Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard
This article examines the legitimization process of the public health preventive measures implemented in many Western countries following the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Through concepts such as governmentality, disciplinarization and security mechanisms proposed by Foucault, we trace some of the basic pri...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copenhagen Business School
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Foucault Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://rauli.cbs.dk/index.php/foucault-studies/article/view/7073 |
| _version_ | 1797293903303409664 |
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| author | Jean-Paul Sarrazin Fabián Aguirre |
| author_facet | Jean-Paul Sarrazin Fabián Aguirre |
| author_sort | Jean-Paul Sarrazin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines the legitimization process of the public health preventive measures implemented in many Western countries following the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Through concepts such as governmentality, disciplinarization and security mechanisms proposed by Foucault, we trace some of the basic principles and implications of the relationship between biopower and medicine, as well as the media dissemination of an official narrative on scientific truth. These reflections are complemented by the contributions of Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard. Lyotard reflects on the relationship between science and a “performative game”, whose own staging is the core of its criteria of truth. Baudrillard shows the relevance of a “hyperreality” in which the signs presented by the media take precedence over the experience of the subjects. We argue that a mediatized version of science, defined through a strong disciplinarization of knowledge and the censorship of dissident voices, played a key role in the establishment of consensus and the legitimization of policies that granted extraordinary power to governments and transnational elites. Although the work of Foucault in this demonstration is essential, the contributions of Lyotard and Baudrillard provide additional elements to understand a fundamental problem: the public acceptance of “truth” as an instrument of governmentality on a global scale. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:22:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f86d77ce173944888019bd51dd538a47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1832-5203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:22:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Copenhagen Business School |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foucault Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f86d77ce173944888019bd51dd538a472024-02-27T09:32:54ZengCopenhagen Business SchoolFoucault Studies1832-52032023-12-013510.22439/fs.i35.7073Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and BaudrillardJean-Paul Sarrazin0Fabián Aguirre1University of AntioquiaUniversidad Pontificia BolivarianaThis article examines the legitimization process of the public health preventive measures implemented in many Western countries following the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Through concepts such as governmentality, disciplinarization and security mechanisms proposed by Foucault, we trace some of the basic principles and implications of the relationship between biopower and medicine, as well as the media dissemination of an official narrative on scientific truth. These reflections are complemented by the contributions of Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard. Lyotard reflects on the relationship between science and a “performative game”, whose own staging is the core of its criteria of truth. Baudrillard shows the relevance of a “hyperreality” in which the signs presented by the media take precedence over the experience of the subjects. We argue that a mediatized version of science, defined through a strong disciplinarization of knowledge and the censorship of dissident voices, played a key role in the establishment of consensus and the legitimization of policies that granted extraordinary power to governments and transnational elites. Although the work of Foucault in this demonstration is essential, the contributions of Lyotard and Baudrillard provide additional elements to understand a fundamental problem: the public acceptance of “truth” as an instrument of governmentality on a global scale.https://rauli.cbs.dk/index.php/foucault-studies/article/view/7073GovernmentalityPandemicLegitimationBiopowerScientific Debate |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Paul Sarrazin Fabián Aguirre Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard Foucault Studies Governmentality Pandemic Legitimation Biopower Scientific Debate |
| title | Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard |
| title_full | Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard |
| title_fullStr | Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard |
| title_full_unstemmed | Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard |
| title_short | Governmentality, Science and the Media. Examining the “Pandemic Reality” with Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard |
| title_sort | governmentality science and the media examining the pandemic reality with foucault lyotard and baudrillard |
| topic | Governmentality Pandemic Legitimation Biopower Scientific Debate |
| url | https://rauli.cbs.dk/index.php/foucault-studies/article/view/7073 |
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