Surveillance, Capitalism, Leisure, and Data: Being Watched, Giving, Becoming

Abstract

This conceptual paper aims to serve two purposes: 1) introduce theories of surveillance to aid leisure scholars in exploring surveillance in its many forms; and, 2) add to the discussion on surveillance by layering “the leisure body” onto existing theory. We begin by introducing three groupings of “surveillance” theory: panoptic surveillance (think Bentham and Foucault), post-panoptical surveillance (think Deleuze), and contemporary surveillance (Galič et al., 2017). Panoptic surveillance is a physical surveillance (reliant on a fleshy body and physical space) where, like in Bentham’s and Foucault’s panopticons, the individual polices personal presentation and action under the presumption of being watched. We theorize this as surveillance on the body; it is body-to-body even as it is mediated through technology. Post-panoptical surveillance is less dependent on distinct, physical spaces, and particularly those of enclosure. We theorize this as the digital merging with the physical, where surveillance comes from the interaction of the technological with the fleshy body. Although this surveillance is less reliant on specific times and spaces—occurring within or through the body—it is nonetheless conditioned by our physical connections to technological devices. This is technology-to-body surveillance that is dependent on a physical interaction between the two. Contemporary surveillance is not dependent upon a physical linkage between technology and the body or a space of enclosure; it both marks an individual and simultaneously dissolves them into an ocean of big data. It is an inescapable surveillance as existence in the modern world. We call this technobody surveillance where the need for the interaction between technologies and fleshy bodies is subsumed by the gaseous and pervasive nature of apparatuses of surveillance. With each, we provide an exemplar from leisure practice, time, and/or space to illustrate how each operates within leisure phenomena.

Keywords:

• Capitalism
• data
• leisure
• panopticon
• surveillance

Notes

1 The aforementioned “scout elf” that comes with the book or can be purchased separately online

2 $25 USD is the January 2023 price for the original package that includes the story book and the white, blue-eyed elf on Amazon. At the same time the “Dark Tone” boy elf package can be purchased for $16.50 USD.

3 See the work of Ritzer et al. on prosumers and presumption (Ritzer, 2015; Ritzer et al., 2012).

4 We acknowledge, of course, that these technological structures would not exist without the direct and specific inputs of humans, and that there are complex relationships between the infrastructures that keep technologies functioning for our varied uses (Parks, 2015). But, for the purposes of our arguments here, understanding AI-based collection and analysis of surveillance data as a kind of human-free apparatus allows for an understanding of ongoing developments of human-free evaluation of data and decision making.

5 These are the elements that allow for behavioural targeting in people’s online activity and purchases, so the ads that appear based on your previous online purchases and/or your recent browser history (Miles, 2021).

6 We mean here technologies like Fitbits and Apple Watches, but also our cell phones, computerized cars, even internet-enabled appliances and children’s technologies like toys and monitors

7 Acknowledging, of course, that they are used with and on the body.