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The Representation of the All-Seeing Eye in A Clockwork Orange Cover

The Representation of the All-Seeing Eye in A Clockwork Orange

By: Deniz Kotanci  
Open Access
|Jan 2026

Abstract

As an ancient symbol, the Eye has appeared in various distant regions and carried diverse meanings for different cultures throughout history. The all-seeing eye symbol, regarded as a representative of both good and evil, is associated with the concepts of control, authority, discipline, and surveillance in the modern period. Within visual arts and literature, the all-seeing eye functions as one of the crucial symbols conveying these concepts. In this context, Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange (1962) and Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic adaptation (1971) are exclusively significant for their sophisticated portrayal of the all-seeing eye’s modern representation. Therefore, this study explores the textual and visual representations of the all-seeing eye in A Clockwork Orange, exploring its function as a symbol of ideological manipulation, surveillance, and discipline. The analysis draws on Michel Foucault’s theoretical insights on power and discipline to examine the representation of the all-seeing eye. Additionally, Roland Barthes’ semiotic approach is incorporated to provide a more comprehensive interpretation of its representation in both works.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/as.155 | Journal eISSN: 2184-6006
Language: English
Submitted on: Feb 13, 2024
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Accepted on: Oct 22, 2025
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Published on: Jan 29, 2026
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2026 Deniz Kotanci, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 24 (2026): Issue 1