The Eye as a symbol for surveillance - UNFINISHED

The eye organ acts as a mediator between interior and exterior. Eye contact plays an important role in social interaction. Georg Simmel wrote in his Appendix on “the sociology of the senses” from his main work Soziologie, The link that individuals create when looking at each other is the purest interrelation which can possibly exist between two human beings[1]. In French, Voir (To See) has the same root as savoir (Knowledge) and pouvoir (power). This relationship reveals a connection to control as well as power, and illumination, which are all connected to surveillance. The eye, a symbol of knowledge and power, was often mentioned in the Bible as the eye of god.

Source : Google - River Thames, London

The watchful eye of god was often depicted in paintings to remind the viewer that they were being watched at all time and therefore had to behave well in order to go to heaven. Seeing therefore merged with being seen.

Light, connected to vision and illumination meant that the symbol of the eye was appropriated to knowledge in the period of enlightenment. Free masons and philosophers adopted the symbol which embodied ideas of reason, foresight or watchfulness and figured as an attribute of man capable of his individual enlightenment. The eye also became a major symbol of power in political iconography during the 18th century civil revolution. The new democratic system in America came under the protection of the eye of providence. The seal of the United States indicated the beginning of a new era with the significance of a historic new beginning, the eye in a triangle crowns a pyramid as the final element.[2]

[1] Vol. 2: Soziologie: Untersuchungen uber die Formen der Vergesellschaftung, Otthein Rammstedt (ed.), Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt a. M. 1995, pp. 722-762

[2] Cf. Frank H. Sommer, Emblem and device: The Origin of the Great Seal of the United States, in the Quarterly vol. 24, 1961, pp. 57-76