The Powerful Network

Power, a common used term, is not what it seems as I have learning BA1002 lectures and tutorials. The complex world of power, and its relation to space and place and the network theory will be discussed.

To understand the complexities of power, the virtual social network of Facebook will be analysed throughout the blogs. Facebook is arguably the largest network or hub that connects people from all around the world. It allows one to interact and stay connected with friends and family. This vast virtual space becomes a personal place as it enables us to interact with family and friends. Facebook is no longer a conceptual space, the user creates a direct relationship by interacting with its features. Tuan (1977, p. 4) writes, "Places are centers of felt value, where biological needs… are satisfied".

Additionally space is deeply linked with power; like space, power is relational. The geography of power determines how it is exercised and it relies on relationships. Allen (2003, p. 2) states, "…geography matters  to our relationships with those who exercise power and, … power matters to what can be said geographically about its exercise".

This idea of geography and power relates to the use of Facebook through the

Image 1: The abandoned Presidio Modelo complex in 1995

Panopticon Theory. "In Many ways, Facebook is reminiscent of the panopticon, a prison designed by English theorist Bentham in 1785" (Kuttainen, 2016). This concept shows that Facebook is empowering for the "prison guard" in the middle. As users we are all under surveillance and it becomes a disempowering environment. Totalitarian power becomes established as the one person controls the operation of power.

In short, the large social network of Facebook is a virtual space of personal place. Its geography dictates the exercise of power in this space  and demonstrates the Panopticon Theory.

References

Allen, J. (2003). Lost geographies of power. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

Kuttainen, V. (2016). BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, lecture 2: Power. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au

McMullan, T. (2015).  The abandoned Presidio Modelo complex in 1995 [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/23/panopticon-digital-surveillance-jeremy-bentham 

Tuan, Y. (1977). Space and Place: The Perspectives of Experience. London, UK: Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd.