Power and structures thereof
Mar. 23rd, 2008 04:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethI have a thought about different forms of power that, to put a proper essay around, I would have to research rather a lot. Possibly to intro politics levels or something. So I'm not the best one to poke this thought.
But the last couple of days I've read stories set in a *lot* of different power structures. And each has as the basis of power a different kind of relationship. And all of them would have a different natural/normal about secrets, and who has the right/responsibility to keep them, and who gets to decide for the whole world.
One form of power that's not going to get you any mileage in the Doctor Who 'verse is money. Sure, we see powerful people who have power because they have money. We see them often. And then we see them get ate by something because their money cannot protect them. You could call it anti-capitalist, and to a degree it is, since money isn't everything and could be considered a whole lot of trouble. But who is telling us this and why? Er, people with the money to make the TV show... But they're making one where it can be noticed that people with lots of money get other people around them into trouble, usually in their quest to make more. So... not just telling people not to want money, giving the people who have it a Very Hard Stare Over Glasses.
Rather fun really.
But then we have the Doctor wandering around and so comfortably off in a means-of-production sense that he's never had to worry about money. He don't have to work, he has a magic box. That's... interesting.
But not my point today. It's just there's so much theory about money it's hard not to get stuck into it, you know?
With capital as the basis of power it is natural/normal to keep secrets because they're a valuable commodity that can help you earn more money, which is inherently of the good. Other people can't afford your secrets? Too bad. But you find you haven't bought the right secrets and die from not-knowing... oops.
Some power is based on blood, on the assumption that there is something inborn in a particular individual that makes them different, and therefore more fit to rule. Queen Victoria, for instance, may have found that the natural assumption, especially with the godawful social applications of Darwin's theory that got popular back then. (Ish. I haven't checked dates properly. Just, you know, back in history times. :eyeroll:) Some people are just naturally more evolved than others, more suited to rule. And, uncomfortably, this can sometimes look like the basis on which the Doctor and even Jack hold power - they are different, their bodies are different, they're from a more physically evolved age, tougher, smarter, with some shiny tricks up their sleeves. And I say uncomfortable because this is, to current British society, a residual element in culture - a strong residual, one that keeps a monarch on the throne and King Arthur in the pop culture, but not something people will on the whole consciously argue. 'Born better' isn't the dominant ideal. Largely because the vast majority of us are not, in fact, able to claim that for ourselves - and we don't much like the idea of being born worse, or born to serve. So we do not wish to hand our power to others on this basis, and the idea lacks hegemony.
In this system it is natural/normal for the few to keep their secrets because they are inherently better able to cope with them. If even the aristos find it hard to get their head around all this stars and magic, imagine how the working class would react! Break their brains, it would. Keep it secret for their own protection. The few, the special, can cope, but the masses cannot.
Another form of power is based on experience, or that which is likely an indicator of experience, age. Stick with experience; age is not much respected of itself in current society, but mileage is. An old/experienced soldier or police or firefighter or medic - someone who has survived much - is someone who knows about survival. Therefore in situations where survival is not a given, such experienced people clearly have value. And hopefully power to get other people to listen to what they have to say. Same with experience in other fields when something where that field is key comes up - old/experienced scientists can tell you what not to mix together, that sort of thing. Military rank has a lot of this 'experience' bit in it nowadays - you climb up from doing things, work your way through.
Clearly this is part of why the Doctor and Jack have power. And a part we're much more comfortable with. Makes sense, right?
Secrets don't make as much sense when experience is valued. You need to know. But, there's the military concept of need to know - if you don't need it, you don't know it. Haven't run into that situation yet? Therefore you haven't learned about it. Don't have the experience so assumed you can't deal. Er, rather limiting that, and quite likely to get more people killed.
But you can have been through a lot without learning a lot, and you can learn a lot without having been through very much, and that's where Knowledge comes in. Having the right knowledge, even if you're 12 and this is the first time you've really had to do something for your own self, is very powerful. Bats hear well so make a big noise = power. That kind of thing. And this one we're very comfortable with. Up to a point. Knowledgeable people should be able to tell us what to do... in their area of expertise. But should they be able to decide for us? Should a doctor be able to treat someone based on their own assessment of what is best for them? Not by current standards - a doctor would need informed consent. That is, they're expected to share their knowledge until everyone's got the same on a particular point, and then everyone can make their own decisions as equals.
And that, right there, is why the power to keep secrets is one that don't fit well these days. Not at all.
Sure, if knowledge is power then keeping the knowledge to yourself makes you uniquely powerful. Makes sense, right? But then...
We have this whole democracy thing going on. The assumption is that everyone has the right to make decisions about their own selves. This isn't based on ability or IQ or qualifications or *anything* except existing. We're all people, we're all free willed, we all get to decide for ourselves.
And, okay, we don't directly vote on every issue. We choose someone who we trust to study up on stuff and make choices like we would if we spent all our time making those sorts of choices.
... who voted for the Doctor?
... ah, and that would be why the end of DW season 3 - everyone did! Clearly he is right in his swanning around assuming absolute authority over everything then...
... even if the only other candidate was running on the platform 'vote for me and I'll kill you. yes, and. what, you want an or? Sorry, losers!'
*sigh*
ANYway
The Doctor holds power based on being by birth and blood different, biologically different (Time Lord, as he says often). Also by being independently wealthy with material resources others can't even dream of. Also by being very old and experienced. Also by having knowledge from the best possible degree course. And which parts matter most?
Well there are other Time Lords, and the Doctor wins over them. And there are other richer Time Lords with shinier new and more worky material resources, and still the Doctor is the coolest and most powerful. And they're older... which frankly comes off as a bad thing most of the time, cause they're stuffy and stuck in a rut. So still the Doctor is the coolest. Partly because he has a wider variety of experience than any of the others. So that's one basis for his power - he's been doing this stuff and surviving it for longer than anyone. But so has the Master, and the Doctor pwns him often. And then there's the degree thing, the most-knowledge... and Romana had the same degree, yet the Doctor was cooler. And the Master had not only the same degree but also better technical ability and all that end of the universe science, and yet, as previously mentioned, the Doctor still wins. In fact the Master is a great example here, because he has *everything* the Doctor has and more in those few categories... but still loses. A lot.
Why?
The Doctor has friends.
People who chose him.
Not blindly, not because there's worse out there, but because they know him. He tells them things, and shows them things, and they get to know him. And that bit where Martha went around the world and told the story - that was her sharing that knowledge. They didn't just choose the Doctor because the Master was worse, but because she told them things about the Doctor and they decided he was better. Really. Or at least sometimes that's what happens. The Doctor has and keeps on having friends, makes more friends all the time, without mind control, just being generally rather marvelous.
The Doctor needs companions cause it's them choosing things that makes his power legitimate.
Yes? No? Maybe?
Now Torchwood... well there's two of Torchwood.
The Torchwood Institute had power based on money, and blood (empire, majesty), and force...
How did I miss out force? Well it's a no brainer in the DW 'verse. "Do this or I'll stomp you" doesn't get you anywhere. As proven by the Sycorax, the Master, and pretty much everyone. So I missed it out cause it's a bad guys only kind of trick, and I'm investigating the Doctor... who, come to think, does blow people up the best of anyone, since even the Daleks are scared of him and he blew up Gallifrey not them. And also investigating Torchwood, both versions... well the lesson of TW is if you use force somebody will use it back only harder. Not a good source of power.
TWI had money, empire, force, and some degree of knowledge... and they decided that was enough. But then they got stomped on. Because it wasn't enough knowledge?
TWI also had about 1000 employees. Maybe 800. Somewhere between those two numbers.
... er, the Doctor is legitimate cause one or two people choose him everywhere. Torchwood Instititue isn't because... well, it's this planet, and a thousand people choosing for six billion suddenly looks obviously dumb.
Their major problem though was that lack of knowledge. Boom. Stomp.
They got their power from stealing (not enough) knowledge. Not asking for it, taking it. Not sharing, not being chosen.
The Doctor shares, so he's of the good?
Torchwood kept everything locked away, wouldn't share toys, so they're of the bad.
That doesn't stop being true just because it's Jack in charge.
Jack's basis of power: Well, he's independently wealthy - he cut ties to TWI and yet has his own electricity. He has a bit of force on his side, so that whole go away or we'll blow you up thing works out up to a point. He's different in his body and brain now, with enhanced durability, enhanced senses, and quite possibly his very own bit of being psychic. But the senses and possible psi are really more part of the other thing, his greater knowledge. And broader experience.
So, he's got a whole lot of stuff going for him there.
But... who chose him?
Is it enough that his team do?
Who chose them?
Why do they get to charge around doing things to people - including using drugs on them - without their informed consent?
... because they're the bad guys. Only Torchwood chose Jack, and TWI were bad. Doctor got mad at them, they weren't doing it right. Torchwood chose Jack way back at the start... and some guy who thought killing his whole team was a good idea chose Jack at the point Jack stopped working for others and started being the one in power. That's... well, he has a vote too, but is not cool it's the deciding one, you know? Vote of confidence from the man of no confidence!
Jack uses the word Torchwood like it's the authority in itself. Like he uses Captain. Both got earned in their own way, struggle and blood and just about surviving.
But what is the basis on which Torchwood Three assumes it has the right? Why does it have the power to act as it does? Because it has superior knowledge?
Well it only has that knowledge because it steals it from others - and not just stealing a copy. Torchwood take the knowledge away from anyone else who gets it. Yeah, that gets them power... but it ignores the whole democratic principle, the idea the rest of the people get a choice! If they had the same knowledge they could make choices for themselves. So saying that Torchwood takes the knowledge away because they have superior knowledge just doesn't make any sense. Doesn't justify anything. Everyone could have superior knowledge, all together, and all it would cost Torchwood is their sense of superiority!
So, okay, the decision isn't precisely Jack's or the Doctor's - it's the this world writer team who decided that the 'verse should remain ignorant despite all the clues, and indeed be mocked for it. But in a couple of different ways that's not useful thing to say. For one, it doesn't let you get at what kind of message about power the thing is sending. And the way the message differs between shows.
On Doctor Who then Doctor knows best. But you too can be a doctor when you grow up. And you can go around sharing all that knowledge. And that will save the world.
On Torchwood then Torchwood knows best. But only the few get to be Torchwood when they grow up. And then they can't share the knowledge. And people die because of that.
I was cool with that, because it's saying the same thing the other way around. Doctor is doing it right, Torchwood is doing it wrong, so on DW people live and on TW they die horribly.
But then people start being told... and wish they hadn't? I'm not liking that one bit. Not because it's not a reasonable character reaction - of course it is, some stuff is scary and I do not wish to see it - but because the story seems to agree that ignorance is bliss. And all the other stories seem to be saying actually ignorance is ugly messy death. Which is my basic understanding of the universe, so.
Torchwood deliberately increase ignorance in their universe. Ignorance is poison. Torchwood are the bad guys.
So, that wandered into some of the stuff we only just saw in TW 2-11 and 2-12. Spoilers. And through all of Doctor Who to date, so spoilers for that. And it's not very good. Not essay shaped and doesn't know enough. But I was having a thought, and that was it.
But the last couple of days I've read stories set in a *lot* of different power structures. And each has as the basis of power a different kind of relationship. And all of them would have a different natural/normal about secrets, and who has the right/responsibility to keep them, and who gets to decide for the whole world.
One form of power that's not going to get you any mileage in the Doctor Who 'verse is money. Sure, we see powerful people who have power because they have money. We see them often. And then we see them get ate by something because their money cannot protect them. You could call it anti-capitalist, and to a degree it is, since money isn't everything and could be considered a whole lot of trouble. But who is telling us this and why? Er, people with the money to make the TV show... But they're making one where it can be noticed that people with lots of money get other people around them into trouble, usually in their quest to make more. So... not just telling people not to want money, giving the people who have it a Very Hard Stare Over Glasses.
Rather fun really.
But then we have the Doctor wandering around and so comfortably off in a means-of-production sense that he's never had to worry about money. He don't have to work, he has a magic box. That's... interesting.
But not my point today. It's just there's so much theory about money it's hard not to get stuck into it, you know?
With capital as the basis of power it is natural/normal to keep secrets because they're a valuable commodity that can help you earn more money, which is inherently of the good. Other people can't afford your secrets? Too bad. But you find you haven't bought the right secrets and die from not-knowing... oops.
Some power is based on blood, on the assumption that there is something inborn in a particular individual that makes them different, and therefore more fit to rule. Queen Victoria, for instance, may have found that the natural assumption, especially with the godawful social applications of Darwin's theory that got popular back then. (Ish. I haven't checked dates properly. Just, you know, back in history times. :eyeroll:) Some people are just naturally more evolved than others, more suited to rule. And, uncomfortably, this can sometimes look like the basis on which the Doctor and even Jack hold power - they are different, their bodies are different, they're from a more physically evolved age, tougher, smarter, with some shiny tricks up their sleeves. And I say uncomfortable because this is, to current British society, a residual element in culture - a strong residual, one that keeps a monarch on the throne and King Arthur in the pop culture, but not something people will on the whole consciously argue. 'Born better' isn't the dominant ideal. Largely because the vast majority of us are not, in fact, able to claim that for ourselves - and we don't much like the idea of being born worse, or born to serve. So we do not wish to hand our power to others on this basis, and the idea lacks hegemony.
In this system it is natural/normal for the few to keep their secrets because they are inherently better able to cope with them. If even the aristos find it hard to get their head around all this stars and magic, imagine how the working class would react! Break their brains, it would. Keep it secret for their own protection. The few, the special, can cope, but the masses cannot.
Another form of power is based on experience, or that which is likely an indicator of experience, age. Stick with experience; age is not much respected of itself in current society, but mileage is. An old/experienced soldier or police or firefighter or medic - someone who has survived much - is someone who knows about survival. Therefore in situations where survival is not a given, such experienced people clearly have value. And hopefully power to get other people to listen to what they have to say. Same with experience in other fields when something where that field is key comes up - old/experienced scientists can tell you what not to mix together, that sort of thing. Military rank has a lot of this 'experience' bit in it nowadays - you climb up from doing things, work your way through.
Clearly this is part of why the Doctor and Jack have power. And a part we're much more comfortable with. Makes sense, right?
Secrets don't make as much sense when experience is valued. You need to know. But, there's the military concept of need to know - if you don't need it, you don't know it. Haven't run into that situation yet? Therefore you haven't learned about it. Don't have the experience so assumed you can't deal. Er, rather limiting that, and quite likely to get more people killed.
But you can have been through a lot without learning a lot, and you can learn a lot without having been through very much, and that's where Knowledge comes in. Having the right knowledge, even if you're 12 and this is the first time you've really had to do something for your own self, is very powerful. Bats hear well so make a big noise = power. That kind of thing. And this one we're very comfortable with. Up to a point. Knowledgeable people should be able to tell us what to do... in their area of expertise. But should they be able to decide for us? Should a doctor be able to treat someone based on their own assessment of what is best for them? Not by current standards - a doctor would need informed consent. That is, they're expected to share their knowledge until everyone's got the same on a particular point, and then everyone can make their own decisions as equals.
And that, right there, is why the power to keep secrets is one that don't fit well these days. Not at all.
Sure, if knowledge is power then keeping the knowledge to yourself makes you uniquely powerful. Makes sense, right? But then...
We have this whole democracy thing going on. The assumption is that everyone has the right to make decisions about their own selves. This isn't based on ability or IQ or qualifications or *anything* except existing. We're all people, we're all free willed, we all get to decide for ourselves.
And, okay, we don't directly vote on every issue. We choose someone who we trust to study up on stuff and make choices like we would if we spent all our time making those sorts of choices.
... who voted for the Doctor?
... ah, and that would be why the end of DW season 3 - everyone did! Clearly he is right in his swanning around assuming absolute authority over everything then...
... even if the only other candidate was running on the platform 'vote for me and I'll kill you. yes, and. what, you want an or? Sorry, losers!'
*sigh*
ANYway
The Doctor holds power based on being by birth and blood different, biologically different (Time Lord, as he says often). Also by being independently wealthy with material resources others can't even dream of. Also by being very old and experienced. Also by having knowledge from the best possible degree course. And which parts matter most?
Well there are other Time Lords, and the Doctor wins over them. And there are other richer Time Lords with shinier new and more worky material resources, and still the Doctor is the coolest and most powerful. And they're older... which frankly comes off as a bad thing most of the time, cause they're stuffy and stuck in a rut. So still the Doctor is the coolest. Partly because he has a wider variety of experience than any of the others. So that's one basis for his power - he's been doing this stuff and surviving it for longer than anyone. But so has the Master, and the Doctor pwns him often. And then there's the degree thing, the most-knowledge... and Romana had the same degree, yet the Doctor was cooler. And the Master had not only the same degree but also better technical ability and all that end of the universe science, and yet, as previously mentioned, the Doctor still wins. In fact the Master is a great example here, because he has *everything* the Doctor has and more in those few categories... but still loses. A lot.
Why?
The Doctor has friends.
People who chose him.
Not blindly, not because there's worse out there, but because they know him. He tells them things, and shows them things, and they get to know him. And that bit where Martha went around the world and told the story - that was her sharing that knowledge. They didn't just choose the Doctor because the Master was worse, but because she told them things about the Doctor and they decided he was better. Really. Or at least sometimes that's what happens. The Doctor has and keeps on having friends, makes more friends all the time, without mind control, just being generally rather marvelous.
The Doctor needs companions cause it's them choosing things that makes his power legitimate.
Yes? No? Maybe?
Now Torchwood... well there's two of Torchwood.
The Torchwood Institute had power based on money, and blood (empire, majesty), and force...
How did I miss out force? Well it's a no brainer in the DW 'verse. "Do this or I'll stomp you" doesn't get you anywhere. As proven by the Sycorax, the Master, and pretty much everyone. So I missed it out cause it's a bad guys only kind of trick, and I'm investigating the Doctor... who, come to think, does blow people up the best of anyone, since even the Daleks are scared of him and he blew up Gallifrey not them. And also investigating Torchwood, both versions... well the lesson of TW is if you use force somebody will use it back only harder. Not a good source of power.
TWI had money, empire, force, and some degree of knowledge... and they decided that was enough. But then they got stomped on. Because it wasn't enough knowledge?
TWI also had about 1000 employees. Maybe 800. Somewhere between those two numbers.
... er, the Doctor is legitimate cause one or two people choose him everywhere. Torchwood Instititue isn't because... well, it's this planet, and a thousand people choosing for six billion suddenly looks obviously dumb.
Their major problem though was that lack of knowledge. Boom. Stomp.
They got their power from stealing (not enough) knowledge. Not asking for it, taking it. Not sharing, not being chosen.
The Doctor shares, so he's of the good?
Torchwood kept everything locked away, wouldn't share toys, so they're of the bad.
That doesn't stop being true just because it's Jack in charge.
Jack's basis of power: Well, he's independently wealthy - he cut ties to TWI and yet has his own electricity. He has a bit of force on his side, so that whole go away or we'll blow you up thing works out up to a point. He's different in his body and brain now, with enhanced durability, enhanced senses, and quite possibly his very own bit of being psychic. But the senses and possible psi are really more part of the other thing, his greater knowledge. And broader experience.
So, he's got a whole lot of stuff going for him there.
But... who chose him?
Is it enough that his team do?
Who chose them?
Why do they get to charge around doing things to people - including using drugs on them - without their informed consent?
... because they're the bad guys. Only Torchwood chose Jack, and TWI were bad. Doctor got mad at them, they weren't doing it right. Torchwood chose Jack way back at the start... and some guy who thought killing his whole team was a good idea chose Jack at the point Jack stopped working for others and started being the one in power. That's... well, he has a vote too, but is not cool it's the deciding one, you know? Vote of confidence from the man of no confidence!
Jack uses the word Torchwood like it's the authority in itself. Like he uses Captain. Both got earned in their own way, struggle and blood and just about surviving.
But what is the basis on which Torchwood Three assumes it has the right? Why does it have the power to act as it does? Because it has superior knowledge?
Well it only has that knowledge because it steals it from others - and not just stealing a copy. Torchwood take the knowledge away from anyone else who gets it. Yeah, that gets them power... but it ignores the whole democratic principle, the idea the rest of the people get a choice! If they had the same knowledge they could make choices for themselves. So saying that Torchwood takes the knowledge away because they have superior knowledge just doesn't make any sense. Doesn't justify anything. Everyone could have superior knowledge, all together, and all it would cost Torchwood is their sense of superiority!
So, okay, the decision isn't precisely Jack's or the Doctor's - it's the this world writer team who decided that the 'verse should remain ignorant despite all the clues, and indeed be mocked for it. But in a couple of different ways that's not useful thing to say. For one, it doesn't let you get at what kind of message about power the thing is sending. And the way the message differs between shows.
On Doctor Who then Doctor knows best. But you too can be a doctor when you grow up. And you can go around sharing all that knowledge. And that will save the world.
On Torchwood then Torchwood knows best. But only the few get to be Torchwood when they grow up. And then they can't share the knowledge. And people die because of that.
I was cool with that, because it's saying the same thing the other way around. Doctor is doing it right, Torchwood is doing it wrong, so on DW people live and on TW they die horribly.
But then people start being told... and wish they hadn't? I'm not liking that one bit. Not because it's not a reasonable character reaction - of course it is, some stuff is scary and I do not wish to see it - but because the story seems to agree that ignorance is bliss. And all the other stories seem to be saying actually ignorance is ugly messy death. Which is my basic understanding of the universe, so.
Torchwood deliberately increase ignorance in their universe. Ignorance is poison. Torchwood are the bad guys.
So, that wandered into some of the stuff we only just saw in TW 2-11 and 2-12. Spoilers. And through all of Doctor Who to date, so spoilers for that. And it's not very good. Not essay shaped and doesn't know enough. But I was having a thought, and that was it.