“‘Political Economy’ of the Body”

“‘Political Economy’ of the Body”
Michel Foucault, Discipline & Punish

1. “The body is…directly involved in a political field; power relations have an immediate hold upon it; they invest it, mark it, train it, torture it, force it to carry out tasks, to perform ceremonies, to omit signs.” (25)

· The body revolves around everything. It is power. It is weakness. It can be used however you or someone else chooses. Sometimes it’s up to you, other times it isn’t. You can be bought and paid for and used however that person sees fit. In a sense you’re used. You don’t matter. Your body is property.

2. “It is largely as a force of production that the body is invested with relations of power and domination; but, on the other hand, its constitution as labour power is possible only if a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body.” (26)

· The body only matters when it is used the right way. It’s only powerful when it helps someone else become more powerful. You are nothing while being forced; you are everything if you follow orders. Consequences occur if orders are disobeyed. Slaves listen to everything the master says.

3. “In the darkest region of the political field the condemned man represents the symmetrical, inverted figure of the king.” (29)

· The king is a slave. He is a slave to his people; the subjects he rules. He is ruled by his greed and by his power. The condemned man doesn’t care about anyone but himself, his goals and his greed. He’ll do anything to get what he wants. He is the king.