Foucault and Covid

“COVID-19 is about the politics of the body. In a series of lectures and essays in the 1970s and early 1980s, Michel Foucault (who died in 1984) argued that the discipline of public health emerged with the birth of capitalism in the 18th century. The body came to be understood as an instrument of economic production, of labor-power, and so became a subject of significant political interest. Medicine and public health were endorsed as tools to enhance these productive forces, to ensure that people were fit for work. The priority given to the body as an important determinant of mercantilist prosperity ran parallel with a further historical turn—the meaning of government. The idea of government began with the narrow objective of retaining jurisdiction over a defined territory.” – from The Lancet, written by Richard Horton.

That territory is the population of a given place with a special interest in the family. This short paper asks you to reflect on the Foucault readings as they apply to the recent COVID pandemic, including the shutdown of businesses, schools, shelter in place orders, travel restrictions, mandatory vaccinations, and the new QR codes and vaccine passports that regulate access to businesses, entertainment events, and travel. Your paper should have an argument that asserts why Foucault’s writings are relevant and lend insight to current events, and briefly state that relevancy. The body of the paper should explore significant passages from the texts and relate them to events and responses concerning the COVID pandemic.

The paper is to have works cited page – even on the first draft – and be in MLA format. The paper should be three pages minimum and not exceed five pages.

The writer needs to have read Foucault, Michel – Discipline and Punish (Vintage, 1995).pdf (free online)

Needs to include-
reflect on Foucault’s readings and how they compare to covid
argue why Foucault’s writings are relevant and led to current covid events
Foucault is relevant in the age of covid. How?
Explore significant passages from the text
add quotes and how they relate covid