a thread of analysis about panopticism + FACE subjection is the process by which people become subjects to a type of socio-symbolic authority — specifically, an ideological power. in the case of panopticism, both the prison guard and the prisoner are subjected to the +

socio-symbolic order, however only the prison guard enforces it. hence, the goal of the panopticon is to influence the prisoners to also become enforcers — especially to themselves. the prisoners will never know if/when they’re being watched by the prison guards. and +

since they will be punished for any wrongdoings (actions that are criminalised by the socio-symbolic order), they are thus compelled into a state of self-observation; they become complicit in their own subjection. the prisoner becomes a disciplined figure of society, +

never questioning authority and never behaving in a disorderly manner for fear of punishment from an intangible, omnipresent ideology-God. so how does this connect to FACE? i think the panopticon could present a few things — namely, himself or stardom (perhaps both). +

since ‘FACE-OFF’ is the first track on the album, i believe jimin will face his dual identities: prisoner & guard. one is constantly being watched by us (the audience), and one is constantly watched by himself — the latter a rigorous form of self-discipline and perfectionism.

the hardware/software interface further links to this, as shown in the concept pictures: