@askesis said:

@Campster Reverse panopticon comment is interesting! To answer your question re show as social quarantine: 1) Check out the "Of Other Spaces" article I linked to in recap on heterotopias. 2)There's a good argument to be made that show-going is a "practice of freedom," as discussed in Foucault's later works on ethics.

The discussion of the panopticon is from Foucault's text Discipline & Punish, which is a genealogy of disciplinary power (precursor to biopower). Contemporary Foucault scholars have updated Foucault's account of power to include tech developments, surveillance, etc. So think about tracking your steps dancing on your fit bit, phone tracking your location & text data, and webcast potentially broadcasting your behavior at a show. Colin Koopman has some helpful recent work on a concept he terms "infopower."

Thanks! Very interesting indeed, and I knew I was jumbling some things up... so much food for thought. Never would have thought Phish would be a jumping off point for me to dive back into Foucault. Glad we've got a community to foster this kind of exploration. Grateful for you taking the time to respond! (wish I could turn back the clock and take a course taught by you!)