Post-class, eric 11/6

The idea put forward by focault that "power should be visible and unverifiable" is an intersting one. I think however that visibilty is not neccessarily the right word for to describe the phenomenon that focault is referring to. Visibility implies that, in order for power to be an effective method of control, visual proof is required. One needs only look around them to find examples where a rumor or a news broadcast can control as well as an image of power.
Once instance is the air-marshal in post-9/11 America. After the announcment that armed air marshals would begin flying on domestic flights people started looking around their fellow passengers wondering which one of them was the air marshal. They made sure to act 'normally', to not arouse suspcion.
on the other hand perhaps some sort of visible is neccesary at certain times. power can not survive for long on rumor alone, unless it is an extremly pervasive rumor.
Conspiracy theories are rather interesting things. certainly, it would be reassuring to some sorts of people to know that the troubles in their lives and in the world in general were not the cause of incompetency or chance, but due to some evil plot working behind the scenes of the everyday world. the secret and the mystery have an innate power about them: the power of fear. Insular or secretive groups throughout history have made themselves the targets of the hate of others because of their closed nature or even their mere wierdness.
Freemasons, the Bavarian Illuminati, The Knights Templar, The order of the dragon, The jews have all been the subject of rumors about plots. Some people think that the lines in the sky from commercial jetliners are part of a government mind control program.