A Simulated Panopticon
What could better sum up the BMS experience than a digital Panopticon built in the popular simulation game, the Sims 4, populated with a variety of media scholars and theorists who we have studied over the course of our degree?
One of the theoretical texts that underpins this project is, of course, Michel Foucault’s Panopticism. While we did not address this text directly this term, the topic of the Panopticon has come up in every other media studies course that we have taken throughout our degree. Not only did we think that it would be fitting to incorporate such a key concept to media studies, but the themes of observation and surveillance are highly applicable to the academic experience. As BMS students, we have had the chance to “get to know” these scholars and theorists extremely well throughout our studies, closely examining their ideas, their writings, and in many cases, their lives. As the observers in the Panopticon model, we have had the opportunity to analyze the works of these media scholars and theorists at our own leisure, comparing and contrasting when applicable, discarding if we please, all in the process of putting together a digital archive of the BMS experience.
Our “household” of media theorists can be found on the Electronic Arts Sims 4 Gallery for download if you own a copy of the game and wish to play them. The gallery page also contains a list of the Sims we created and their chosen traits and aspirations.
Our happy household of media scholars and theorists from left to right: Michel Foucault, Marshall McLuhan, Max Horkheimer, Plato, Theodor Adorno, Friedrich Kittler, Walter Benjamin, and Harold Innis.
Emily (left) and Alex (right), observing
Foucault rambling to himself
McLuhan having a grand ‘ole time on his computer
Horkheimer checking whether or not he’s being watched
Plato enjoying solitude in his cave
Adorno exploring the literary world
Kittler reading his woes away
Weber musing at his desk
Innis enjoying a good book