- Based on the reading Surveillance Studies: An Overview by David Lyon the domains of life which were the biggest contributors to surveillance studies were workplace management, military power, and criminal justice. Firstly, elements of workplace surveillance such as monitoring workers, fragmentation of tasks etc. informed conclusions made by scholars such as Karl Marx that this type of surveillance was subordinating labor to capital. Secondly, surveillance in the context of military power manifested as the monitoring of citizens as military might grew which allowed developing western liberal democracies to distinguish their power separately from their citizens. Dandeker argues that this intertwining of surveillance and military might made surveillance's position in the constitution of nation states integral. Thirdly, surveillance and criminal justice are heavily associated with each other but according to Durkheim at times when the gap between those who are relatively well off and those who are relatively disadvantaged grows the two increasingly view each other as a threat and subsequently surveillance will increase, implemented by the better off. In terms of surveillance as a contemporary practice I feel that today some aspects of surveillance are heavily linked to capitalistic enterprises that thrive on increasing consumption and engagement one example being surveillance via social media. According to Surveillance Studies as a Transdisciplinary Endeavor by Monahan and Wood most surveillance practices are hidden but in terms of social media a willful surveillance (influencers documenting their daily lives etc.) seems to be at play although, behind the scenes, the parent company is tracking likes and interactions with content as a way to increase engagement and consumption. Another example would be someone's phone "listening" to what they say and then suggesting ads based on that.
- Similar to my earlier point about surveillance as a way to increase engagement and consumption in modern society a point made in Surveillance Studies: An Overview recalling censuses in ancient times reminded me of bread and circuses during the Roman Empire. The term bread and circuses encapsulated the concept of distracting the people of Rome from their daily hardships and the shortcomings of the empire by giving them free bread and putting on shows to keep them quiet and happy. This is an earlier form of engagement that was a result and aim of surveillance, although not modern surveillance via online data collection or new technology. It made me think that perhaps surveillance and distraction can in some cases have a causal relationship/go hand in hand.