In examining the current situation that we are going through in the era of the pandemic, you

will use Michelle Foucault’s idea of “biopower” as a critical lens to analyze your personal

relationship with the Election Day (November 3rd, 2020). To develop your analysis, you should

apply his ideas about how the government and state power affect and shape your daily life,

emotions, and way of thinking. Or your power to formulate and affect the state power.

Foucault’s work will thus provide the analytical framework for your argument, but your

discussion can, if you choose, go beyond the limits of his ideas. If you find that Foucault’s

theory does not adequately explain the behavior you are exploring, you may even choose to

discuss the possible limitations of his approach.

Before you launch your writing process, you must work closely with the text, both analyzing

the material and using it as support. In addition, your work will require two different

approaches to the readings: For Foucault’s piece, you must understand how he explains the

significance of context in order to use it as a framework for your own analysis; second, you

must develop an understanding of how situational context plays a role in the behavior you

have chosen. To write an effective essay, you must do both of these well.

This writing could be very personal, contemplative and you get to decide how much you

would reveal yourself as a narrator (first person narrative) or a focalizer (third-). Present

yourself as a candid and sensible subject and let Foucault’s lens help you to navigate your

everyday life.

Your paper should be in the 5-page range (1500 words), but feel free to write more if necessary.

Please adhere to MLA formatting and other minor rules the instructor specifies.