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Erving Goffman. The Presentation of Self In Everyday Life. Erving Goffman. We are all actors within the Social World, a central theme from Goffman work. In a sense, we are call “Fakers” or engaged in a “Con Job” on ourselves to effect other people.
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Erving Goffman The Presentation of Self In Everyday Life
Erving Goffman • We are all actors within the Social World, a central theme from Goffman work. • In a sense, we are call “Fakers” or engaged in a “Con Job” on ourselves to effect other people. • Goffman argues that the self is simply nothing more than “Self Presentations” and “Role Performances.” • Social life as a theatre, with social scripts, performances and actors & roles that perform in the Front and Back Regions of self. • The concept of depicting social life as a Theatre, Goffman developed the term Dramaturgy.
Dramaturgy • What is Dramaturgy • Dramaturgy is Impression Management • Social interactions is like a stage, the self promotes scenery • Moreover, that scenery is divided into two regions, the Front and Back Regions.
Regions • By definition regions may be defined as any place that is bounded to some degree by barriers to perception • When we talk about the Dramaturgical Approach to the Social World the self is divided by perception. • The perception of the “Front Stage” and “Back Stage,” also known as the Front and Back Regions of Behavior
Front Region • This Refers to a place where the performance is given. • In this regions the actor engages in, and performs his/hers role for the audience. • While the Self is in the Front Region of behavior the performance of the individual embodies certain standards. • Standards of the “Matters of Politeness” and “Decorum.” “Matters of Politeness” • Relates to the way in which the performer treats the audience while engaged in talk or gestural interactions.
Decorum • Refers to a set of behaviors that have to do with the way the performer conducts himself in the visual or audio range of the audience • Decorum has two sub-groupings referred too as the “Moral” and the “Instrumental’ 1) Moral • Moral Requirements refers to rules regarding non-interference and non-molestation of others. Ex: Sexual Propriety, and rules regarding sacred places etc. 2) Instrumental Requirement • Refers to duties that are task oriented and secular Ex: An employer might demand his employees to care of property or engage in maintenance within work areas.
Back Region • Def: A back region or backstage may be defined as a place, relative to a given performance, where the impression fostered by the performance is knowingly contradicted. • This area is where the suppressed facts make an appearance. • Here the performer can relax; he can drop his front, relinquish speaking his lines, and step out of character. • It is here where illusions and impressions are openly constructed. • The back region is a place where the performer can reliably expect that no member of the audience will intrude. • The back region or back stage is kept closed from the audience, the entire region is meant to be kept hidden. Ex: Perfect examples of back stage regions are kitchens within restaurants, this area is not meant for customers to enter.
Transition • In between the Front and Back Region, there is a phenomenon called the “Zone of Transition” • Goffman argues that this is one of the most interesting times to observe impression management • At these in between moments one can detect a interesting putting on and taking off of character.
However there is a Third Region • Apart from Front and Back Stage there is a third region within the ideas of Dramaturgy. • This Region is called “The Outside”
“The Outside” • The Outside region is a residual one, everything that is not covered in the Front or Back Regions are in “The Outside.” • Those individuals who are on “The Outside” of the social interactions we may call outsiders. • If we shift our considerations from the front or back region to the outside, we tend to shift our reference from one performance to another.
Discussion Question • If we take the Dramaturgical approach in an attempt to define “The Self” what would we conclude? And can we relate our conclusion with the ideas from Post Modernism?
Impression Management • Impression Management implies that there are attributes that are required of a performer in successfully staging a character. • The Performer must Act with “Expressive Responsibility” Expressive Responsibility • Illustrates the idea that actors must consciously choose the manner in which they behave and interact with others • It is Imperative that the audience understand that a performer is “Acting” his part and that is does not necessarily reflect the dispositions an individual may hold privately.
However, What happens when an actor makes a mistake and reveals true intentions of the performance?
The Answer to the Question: Is that Unintentional Disruptions can occur. • Unintentional Disruption are a source of embarrassment and dissonance for the performer, these disruptions are seperated into three catagories, unmeant Gestures, inopportune Intrusion and faux pas. Unmeant Gestures • These are inadvertent acts that convey an impression that is inappropriate at the time. • The individual held responsible for contributing an unmeant gesture may chiefly discredit his own performance Ex:
Inopportune Intrusion • This Occurs when an outsider accidentally enters a region in which a performance is being given or when a member of the audience inadvertently enters the backstage. Ex: An example of this, is when a student walk into the classroom while the professor is giving a lecture. We have Inopportune Intrusion (this coming from the outsider approach) Ex: Another example is when a customer runs into the kitchen of a restaurant where the chefs resides. We have another Inopportune Intrusion (from an audience approach) Faux Pas • Def: As Disruptions in projections of the self • These facts may involve well-kept dark secrets or negatively-valued chacteristics that everyone can see but no one refers too.
When such facts are introduced, embarrassment is the usual feeling Ex: An example is when Raphael Palmero was conducting an interview and a journalist bought up his use of anabolic steroids. Gaffes & Boners • Are types of Faux Pas where a performer unthinkingly makes an intentional contribution which destroys his own team image Bricks • Here, a performer jeopardizes the image of self projected by the other team.
Discussion Question • If we are nothing more than “Fakers” within the social world, and assuming impression management is how we navigate through social interactions, then one asks the question is society real?
