W12.1 TANG YINI 탕이니

 1.Summary 

 Dramaturgical sociology is a method of micro-sociological analysis of everyday social interactions, likening these interactions to a theatrical performance, and dividing them into "actors," "audience," as well as "front stage" and "back stage." This concept was introduced by Erving Goffman in his 1956 book *The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life*, influenced by Kenneth Burke's ideas of dramatism. Goffman posited that personal self-presentation depends on time, place, and audience, and is realized through front stage and back stage behaviors.The front stage refers to the formal performance by actors in front of an audience, adhering to social norms, and involves settings and personal fronts. The back stage is where performers relax and step out of character, away from the audience's scrutiny. The off-stage area, or "off-stage," is where actors and audience meet outside the context of the formal performance.Goffman emphasized seven elements of dramaturgical analysis, including belief in the role, the front (mask), dramatic realization, idealization, maintenance of expressive control, misrepresentation, and mystification. He noted that people use careful performances and impression management to influence how others perceive them, with team cooperation playing a crucial role.Dramaturgical sociology offers a unique perspective on analyzing social interactions, revealing the complexity of human behavior through the duality of roles and environments.

2.Interesting points 

The Dramaturgical Metaphor in Everyday Life: Goffman likens everyday life to a theatrical performance, emphasizing that everyone plays different roles. This perspective reveals many underlying motives and strategies in our daily behaviors.

3.Questions

Whose ideas influenced Goffman’s concept of dramaturgical sociology? 

Comments

  1. Cheng YatingMay 31, 2024 at 3:25 AM

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  2. Cheng YatingMay 31, 2024 at 3:26 AM

    Erving Goffman's concept of dramaturgical sociology draws influence from various thinkers and ideas. Primarily, George Herbert Mead's symbolic interactionism provided the foundation, emphasizing how individuals construct and interpret symbols through social interaction. Goffman also borrowed from Kenneth Burke's dramatism, which views life as a dramatic performance, and Emile Durkheim's insights into the social nature of human life and collective representations. Additionally, Sigmund Freud's exploration of the unconscious and sociological and anthropological theories about rituals and meanings in social interactions contributed to Goffman's understanding. Synthesizing these influences, Goffman developed the dramaturgical perspective, viewing social life as a series of performances where individuals manage their self-presentations to create specific impressions.

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