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Erving Goffman and dramaturgy

Therefore. So: life is like theatre.Are we con artists or just actors?A role is a performanceIssue of

Jimmy
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Erving Goffman and dramaturgy

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    1. Erving Goffman and “dramaturgy” Two points: It is easier to seem to meet social expectations than to actually meet them. Even if we meet social expectations, if the impressions we make are not good ones, we may be unsuccessful.

    3. Why is role playing like “con” artistry? Roles are really “role expectations” Our “audience” only sees – and makes judgments – via what’s on the surface If style is crummy, we lose our audience If style is great, we may keep our audience—even if the content is crummy So a “cynical” performance works as well as a “sincere” one

    4. Billy Tipton How do all or some of these things apply? http://www.inthelifetv.org/html/episodes/31.html Try out some possibilities

    5. Role “playing” will affect General social acceptance/isolation Relations with Significant Others Jobs/careers Problems with criminal justice or homeland security The key is audiences!

    6. So life has to be “like theater” How? Roles Scripts Rehearsals Costumes Dramatic realization Front and back stages Props Settings Ad libbing

    7. How is life not like theater? Goffman says there’s only one clear way In theater, but not in life, we don’t want to be confused with the character we are playing “I’m not a doctor but I play one on TV” (actor Robert Young, “Marcus Welby, MD,” in a TV ad he did for an aspirin product)

    8. How can we achieve dramatic “realization”? Dramaturgical “loyalty” – sometimes work as a team (Goffman on mental hospitals) Dramaturgical “circumspection” – be aware of potential problems and ‘dangerous’ situations Characteristics of your audience Breaking the frontstage/backstage barrier Dramaturgical discipline – practice not giving away the role even when upset Perry Mason problem How Vincent D’Onofrio always wins on “L&O: CI”

    9. Finally: sometimes the audience can help Tactful inattention Keeping secrets (essentially become part of a “team”)

    10. How Common are Phony Claims of Expertise or Training? MIT Dean of Admissions scandal: http://www.thecrimson.com/printerfriendly.aspx?ref=518567 FEMA official “diploma mill” issue: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002484649&zsection_id=2002111777&slug=pennington10m&date=20050910

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