In his essay, "What is an author," Foucault states that, "[In] the course of the nineteenth century, there appeared...[a] kind of author...we shall call..."founders of discursivity," which he explains as a work which serves as the framework which in future authors and artists base there work (Foucault, 114-115). I think it would be fair to categorize Fleming as one of these "founders" because of the clear impact his works have had on others that came after him. A simple online search of "James Bond" (specifically) will show results (movies, TV shows, comics, and other books based on Fleming's) which far outnumber the original work.
As a side point, I found it interesting that the panopticon can explain the situation Bond is in. He does not know where his enemies are and must always be ready for someone who is trying to kill him. This seems to resemble the panopticon which is based on the idea that the prisoner will be disciplined because he does not know if and when someone is watching.
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3 comments:
I think the "constant surveillance " that Bond is placed under is a perfect example of a prison sentence. For a man existing so above and beyond the law he is constantly repressed by all of his surroundings. It is obvious with this constant state of caution and worry that Bond is truly not a free man but one who has to constantly watch for blue and red camera boxes exploding in his general vicinity.
Both are great examples. Another exaple of panopticon is when Bond states that if Russia had broken on of his ciphers "He might as well pacl up and go home. He and his job would have been stripped naked"(p.025)
I agree with you that Fleming could be seen as one of the “founders of discursivity” because his work as a writer was sort of the seed that made it possible for others to benefit from and for many other works as you mention to come about.
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