The source is a conversation between Michel Foucault and Jean-Pierre Barou and Michelle Perrot about the Panopticon, an architectural design by Jeremy Bentham for a prison. Foucault explores the concept of the Panopticon as a metaphor for how power operates in modern society. He argues that the Panopticon is not just a building, but a model of power that has been implemented in many institutions, from schools to hospitals to factories. Foucault believes that the Panopticon allows for the constant surveillance of individuals, which in turn enables the exercise of power without the need for physical force. He sees the Panopticon as a key element in the development of modern power structures.
