Anopticism: Invisible Populations and the Power of Not Seeing

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.