“The Great Confinement”

who is the observer;

looking in and looking out

judging the observed

This masterpiece of a haiku questions the controlling action of people in positions of authority; a topic discussed throughout history. Notable examples of this questioning of power have arisen in every discipline: Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon, Plato’s Republic, and Foucault’s questioning of social forces determining madness and civilization. Who will guard the guards? “Who will watch the watchmen?”

Who is watching who? Who is really in power?

Under surveillance, who can hide?Where can you go?

Who is in control? Who is being controlled?

When it comes down to it, do we really have any form of free will? Aren’t we all just being controlled by our supposedly benevolent overlords and their innocuous advertising?

We can observe hypothetical situations affected by Power, Time, and Money:

Power can increase your current properties!

Power can be used to augment one’s current influence. Gradual increase of power will lead to greater influence in the vicinity.

Money can buy more ads!

Money is power. It’s the most obvious road to influence. One can simply buy surface area to physically spread over the city.

Skip the money and power, you already own the city!

Under optimal conditions, you don’t need money or power to buy ads; you already have complete control over the city. The people have no reason to live, except to carry out your dream of an urban utopia. Free will is a myth that is dedicated to you and written by you. Songs are sung in your name.