Kuloco, 04/16

In class today, we discussed “the gaze.” Foucault said that this gaze is alert everywhere. I think this is true in our society. People have been socialized to behave in accordance to a certain ideology. These ideologies, as we’ve discussed in the past, have been embedded in us, starting at birth and continuing to the present.
I related this idea of “the gaze” to my personal experiences growing up. The first thing that I thought of was the idea of Santa Claus. Children in American society look forward to Christmas for pretty much one reason—they get presents. The idea of Santa Claus, looking back, seems unbelievably ludicrous. A large, old man cannot possibly deliver presents to every home in the world, despite time differences. Also, there is no way that this same large, old man could possibly come down a chimney. However, as children, we don’t ask these questions. We look at the outcome, rather than become critical of the details. Also, with Santa Claus, the gaze is always on us. No child wants to get coal for Christmas… So they behave and follow their parents’ rules so they don’t “call Santa” and risk getting put on the “naughty list.”
This idea of “the gaze” also sparked another connection in my mind. I relate Foucault’s idea to Eco’s discussion of Disney. Eco said that the visitors of Disney “must agree to behave like robots” to enjoy the parks. He said that it is a place of “total passivity.” Unlike Santa Claus, people at Disney are in fact always watching you. Each “actor,” or employee, is there to maintain the perfection that Disney embodies. People behave accordingly to the guidelines and rules to get the full experience—to live, for a day, in a fantasy world where there are no problems. To not behave passively would compromise the experience, and would have negative consequences.
“The gaze” is a large part of our society. We are constantly evaluating those around us. Even if we behave passively and within the regulations, it is only because we are scared to experience the consequences. Often, what goes on in our mind will never be verbally expressed. However, with the advances in technology and the creation of a cyber-reality, these thoughts are starting to appear more frequently. The “gaze” that has previously existed is starting to become less of a threat.