Final: Response to Quotes

1. “[T]he body is . . . directly involved in a political field; power relations have an immediate hold upon it; they invest it, mark it, train it, torture it, force it to carry out tasks, to perform ceremonies, to emit signs.” (25)

The body is a participant in a political field. Other political bodies of similar or higher stature are able to influence it for the purpose of doing one’s bidding. In this manner, different political bodies are sometimes abusive of each other, in order to receive what they desire. This demonstrates how propaganda and immoral or arbitrary action can be produced by political bodies. Political bodies influence one another to perform deeds of ill-intent, merely for satisfying typical desires of the powerful.

2. “[I]t is largely as a force of production that the body is invested with relations of power and domination; but, on the other hand, its constitution as labour power is possible only if it is caught up in a system of subjection . . . the body becomes a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body.” (26)

Chesapeake colonies are under subjection to produce tobacco because they are so invested in their relationship with England. The mother (England) had direct control over its new aspiring colonies, thus demanding an increase in the production of tobacco, for its wealthy rewards. Because it was such a competitive world, Chesapeake colonies were compelled to adopt the use of slavery for mass labor because other powerful nations, such as Spain, had done the same. In my opinion, a competitive globe inevitably becomes a system of subjection. I don’t believe political bodies’ usefulness is dependant on subjection. If this were true, it would suggest that political bodies are only useful when not free (subjection). Political bodies wouldn’t be as dependant on subjection if the globe became less competitive and more cooperative (more accepting of one another).

“In the darkest region of the political field the condemned man represents the symmetrical, inverted figure of the king.” (29)

Within the darkest region of the political field, the condemned man represents the exact opposite of the king. This signifies the king as someone morally bad, but having substantial power. The condemned man is a figure of moral clarity, but not having any power. In contrast, one could say, “In the most justified region of the political field the condemned man represents the king, but without power.”