scale/ scale of factors that would help measure the ratio of discipline and punishment.

Conceptual Framework

Through the conceptualised framework the mode and source of achieving the scope and objectives of the dissertation is discussed, through a series of scrutinization.

The analytical process is executed through Textual, Visual, Historical, Behavioural and Comparative analysis. Each portion unveils the dimensions which would lead us to derive our results for the fulfilment of the intent.

Textual Framework

Section I: Textual Analysis

Looks at the works of the two previously mentioned social scholarsJeremy and Foucault, who have contributed a great deal under this field of study.

And then goes on to portray the gaps between each of the coiner and the interpreter, by comparing the derivations. All of this is purely based on the respective scholar’s thoughts behind the Panopticon, devoid of any second-hand interpretation.

Sub-section

I. i: Theoretical Ideology

These include the theoretical ideology of both these scholars which aims to reveal the multi-dimensional aspects of the very Panoptic Concept; after laying out the intent and need behind shaping Panopticon by highlighting the origin and etymology of the word, and propounding the definition of the concept by the respective thinkers. It tends to apply the socialistic principles of both the scholars, which as earlier established, influences their Panoptic ideology too.

Sub-section

I ii: Physical Ideology

These include the physical understanding of how the scholars idealised to apply their abstracts in a built form, only through the lens of Bentham and Foucault in their respective sections.

Sub-section

I. iii: Translational Application

This caters to the dialogues of both the scholars, their feedback on how content they are with the betwixed persona of Panopticon; on the basis of the existing body of application- which has already been built. This helps in deriving the gap of both aspects of their ideologies respectively.

Sub-section I. iv: Further Scope of Application

Here I try to look upon their expression of application in terms of what has been built, but could have been formed. This again, not only deals with the physical idea but the abstract cultivating it too.

Sub-section I. v: Related Terminologies

This area puts forward new-er, related terms coined by the two of them, discuss it’s relation to Panopticon and how this might or might not enhance the original concept. About discipline and punish.

Sub-section I. vi : Limitations

This is where the problems and leftovers, under Jeremian and Foucauldian domains is discussed, whatever they feel have been missed out either in terms of the application or the primitive outline of the concept.

Sub-section I. vii: Derivations

This is the section where the results of all the above-mentioned spheres would be summarised, directing towards the fulfilment of the objectives pertaining to this area, i.e. “The Benthamian Panopticon” and “The Foucauldian Panopticon”

Sub-section I. viii: Sources

The source of all the readings would be through varied mediums- original letters, articles by various authors, books by the talked about scholars and so on.

Certain limitations in terms of second-hand resources, dilution of the writers and interpreter’s ideologies while drafting the source, translation gaps cannot be ignored, and will be looked upon as the limitations of the study. In order to look at their works through their lenses, certain constants have been sub-sectioned.

Section II: Historical Analysis

Here the further works, interpretations, followed by the above-talked scholars’ dimensions; is dug into.

The intent to-be fulfilled here will be to look into the gaps, additions, alterations and interpretations offered by other renowned scholars and professionals through the years.

The derivations from this section would lead to further to be viewed dimensions through which the scope of freedom as mentioned in the intent could be discovered.

This will be fulfilled by Looking at the evolution of the concept since Foucault, through the works of Henri Lefebvre1 , Michael Radford2 , Gilles Delueze3 , David Lyon4 , Peter Weibel5 , and Didier Bingo6 .

An additional inspection of how the panoptic7 and non-panoptic 8 proposals induced might turn out is also looked upon, as case studies.

1

Urban Space relationship between panopticon, people and objects. 2

Cinematographic panopticon 3

Postscript on the societies of control 4 The rise of surveillance society 5

Panopticon in the entertainment industry 6

Banopticon 7

Derrick Jensen’s Panopticon prison 8

Rem Koolhaas’ proposal for anti-panopticon prison

Visual Analysis

Section III: Visual Analysis

For this section, two typologies of built forms have been selectedYouth Detention Centres and Schools.

The major lookout here will be to inspect the physical dimensions of the respective sites, in terms of the dimensions and ideologies derived from the previous sections, which will help to attain the desired conclusive objective. Both these sites will be probed under certain constants.

Sub-section III. i: Selection of the Typology Under this would be outlined the reasons for choosing the particular typology, the need, intent and expected results from it.

Sub-section III. ii: Selection of the site Site Underlining the rationale behind choosing the particular site, enlisting its features and elements under the Panoptic realm

Sub-section III. iii: Elemental features

Highlighting the parallèle between Panoptic, Post-panoptic elements as deciphered within the analysis of works of the renowned scholars under the anterior sections.

Sub-section III. iv: Dilution

Here the amalgamation of existing ideology derived from the previous sections and the physicality of the existing built form will be inspected. Further, looking into the scope, need and limitations of the existing area under Panopticon*.

Section IV: Comparative Analysis

This layer would be of utmost importance where clear idea about the intent will be obtained.

Under this, the comparison among the derivations and results of all the analytical sections will take place. This will directly lead to the answer to the hypothesis and initial intent about the ratio of Discipline and Punishment.

The Benthamian Panopticon

Jeremy Bentham and his Inspection Principle

Seeing without being seen forms the core idea behind Jeremy’s principle of inspection1 , which he deems applicable to all establishments2 where a certain number of people are to be kept under inspection.

By stressing on the factor of uncertainty as the spine behind regulating the behaviour of those under inspection, he further adds that more persistent this process is, more are the chances of it’s success

1 an examination of the structure of a building by a specially trained person

2 Under a given space - not too large

Sub-section I. i: Theoretical Ideology

In an ideal scenario, along with the illusion of the persistence that would be enough to achieve what is desired, need will be of the actual application where each person will actually be in predicament, at every instant of time. However, as the term ‘ideal’ suggests, the latter is impossible to achieve by just manual means, hence the former comes into play.

Titled as the father of utilitarianism, whether or not his beliefs were reflected into his Panoptic ideas is a question to be dug.

He claims pain and pleasure as two realms under which the whole of mankind is governed.

He believes that any pleasure-inducing or pain repelling activity is good, else it is categorised under a bad action; irrespective of the intent of the do-er. It’s the Consequences of the act that decides if it’s good or bad. Moreover, several factors enlisted by him form the utilitarian calculus which helps in measuring the amount of pleasure and pain caused by an activity 1 .

“But all punishment is mischief: all punishment in itself is evil. Upon the principle of utility, if it ought at all to be admitted, it ought only to be admitted in as far as it promises to exclude some greater evil.”

1 Enlisted in detail under behavioural analysis

Sub-section I ii: Physical Ideology

The inspection principle is broadly explained through an example of a penitentiary house, where the purpose of the establishment along with inspection, is also punishment. Others included safe custody, confinement, solitude, forced labour, instruction.

Plan for the Inspection Principle: House of Correction, Jeremy Bentham, 17871

1 Yang, computer model of the panopticon

(a) The cells - Extending Housing the inmates

(b) Partitions - Extending in such a manner to give the largest dimension to the cell

(c) Inspector’s Lodge- houses the inspectors (and their residents)

(d) Intermediate or Annular area – In between the lodge and the cells

(e) X= width of the cell - Sufficient for a passage from the outside of the building to the lodge

(f) Window - Large enough to afford enough light to the correspondent part of the lodge

(g) Inner Circumference with the Iron Grating - Light enough to not screen any part of the cell from the inspector’s view

(h) Door opening - Formed in the iron grating, admitting the prisoner at his first entrance; and the entry for inspector’s or their attendants.

(i) Protracted Partition - Partitions extended a few feet beyond the grating to seclude the prisoners from each other’s view

(j) Lodge Windows - Comprise of blinds, placed high enough to avoid prisoners to view through it; open into the intermediate area in the form of a door

(k) Lodge Partitions - Divides the apartment into quarters; made of thinnest material possible; removable according to desire; placed high enough to prevent the prisoners to see through.

(l) Small Lamps - Placed outside the lodge windows; provides extended security at night

(m) Small Tin Tubes - Runs from each cell to the inspector’s lodge; The inspector could communicate with the inmate of any cell, without the others knowing; even the slightest whisper could be heard by the inmates if they placed their ears on these tin tubes

(n) Bell - Serves the purpose of an alarm; hangs in a belfry that crowns the building

(o) Flues - Surrounds the cells, and warms it during winters; runs on the principle of hothouses; the fire-places belonging to these flues are placed on the inside to cut down on the heat wastage.

Several other features of the plan include a slight screen that could be interposed by the prisoner occasionally, for the purpose of decency.

Between two cells, a shaft made in brickwork is left open in the exterior of it’s walls running from bottom to the top of the building. This shaft or tunnel houses an earthen pipe beneath it, glazed on the inside.

The upper end of these pipes are covered by a castiron seat, bedded into brickwork and has an aperture; which opens into each cell.

The aperture reaching into the inmate’s cells are neither by it’s shape nor the size capable of allowing a man to enter inside.

Jeremy also mentions that up to that very time, there had been no record of prisoners escaping through this route.

There is also a proposal of water pipes all around, with a cock to it extending in each cell.

Jeremy further states that an establishment of such kind featuring water pipes, tin tubes and other such luxuries might increase its cost but it is justified against the same amount being spent for the hiring security.

The materials he chose were vernacular brick or stone, where the same material can also be used for the flooring or laying upon the arches of the building, saving up any extra cost otherwise. The whole building could be neither too short which may cause insufficient number of cells due to lesser circumference; nor too large, causing less admission of light through the exterior windows the depth of which would now be a lot more than desired. One story of the inspector’s lodge would suffice to serve for two stories of cells. This calls for an elevation of the ground story of the lodge which is up to 4.5 feet, for which a flight of steps is added. The intermediate area however would be on level with the lower story of the cells.

When extension of a single establishment is called for due to increase in the number of people to be accommodated, Jeremy suggests replication of the singular prototype, and by a covered gallery be consolidated into one; to enable the dilation of the field of inspection to any extent.

In case the extension is to be made for more than 2, about 4 institutions; a regular uncovered area would be enclosed by covered galleries, forming a chain of either a circular, square or oblong form. The uncovered area thus serves as a source of outdoor employment.

He gives an example of the area being used as a kitchen garden, the food cultivated from which is later used for the whole society1.

He further highlighted that ‘circular’ (Jeremy rotunda) is not the only form possible for the building although it had certain advantages of its own. For the prime purpose of inspection, a circular form offers the same, perfect view of all the cells; offers a spot such that the centrality of the inspectors can experience the greatest visibility factor within a given range along with it’s placement at the least distance from light.

The more a building starts deviating from this circular form, the less effective it is.

Here, within the central watchtower full of inspectors, could also reside their family members; as the more the number of eyes looking upon, the better. This act of inspection is also inferred to as a form of entertainment, to which a theatrical end is observed.

The greatest benefit posed by the uncertainty of the time and place being gazed upon at, is the decline in the number of escapes; be it the workers escaping from their work, prisoners from their cells, patients from their wards, i.e. anyone from the job they need to do.

Jeremy also identifies three distinguishable factors, among others as mentioned earlier; applicable solely to the Penitentiary houses, which include –

A place of safe custody, a place of labour and a hospital

1 Relates to the principle of utility: doing greater good for greater people

Safe it is for the guards, for those residing outside, and the prisoners themselves.

In order to get past the prison walls, a union of hands merged with the concert of minds is a must, which stands impossible without imposing their sight upon a fellow prisoner; such is the seclusion of cells.

The prisoners were to eat, work, pray, lie, do every activity within the walls of their cell. If still attempting on the escape singlehandedly, the risk of putting themselves into a worse punishment would instil the notion of fear among them.

The factor of safe labour is better justified by the utilitarian principle of punishment against forced labour. However, the freedom of taking up and learning some kind of work must be granted to those residing in the house of correction, allowing them to be capable enough to take up any work once released. The power of appointing this work is in the hands of the Penitentiary house’s owner. If at all for providing the inmates with easy-to-learn works, the establishment of a safe custody house had to be merged with any other function, it would be the house of correction than a Penitentiary house.

The mention of hospitals here is a symbolisation of the crime committed by the inmates to their sickness, which needs to be identified in the Penitentiary House, where the inmates might or might not be treated. It also refers to hospital being an additional, necessary function merged within a prison, where the same plan as that explained for hospital cells ahead is to be followed.

Sub-section I. iii: Translational Application

With the help of the architect Willey Reveley, the initial features of the panopticon plan were further refined.

The initial plan’s inspection lodge had little light reaching into it, and less space for other activity areas like the kitchen, store.

The centrality was diluted by featuring the Annular wells running from top to bottom, with an addition of skylight crowning it.

The protracted partitions replaced by the extension of inmates’ cells, providing larger width to the cells.

The major change was the shift from solitary confinement to one cell housing two to four inmates.

Cells were now six stories high instead of four.

There was now the provision of chapel in the annular well.

Since the annular well provided enough light and ventilation, to avoid the area being used for any profane purposes formed the reason behind placing a chapel there.

Instead of the circular form, polygonal form was adopted- a double dodecagon, or polygon of 24 sides; and the diameter shifted to 120ft from 100ft.

Plan for Inspection House before (1787)

Plan for the inspection house: House of correction, Jeremy, Samuel and Wiley,(after) 1791

Sub-section I. iv: Further Scope of Application

After a thorough explanation of his trail of thoughts regarding the Inspection Principle through his Penitentiary House, Jeremy throws light on it’s other applications too.

The Manufactories considers enforcing the labour to do quality work as its main objective.

Here the inspection principle formulates through the idea of giving instructions, and ensuring that the money, time and effort they’re spending on all the labours, for that matter, the entire establishment, is well worth it by gaining the desired results.

The Centrality of the panopticon functions for those who gave orders and directions to the workers.

And the cell-mates are replaced by workers or labourers.

The Central Lodge may also function as a temporary store room, housing all the equipment and tools to be distributed among the workmen; and sometimes the finished products too.

The partitions between the cells are beneficial in avoiding distraction where even a slight accidental jog might result in huge damage or could also be deemed disserviceable in areas where a wide sharing of tools in needed; according to the nature of manufacture.

Next up is mad-houses, how the same plan looks after the insane where the direction is either against the fellow inmates or themselves.

The major difference between a mad-house and a prison would be that of calamity and felony.

As for Hospitals, establishments with its primary objective as relief of the afflicted; the central lodge houses the surgeons, who would want to make sure that’s his instructions are being followed by his assistants.

The faculty in all branches would want to keep an eye on how the patients progress after the treatment. The centrality of these inspectors will also make it easier for them to instantly receive any complain from the sick.

Here, the partition offer safety against the spread of infections, temperature control and diversity, comfort, and privacy from the fellow patients. The provision of curtains is thus available to give the patients the option of whether or not they want to be inspected.

Another important aspect in hospitals is air circulation and ventilation. The circular form the building would assist this by increasing the force of the current by compressure; along with the inspector’s lodge which in this case will follow the form of the building1.

The tin speaking tubes play the role of notifying the inspectors’ with the immediate notice of the patient’s wants.

The freedom in terms of who the inspector is, is granted in case of hospitals since anybody2 could be an observer here.

1 Jeremy derives this on the basis of Dr. De Maret’s paper, the Memoirs of the Acade my of Dijon, where he explains how the oval form of the building helps provide the neces sary ventilation.

2 Examples include patient’s friends, family, doctors, assistants, nurses.

Ahead lies the application of Jeremy’s plan to schools, the degrees of extension of which varies from the confined study hours to go the recreational, refreshment, hours of repose. There is a through elimination of the terrific elements- the bars, gratings and bolts. The central lodge houses the master, overlooking and ensuring the banishment of chattering, all sorts of distractions among the students. The partitions serve as the screens between scholars. These might be of the slightest thickness, just enough to suffice the acoustical requirements

The centrality also looks makes sure that the allotted study hours are being spent that way, where Jeremy states the master’s terror to instil the desired strictness upon the scholars. Additional requirements include a bed, a chair, and a bureau; enabling the youth of either sex to sleep and study, under inspection or even alone, although the latter isn’t much preferred by the parents.

Although Jeremy states the requirements of an inspection-school, but he goes on questioning whether it is a good idea to register the pressure of omnipresence upon the innocent minds of damsels. (Bentham, 1995)

What if the actual presence of the master was more comforting than his omnipresence; what if the student’s intellectual and free abstract mind would develop better without the constraints of seeing without being seen.

The intent of Jeremy was to infuse discipline but would this suck all the free-spirit and energy off them and make them mechanical soldiers.

The counter to all these was offered through the principle of utility, where, for him happiness rules over everything else.

The central lodge might also include temporary visits by the parents, along with the masters.

Once the students are kept under this establishment, their mind is more of their masters’ than their body is of their parents’

For Jeremy, the inspection schools were more like an experiment, to produce moral and liberal citizens later on by keeping these innocent minds under the circumstances of the Panopticon Institution from their very birth.

“Call them soldiers, call them monks, call them machines: so they were but happy ones. I should not care.”

“It occurred to me, the plan of a building, lately contrived by my brother, for purposes in some respects similar, and which, some hints for the above establishment”

Sub-section I. v: Core Principles

The need for such a plan for a penitentiary house to be laid out was to match the brief of a house of correction.

Two essential points governing the Inspection Principle can be summarised as:

•Keeping a group of people (say x) under the mind-set that they’re being inspected, without them knowing the actual time and place as for when and where they’re being watched by the Inspectors (say y)

•Actually performing this act of inspection

How well this idea can be applied to establishments other than just a house of correction, with slight alterations in features and functions makes it clear about the versatility of this abstract idea of the Inspection Principle. Further affirmation could be drawn by looking at the two major instances:

•Jeremy took the inspiration for the house of correction from his brother, Samuel Bentham’s design for a manufactory as suggested by him in his letters

The fact that the plan was never initially designed for an inspection house or a prison, as it is known for now; is enough to suggest that the application of the plan encased by its Inspection principle, isn’t limited to just Prisons.

•The next important question, governed by the common instance is about the application of the principle to an institution like schools, far away from the idea of punishment as is one of key objectives behind designing a house of correction. This is resolved well and clear when Jeremy points out that his brother had visited the Royal Military School in Paris, which is possibly from where the plan of inspection was laid out.

Limitations

The possible limitations of the initial plan of inspection laid out would be

•The restriction of form: Although there is no direct restriction imposed by Jeremy, his statement about the deviation from circular form of the plan weakening the application of the principle gives a definite upper edge to the circular form.

Not all sites, contexts would support the circular enclosure of the establishment to the fullest efficacy and efficiency. However, with along with the Ar. Wiley Reveley, the scholar tried to overcome this con by looking into pentagonal, dodecagonal forms too.

•The restriction of range: With “sight” being the prime requisite of the inspection principle, the field of view offering smooth functioning of the principle was limited to the range up to which the desired needs of fulfilling the act of seeing without being seen were being met. Ex- the amount of light reaching the inspector’s lodge.

Further scope of the inspection principle in its abstract as well physical manifestation would be

•Scale: The scale illustrated by Jeremy is on an individual building level, but the abstract idea could be carried forward to an urban level

•Inspection Principle as a form of Power, Control: Foucault’s ideas

•Inspection Principle as a form of theatre, entertainment: Foucault’s ideas

The obsolete nature of the inspection principle could be questioned, as to if it is still applicable after the advent of technology and CCTV cameras, designed for the prime reason of surveillance and keeping an “eye” on x.

The distinction in surveillance and inspection would be enough to bring us to the threshold of the contrast between the mechanical technology and Jeremy’s principle.

In its abstract nature, the camera control room could be treated as the inspector’s lodge, and the fixed cameras as extended eyes of the inspectors.

The centrality of the lodge and circular nature of the plan were designed so for the purpose of maximum efficiency while inspecting, which limited the field of view and form. But the technological aid makes it possible for the breaking of this centrality, and enabling deviation of the rigid form of the establishment; without compromising in the actual intent and results desired.

The technology is hence a helping hand rather than stopper to the centuries old inspection principle.

As to why y2 is still of significant importance would be the next question

The installation of cameras requires a certain mode of connection, which when intended in a remote location, for example to build a high security prison building, would be termed non-reliable.

Even after the installation of cameras, there still have been prison escapes, or cheating in exams, and all sorts of deviation of x from the accepted behaviour.

The plan and its abstract restricts to just one facet of sight, in terms of what is stated by Jeremy. However, the principle could be applicable in the auditory aspect too.

The idea of seeing without being seen could be hence extended to hearing without being heard, as there was a mention of “chitchatting” in the school section of his letters, to ensure discipline through inspection. The use of features like tin tubes, also points towards the acoustical dimension of the principle.

If the remaining senses of taste, touch and smell could be challenged is another thing to ponder on.

Sub-section I. vii: Derivations- Inferences, Conclusions

The objectives of discipline and punishment, forming the basis of two extremities of an establishment- School and Prison; both cloaked by the very same Inspection Principle; need to be established, with respect to Jeremy’s plan and his ideas.

When the mental or physical inspection of y is applied upon x, with an intent for x to regulate their behaviour according to what is deemed acceptable in the given establishment, it is may be termed as disciplinary inspection or disciplinary panopticon1

A certain or whole portion of x may or may not be in the “correct” Those who are may be categorised under x1 and those who don’t under x2

When the mental and physical inspection of y is applied upon x2, with an intent to either enforce their behaviour back to what is deemed acceptable in the given establishment, or to segregate x1 from x2; it may be termed as punishing panopticon .

o y may also broadly be divided into living inspectors (y1) or material inspectors (y2)

o y might also include factors that involuntarily cause x to behave in the correct/accepted way, in which case the idea of inspection principle might be unnecessary, as discipline, here, is self-induced.

o y could be both- direct or indirect. The looseness of directness depends on the mode of application, and the distance between x and y.

o The various modes of application apart from y1 and y2 can be enveloped under four attributes- Visual, Acoustic, Olfactory, Persona.

o y could be both- temporary or permanent.

o y is also either constant & prolonged or spaced & discontinuous.

1 Coined term for panopticon intended or applied for the purpose of discipline

Safe Custody. Learning, Labour

PRISONS/ HOUSES OF CORRECTION SCHOOLS

Punishment Discipline

The overlapping objectives of the contrasting institutions

The Benthamian Panopticon Jeremy Bentham and ‘his’ Inspection Principle?

Jeremy’s borrowed principle of inspection from his brother Samuel Bentham, which was initially intended for a manufactory, as mentioned earlier, had its basic factor of establishment as improved learning; depicting the clear contrast between what was quintessential for Jeremy’s House of correction- Punishment. Revamped surveillance was the only prime thread joining both the buildings.

Poor inspection of the workers called for the inspection principle to come into play in the first place.

Second reason being the need to uplift the skills of the labours, to get a better produce which brought the factor of learning.

Discipline among both- x and y was the ultimate intent here. However, the difference of exercising this discipline through the inspection principle was different for both the groups- y was made to do act in the desired behaviour by the means y2 only. Whereas, for x, both the methods were applied.

This y2 was done by laying out a circular form for the factory, with the noble at the centre and the labours/peasants surrounding it.

Ecole Military, Paris; plan view

Plan for the Ecole military where Samuel possibly got the idea from, as is mentioned in Jeremy’

The school houses rooms distributed along a corridor, these classrooms were comparable to a series of cells. At regular intervals, were quarters of an officer or instructor to the ratio 1:10, i.e. one instructor for every 10 pupils. Another example of Panopticon being applied to school would be the School of Arts, St. Petersburg; by Samuel The objective of the school was to teach or train the craftsmen and shipwrights.

The plan shows a twelve-sided drum at the centre.

It has three concentric rings. The central ring goes six storeys above the ground, with its ground floor housing offices for clerks; above these was the principle inspection room for the next two floors.

Other three storeys above these contained an infirmary separating the remaining building. These rooms were enveloped by an annular area, further enveloped by galleries.

The outermost ring is divided into twelve wedge-shaped areas, five of which connect to the radiating wings.

Another was a school at Woolwich, designed for gentlemen cadets, during the 1790s. The building carries a semi-circular form, dividing into four radial parts. Three of these housed lecture rooms, the fourth left clear. The centre had a small room with glass walls for the inspector, to eye on the workers.

From the above examples, it can be said that the inspection principle was not just applicable to schools, but was possibly originated through schools.

The centrality of the inspector’s room, annular area, galleries, re petitive rooms were certain common features observed in bothSamuel’s school and Jeremy’s Prison.

Foucauldian Principles Schools & Prisons : Discipline & Punish

Foucault’s ideas of discipline carried a series of factors and principles with which the act of discipline can be understood and exercised in a certain establishment. These factors weaved with the ideas of Jeremy and Samuel’s work under discipline is depicted through the example of educational and penal institutions under the panopticon plan and its elements

Discipline sometimes needs enclosure/confinement

The closed nature of the polygon, in which resides the cells/classrooms is how the act of enclosure is ascertained.

The entry gates to the gallery suggests that there is a restriction or confinement on entering the establishment

The locked iron bars at the face of the cell confines the inmates to their own cell. In case of schools, these bars are replaced by doors; as suggested by Jeremy; which also mark a boundary of the classroom, creating the line of confinement.

The tin-tubes confine the acoustic presence between the cells/classrooms.

The partitions between the cells/classrooms confine the users into the fixed dorm of the cell.

The inspector’s lodge/inspection area is also confined to a fixed, central position.

Divided into as many sections as there are bodies to be distributed

Through the projection of rays from the centre of a circle, cutting through the circumference, forming the width x of the cell; the divisions of enclosure are marked. This is however flexible in nature, as the width would depend on the number of pupils to be housed, as per the requirements of the establishment.

Discipline organizes an analytical space

The whole idea of organizing the panopticon and it’s plan in the very way is based on the analytical reasoning of effective application of the inspection principle.

The division, arrangement of one such establishment defined as the analytical space here, with more such spaces; is disciplined through its orderly division into covered and uncovered galleries.

The spaces so created won’t just correspond to the need to supervise, to break communications, but also create a useful space

The partitions between the cells, and within the lodge don’t just cater to the need for efficient inspection; or restrict communicational boundaries among the cellmates and inspectors allowing them to focus on their desired t, asks more precisely; but also creates desired cell spaces and viewing spaces.

Control through the art of rank, creation of series, repetition and rhythm

The continuity and repetition of regularly sized cells, along the walls of the institution is the prime example of a creation of rhythm. The elevation details capture the series of repetitive fenestrations on the exterior of cell walls.

Rhythmic nature of iron gratings can be seen in penal institutions, creating an extra bar of discipline.

Organisation of serial space

The series of cells carry fenestrations in such a manner that the inmates can’t look into the inspector’s lodge, and so do the classrooms; where the height of windows are placed such that the children obtain minimum distraction. The organisation of the height of these fenestrations hence define the serial space it houses.

There is a co-relation of body and gesture

The placement of the cells adjacent to each other, the placement of the beds inside the cells; all cause the users to showcase their body movements and gestures within the confined boundaries. The flexibility of movement in case of inspectors is an outcome of the flexibility in space given to them.

Exhaustive Use

Time is an important factor which needs to be preserved, and made the best possible use of; without exhausting its use. For maximum utilisation of this precious commodity, the plans also portrayed shortest possible movements by minimising the distance of the transitional passages/paths, hence saving up on time.

The idea of dividing the cells through the diameter of the circular form suggests that diameter being the shortest path, makes the most efficient use of space, leaving minimum distance of travel.

The dimension of time is also looked upon by the mention of thorough and constant inspection of the individuals, at all times, mandatory abstractly and urged to be enforced physically.

Individualising distributions

The categorisation of inmates and scholars of a certain number in a given cell, makes it easier for the inspector to eye on every individual with maximum efficiency. Discipline is further maintained by minimising the chances of communication by reducing the number of users within the defined boundary.

Discipline sometimes needs enclosure/confinement

Divided into as many sections as there are bodies to be distributed

Discipline organises an analytical space

The spaces so created won’t just correspond to supervise- to break communications, but also create a useful space

Control through the art of rank, creation of series, repetition and rhythm

There is a co-relation of body gesture

While defining discipline, one must consider the factor of “intensity” and “degree” into account, and consider the notions of Punishment as a combined result of both- Bentham Brothers and Foucault.

Adding to the previously retrieved definition of discipline and punishment; The act of discipline and punishment may occur simultaneously in one establishment.

The distinguishing factor being the intensity of y, depending on the desired outcome.

Both Foucault, and the Bentham brothers specifically denote Punishment as a separate act from torture, where the idea is not to harm the body of the defiant, in this case, x2; but it’s mind and soul.

The extent of punishment is decided by the notions of ‘pain’ and ‘pleasure’. The idea is to give more pain to x2 than the amount of pleasure x2 obtained in going against the expected behaviour.

The act of discipline, if applied to such an extent which produces more pain than pleasure to it’s user; may be categorised under y, which can further split into y1 or y2, depending on it’s form.

PLEASURE

High Medium Low

The intensity of Discipline Rigidity in Inspection

The overlapping objectives of the contrasting institution: Revised

Discipline & Punishment

PRISONS/ HOUSES OF CORRECTION SCHOOLS

The overlapping objectives of the contrasting institution: Revised

Applying Discipline & Punish To Youth Detention Centres

The innocence of a child or Crime of the defiant?

For keeping a common scale, arriving into common grounds, an institution which has an amalgamation of both: Schools, the innocent minded and juvenile; and Prisons, those who have defied the norms of the society; are to be housed under one roof- literally, has been chosenYouth Detention Centres or Juvenile Prisons

Generalised areas with categorisation into types of spaces, user groups, activities, organisation would lead to a more refined understanding of how the inspection principle grows here.

Types of Spaces

i. Strictly-disciplined, Moderately-Disciplined, Least Disciplined

Strictly-disciplined Space- Spaces with least amount of direct/indirect inspection; falling under the lower spectrum of discipline-scale

Moderately-disciplined Space- Spaces with medium inspection/security; falling right in the middle of the discipline scale

Lowly Disciplined-Space – Spaces where maximum amount of inspection is needed.

ii.

Inspectos v/s Inspectees

Inspector’s Lodge- The space from where y does their job of inspecting x. Inspectee’s Lodge - The space from where x is inspected by y.

iii. Public, Semi-public or Private

Public Space- Spaces with the maximum amount of sharing of physical areas, facilities, commodities, etc.

Shared Space- Spaces where one private body remains constant, and other bodies keep joining it.

Private Space – Spaces where there is a restriction of only one user at a time.

iv. Homogeneous v/s Heterogeneous Users

Homogeneous User Space - When a fixed number of users from their own user group, or different are made to share the same space for the same motive and desire, which is either to be inspected or being inspected.

Heterogeneous User Space - When random number of users from their own user group, or different are made to share the same space for varying motives and desires.

Types of Organisation Patterns

i. Continuous/Rhythmic or Random

Continuous Arrangement- When a space is organised in an ordered fashion, such that the pattern so formed is regular, and rational.

Random Arrangement- When a space is organised in an organic fashion, without any fixed or predecided rational.

Types of Transition Spaces & Connections

i. Directly Connected or Indirectly Connected

Direct Connection- When a space is directly connected to another, vertically (and/or) horizontally; either through a corridor, or gallery, without an intermediate spill-out space being formed.

Indirect Connection- When a space is indirectly connected either through some technological aid or through an access from one part of the institution to another formed by one or more intermediate bodies.

Types of User Groups

i. x and y

x & y - These would keep shuffling between the detainees, security guards, visitors, staff. The shuffling would depend on the need, objective of the space at a certain interval of time.

Types of Activities

i. High, Medium, Low interactive activities

Highly-Interactive Activities- When an activity can be shared amongst the maximum number of people, either keeping intact the homogeneity of the user group or amongst other groups.

Moderately-Interactive Activities- When an activity can be shared within lesser number of people from the former category, and more than the one following.

Lowly-Interactive Activities- When an activity is shared among the least number of people up to zero.

Highly Interactive

Moderately Interactive

Lowly Interactive

ii. Confined v/s Flexible activities

Confined Activities- Where there is least amount of body movement and gestures possible, in terms of the availability of space and the variety of movement patterns, distance travelled by the person.

Flexible Activities- Where there is more amount of flexibility offered to body gestures, body locomotion, distance travelled, movement patterns; than the former

Confined Space

Flexible Space

Amongst the vast variety of detention centres, the following analysis bases itself to a residential type correctional facility.

The main objectives of such an institution would beo Rehabilitation/ Reform

o Learning

o Safe Custody

o Labour

According to these objectives, the areas and zones of the building are so designed

(a) Lobby & Administration

LAUNDRY

KITCHEN

Bentham, J., 1823. An Introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislations. s.l.:Jeremy Bentham.

Bentham, J., 1995. The Panopticon Writings. Brooklyn, New York: Verso.

Foubian, J. D., 2011. An anthropology of Ethics. s.l.:s.n.

Foucualt, M., 1975. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of The Prison. New York: Vintage Books. Furlong, G., 2015. Treasures from UCL. s.l.:UCL Press.

Webster, M., since 1828. Merriam Webster Dictionary. s.l.:Merriam Webster .