Anopticism: Invisible Populations and the Power of Not Seeing

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Utilizing Foucault’s theory of panopticism, social scientists have consistently studied the ways past populations were made visible and how this served as a form of power. Understudied, however, are the ways invisibility can be imposed or adopted. This paper models new discussions of power relationships I have named anopticism. Anopticism is concerned with the power exercised in making populations invisible, both as a form of domination and as form of resistance. By examining two Chinese communities in Nevada and California, I explore the ways strategies and tactics, discipline and agency, and power over and power to intertwine to effectively and purposefully hide individuals, groups, and their behaviors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)596-608
Number of pages13
JournalInternational Journal of Historical Archaeology
Volume23
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 14 2019

Keywords

  • Chinese diaspora
  • Nineteenth-century
  • Panopticism
  • Power
  • Western United States

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Archaeology
  • History
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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