Power and the exercising body : a study of Foucault and the gym experience
This study is framed by the writings of the French philosopher, Michel Foucault on power and the body, particularly his <i>Discipline and Punish </i>(1979)<i> </i>and <i>The History of Sexuality </i>(1979-1990).<i> </i>It seeks to fill the void that these texts have left as to the way we understand our bodies and their significance for our society. Our bodies are according to Foucault, the ultimate and most important loci of the establishment and exercise of power. Power - identified in Foucaultâs work with changing social conditions, relations and rules - influences our attitudes towards, and the ways we treat, our bodies. Yet, Foucault does not always convincingly show how our bodies as affected by power - are <i>felt </i>by us and how they <i>live the world. </i>The same failing that characterises the work of Foucault seems to characterise also the field of sociology of the body; an area of knowledge that is about the body as caught up in the social order and which Foucault is credited with having founded in some way. This study seeks to redress this failing through an empirical investigation of the embodied experiences of regular gym-users, using participant observation and interviews. The main contribution
Laspia, Dimitra
Power and the exercising body : a study of Foucault and the gym experience. This study is framed by the writings of the French philosopher, Michel Foucault on power and the body, particularly his <i>Discipline and Punish </i>(1979)<i> </i>and <i>The History of Sexuality </i>(1979-1990).<i> </i>It seeks to fill the void that these texts have left as to the way we understand our bodies and their significance for our society. Our bodies are according to Foucault, the ultimate and most important loci of the establishment and exercise of power. Power - identified in Foucaultâs work with changing social conditions, relations and rules - influences our attitudes towards, and the ways we treat, our bodies. Yet, Foucault does not always convincingly show how our bodies as affected by power - are <i>felt </i>by us and how they <i>live the world. </i>The same failing that characterises the work of Foucault seems to characterise also the field of sociology of the body; an area of knowledge that is about the body as caught up in the social order and which Foucault is credited with having founded in some way. This study seeks to redress this failing through an empirical investigation of the embodied experiences of regular gym-users, using participant observation and interviews. The main contribution
power exercise body study foucault experience study frame writing french philosopher michel_foucault power body particularly discipline punish history sexuality seek fill void text leave way body significance society body accord foucault ultimate important locus establishment exercise_power power identify foucault_work change social_condition relation rule influence_attitude towards way treat body yet foucault always convincingly show body affect power felt live world fail characterises work foucault seem characterise also field sociology body area knowledge body catch social_order foucault credit founded way study_seek redress fail empirical_investigation embody_experience regular users use participant_observation interview main