Panopticons and reverse panopticons 

Mustafij Rahman, Faria Tasnim

Laptop is a blind device, it is not watching us. How could be any one so sure now a days. Shocking but true sometime it happens when you are under surveillance. With the thought of  surveillance , Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ) department of ULAB arrange the Curriculum Integration (CI) program on December 18 in Chayanot.

The topic of this program is " Of Panopticon & Reverse Panopticon", which mean you are watching by someone and you also watching him. In this 21st century many countries are watching by the government and they monitor and control public space. Panoptes is a giant with hundred eyes from Greek mythology and he never sleep. So he is a very effective watchman. With the theory students of MSJ  have tried to do various projects for their courses. There are Public Dialogue which was given by Shahab Enam Khan (Associate professor, Department of International Relation, Jahangirnagar University), Swadhin Sen (Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology,Jahangirnagar University), and Sumon Rahman ( Associate Professor, MSJ, ULAB). They talked about the theory and now a days situation. 

Discussing the topic with students
photo: Faria

"I am under surveillance, someone watched me by my laptop camera when even it is off. I can not believe that I am watching", said Sumon Rahman.
"We saw that the modern nations are apply this surveillance theory to protect then self, they not only watching but also make situation, which take public and all sector of the nation in a box. And by watching them the grubbed by them all the time", said Swadin Sen. He also added:"By watching them nation occupied every thing. Before the society chose what they have to do, they through stone for women ghost or burn them but now nation do everything for any crime. So the nation is the powerful here not the society". A student Quazi Fhami Naz said:"we are being surveilled, if not then why can't we do protest for Sundarban. Any where we go for a protest the nation know and they don't want it so they send police force for us"

After discussion the visual exhibition start with the public speech by Soikat. He said:"Rampal power plant is going to get problem, how blind must they, I wanted to write a facebook status but I can't, it means very simple they don't want, after that we all need democracy and so called critisize any opinion for any organization that we want to but it was not after it rotted I read it once twice and thrice then I find editing."

Which mean in the social media to our house we are watching by the nation. After the speech the visual program start which made for the class work.

Chef guest deliver his speech
photo: Faria

At the end of the program the chief guest Mr. Jahangir (Bangladesh Cinema and Television Chef Executive) give his speech. He said:" we should marge work together with the FDC, because the students work pleased me. I want if we work together then the scenario will change some day. The FDC public thought university student work in alternative way and the student think FDC public are uneducated but we have to change the mentality then we can do something better". 

With his speech the Fall semester CI programs end this session.  The other session are held in 20th, 21st December with exhibition and presentation.

Edited by
Faria