Mckeon and Foucault both address the relation of privacy and power in their writings. However, the manner in which they do so differs. Mckeon takes a more passive approach, almost opposite of Foucault, by concentrating on privacy and the divisions of a building to promote privacy. Foucault concentrates on the partitions of space to promote separation and publicity. In order to maintain power, privacy becomes a major role. In Mckeon’s example of the birthing room where behind closed doors only women were allowed, this space becomes mystified by men. It is similar to the mystification caused by the central tower in the panopticon, since it is not known what is going on in either. Mckeon illustrates how the political elite exhibit more private architecture in their homes. This is important to mystify power while the poorer subjects remain more visible. Just like the panopticon, visibility promotes control. Mckeon chooses not to reference Foucault in his essay and I believe it is a powerful move. By not relating his work to a motivating force like Foucault, he is able to take his own ideas and express them in a manner that emulates his work but does so in an extremely different manner. Effective control of masses can be expressed by the degree of privacy and publicity exhibited. Powerful forces, while public appearances are often made, stay hidden and mystified from the public domain. This can be seen by many world leaders and dictators. The common person is then controlled by a workforce such as the police or military. Partitioning space allows the mysticism of power and the control of masses by separation and distinction of individuals. Each essay is an equivalent match in terms of persuasion, but Foucault is more direct in his expression and can therefore influence, to a greater degree, the readers more effectively.
Division of power and class can be seen by the partitioning of space. One is more private allowing mysticism, while the other is more public offering control.
