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Michel Focault brings into place a wide variety of compelling points about how man perceives life and normality. Abnormality is defined as everything different from the normal; being normal would be anything that is obvious to society. The forms of abnormality that he focuses on are madness, criminality, perverted sexuality, and illness.

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As the centuries are passing by, so are our views on normality. In this day, we wouldn't consider a criminal to be abnormal, or even a perverted person. In fact, many people in society today have actually accepted this. It is stated in the book that our society has "increasingly locked up, excluded, and hidden abnormal people, while nevertheless watching, examining, questioning them carefully." We obviously define ourselves normal by comparing our thoughts, appearances, and actions towards others to criticize.

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So based on Focault's thoughts on this matter, doesn't discrimination of certain people come into play? Wouldn't we define the white man as the normal?  Usually, sick people or madmen would suffer fates imprisoned;  genocide has been carried out in several nations also. Today, we still lock up many criminals and the insane in asylums.

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Relating to a previous play I've read by Patrick Wilde titled, "What's Wrong with Angry," the issue of being a homosexual is displayed. Steven Carter, the protagonist, cannot help but reveal his true feelings for men, though is brought down by society, including his family just because being gay is not viewed as normal in society. Since it's a modern play, the issue of homosexuality is still brought up today, even in politics. If we eventually accept everything we view as abnormal to be normal at this point, does that mean everyone is really the same?

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-Mohammad Rattu

Posted by mrattu on December 17, 2008
Tags: Michel Foucault

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yrpnova on whole page :

I think people bring down abnormal people more on the basis of how much of a threat they pose. A sick person would not be locked up but a person with like some uncurable and quick spreading disease would be quarantined. We lock up criminal because they try to cause harm. Some look down on homosexuals because their religion doesn’t accept it. I really doubt we’ll ever reach a point where everyone is the same because everyone is different. We can only hope people are able to better judge what is a threat and what isn’t.

-Steven

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December 17, 2008 4:55 am
profjudell on whole page :

You are getting your Wilde’s mixed up. Oscar died, I believe, in the year 1900. Try Patrick Wilde.

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January 1, 2009 11:51 pm
afarooqi on whole page :

You know Mohammad, when we first started reading Focault’s book and the section of abnormal vs normal, the same thoughts ran through my mind. What IS normal? What IS abnormal? Who can truly define what they are? It’s subjective, if you ask me. I also agree with Steven. Whoever or whatever causes harm or is a threat to us, we usually lock up in either a prison or asylum. Those people aren’t sane and therefore not normal.
In “What’s Wrong With Angry?”, the fact that Steven is gay, makes him abnormal. That is usually the case anywhere one goes. If you see a mentally disabled person for the first time, it will be new and weird for you. But, if you continuously see that mentally disabled person, it will no longer be weird or new. I guess in “What’s Wrong With Angry?”, they didn’t see gay people too much, therefore they thought Steven was crazy or strange. But in New York, for example, there are gay people left and right, so when we see a gay person, it’s not too much of a big deal for us.

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January 2, 2009 2:07 am

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