Zindagi Tamasha and the Panopticon: A Foucauldian Reading of Surveillance and Moral Policing

Abstract

This research gives insight into the concept of the Panopticon, which was originally proposed by Jeremy Bentham and later developed by Michel Foucault, within the context of the Pakistani film Zindagi Tamasha (Circus of Life), directed by Sarmad Khoosat. The film offers an analytical perspective on societal constructs, revealing how individuals are presumed to conform to be perceived as "normal," and how different social forces discreetly regulate behaviour through moral and cultural stereotypes. The study examines themes of power, control, and normalization, scrutinizing how these forces shape individual behaviour and social interactions. It draws on Bart Simon’s model of the Panopticon, applying it to the film’s characters as manifestations of societal roles, while also incorporating Thomas Mathiesen’s concept of the Synopticon to investigate contemporary mechanisms of modern mass surveillance and public scrutiny, such as viral media and moral policing. By applying these theoretical models, the study underscores the mechanisms of control embedded in society and the significant effect they exert on personal identity, freedom, and social conformity.