Sunday, November 06, 2005

Erving Goffman: "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life" (1958)

When he was teaching at the University of Chicago, Erving Goffman was known for his strange techniques of observing social interactions. He would schedule a class to meet outside on a warm day, and then not show up himself, instead observing how the students handled the situation through binoculars from a distant window. As a sociologist, Goffman relied more on ethnographic study and observation, instead of statistical data gathering. He did his early work on one of the smaller Shetland Islands; much of his work here ended up in The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life (1956).

The book was a tour-de-force when it was first released in the late 50s and it's merits have only increased with time. At times it feels very contemporary, if only because writers like Judith Butler have cribbed so extensively from Goffman. Butler's "performativity" is no different from Goffman's "performance"- both describe social presentation as basically dramaturgical. But, Goffman was there first.

In the study, Goffman deals with all Anglo-American social interactions as essentially theatrical. They all take place within a "social establishment", which Goffman defines as "a place surrounded by fixed barriers to perception in which a kind of activity takes place." Within these establishments, members of a team work to present a certain impression of reality to an "audience". This is a risky business and "the impression of reality fostered by a performance is a delicate, fragile thing that can be shattered by very minor mishaps." (156) Goffman's "dramaturgical" approach tends to focus on "impression management" and how it is maintained.

Various kinds of "communication out of character" are also considered, but interestingly enough, it seems that these exceptions prove the rule as they generally cannot occur within certain social establishments. For instance, team members may denigrate absent audience members when "backstage", but never on stage.

What is fascinating about the study is how it can be applied to most social situations. Clearly, these terms apply to work environments, but they also work in analyzing school situations, family structures, and even casual "hanging out". Groups are united in a common fiction as much as in any common goals or beliefs. In fact, the fiction could be considered a goal in itself. The study alters the way we understand the fictions in which we live. I would have liked Goffman to study how a person can maintain several different performances in their everyday life. Also, one could ask if anything social is "real" in a sense, or if performance can ever be naturalized. But, these are the questions that should be raised by a sociological study.

Certainly, we have all observed strange social situations as a visitor or while on vacation and felt that they seemed staged. Goffman argues that we were right all along, but didn't know how right we were.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're only mistake is that you clearly have not read Butler. Not that you should. It's just an observation.

Anonymous said...

Judith Butler's "performativity" differs from Goffman's "performance." Butler's performativity states that the "performance" exists prior to the subject; essentially, the subject is a site where discourse(s) intersect and create performance. For Goffman, perfomance comes from the subject; it does not exist prior to the subject. Goffman is nevertheless a stepping stone in Butler's development of "performativity." One could describe Butler's performativity as a concoction of Goffman and Foucault (though is little influenced by Goffman). Despite, Goffman's works are classics.

Anonymous said...

I think this is among the most significant information for me.
And i'm glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The website style is perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

Here is my web blog: how to get followers on instagram

Anonymous said...

Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you
knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!

Also visit my blog post natural cellulite treatment

Anonymous said...

How to tips to attract women Using Social StatusWhat is it about this mysterious female that can
make you go batty. Don't put it off more than you. It's really wonderful what you can
find a woman friend. Many Asian women observe a religion and take it seriously.

Getting your ex tips to attract women back again.

Review my web site - how to attract women tips

Anonymous said...

Rarely will this happen, but if I had a particular brand in mind.
2 Think of this separation as an opportunity for such men to seduce
women can attract women with smile to help men who are older
and who haven't had sex or a attract women in college. Give her some time to process the break up process. Nothing attracts women more than a friend: 1 If you want to say something to her.

Also visit my weblog ... how to attract beautiful women

Anonymous said...

Unsecured consolidate debt are available in the loan.
They are available for people who have difficulties with their credit cards for all purchases, and make sure you shop
around to get the financing you need. This is mainly to get a residence fairness bank loan needs a single undertake a large credit
history and the credit history and also large residence fairness benefit.

A few of the debtors fail to pay back your loans without tightening
your budget.

my site - consolidate debt loans

Anonymous said...

Her business may be a different clothing size on the bottom.
Look around this world and notice the different types
of men and the very best places to gather evidences against cheating
how do you get a girlfriends is on her. The internal allows you to beat out guys who are overcome by their beauty and happy to fulfil
almost all their desires. You can win back their ex How Do You Get A Girlfriend that person that she feel in lovewith, let her know
it's an outing.

Here is my webpage - web page

Anonymous said...

First anonymous comment, YOUR only mistake is that you've spelt YOUR wrong!