This proposal is for the Palgrave Studies in Global Literatures and Religion Series, edited by Heather Ostman and devoted to the literary examination of religion. The series intends to look into how literature has depicted and transformed the role of religion and divinity. However, this proposed book aims to contribute to the series by looking at how literary texts engage with religious ideology and their implications for surveillance.

One of the significant contributions of Jeremy Bentham to social theory was the concept of the Panopticon, a model prison designed to allow a single watchman to observe all inmates without them being able to tell whether they are being watched. This setup aimed to create a sense of omnipresent surveillance. Keeping prisoners uncertain about being observed, it intended to foster self-regulation and discipline. However, the Panopticon’s implications are profound both philosophically and socially. It has been interpreted as a metaphor for modern disciplinary societies, where surveillance and control mechanisms are omnipresent. Michel Foucault further developed Bentham’s ideas in Discipline and Punish, depicting the Panopticon as emblematic of how disciplinary power functions in society. The concept has evolved with technologies like CCTV and digital monitoring, sparking ongoing debates about privacy and surveillance. Despite controversy, Bentham’s Panopticon remains a potent symbol in discussions about the balance between security and individual freedoms.

When it comes to religion, the concept of the Panopticon has important ramifications. Religious institutions and ideologies frequently employ mechanisms of surveillance and control systems, creating an environment in which believers feel constantly under divine inspection and moral examination. This constant surveillance raises ethical and psychological concerns. The perpetual feeling of being watched, whether by religious authorities or a divine presence, can limit individual autonomy and lead to internalized guilt and anxiety, akin to the effects observed in Bentham’s Panopticon. Thus, it goes beyond its original use in prisons, providing insights on how surveillance occurs in religious practices and institutions. Therefore, this book aims to explore the intersections of literary narratives, religious discourses, and surveillance practices. It invites scholars to examine how literature portrays the intersection of religious surveillance, power, and control, and how these themes critique, reflect upon, and explore human experiences and societal structures.

The editor invites submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Literary representations of surveillance in religious settings

• Literary representations of religious institutions as centers of surveillance and control

• Literary representations of divine omniscience and omnipresence

• Literary explorations of guilt, repentance, and moral self-control

• Psychological effects of constant divine observation on characters’ behaviours and beliefs.

• The functions of confession and self-examination in maintaining religious discipline.

• Critiques of power dynamics inherent in religious surveillance.

• Instances of resistance, rebellion, and subversion against religious control in literature.

• The Panopticon metaphor across various religious and secular contexts in literature.

• Representation of  the interplay between faith, freedom, and control in pious societies as depicted in literature

• Surveillance ethics, from a religious and literary perspective

The submissions should adopt an argumentative rather than descriptive style. Each chapter should present original insights into how literature portrays the pervasive surveillance of individuals and their consequent transformation into subjects, drawing from various theoretical perspectives. Final essays should be 5500 words long, including references, and are due three months after provisional acceptance. Chapters will follow MLA 9 format. Contributors must hold a PhD and have institutional affiliation (PhD candidates may contact the editor). Please email abstracts (along with a brief bio, max 150 words) for consideration to the editor: nidhinvettu23@gmail.com 

Proposed Timeline:

1. The deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 September 2024

2. Notification of abstract acceptances sent to authors: 30 October 2024