Erving Goffman and dramaturgy

1. Erving Goffman and �dramaturgy� Life is like theatre? Are we con artists or just actors? A role is a performance Issue of �content� vs. �style� (what we say � or do � and how we say it � or do it) We must pay attention to �symptomatic� elements (the parts of the performance that people will pay attention to)

2. 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

3. 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!

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

5. 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)

6. 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�

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

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

9. 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

10. Stigma Book subtitle: �Notes on the management of spoiled identity� �Social identity� is what and who people think you are We already know �identity� is complicated: Similar to the content vs. style issue, �virtual� vs. �actual� social identity Existence of potentially discrediting information Existence of information that could be spun to discredit (not from Goffman, but real)

11. What can discredit? Physical problem �Character� problem �Tribe� or membership

12. More specific stigmatizing things Appearance Disabilities/deformities Abilities Behaviors Sexuality Level of education Criminal background Professions Beliefs Faith & membership Fantasies Class Style Almost anything -- depending

13. How to deal with personally? Accept norms but say they don�t apply to oneself Reject the community and its norms �Accept� as something to be managed

14. How to deal with in practical terms Cover up Physical cover-up via clothing, etc. Hide socially �New life� -- Prostitute turned soccer mom (May include hiding information from significant others) Even overtly reject the stigmatized group Overtly reject the stigma COYOTE (sex-workers� organization)

15. The stigmatized vs. �normals� Normals are simply those who are easily accepted as �one of us� in the particular circumstances What�s the �difference� between normal and a discreditable person? Not clear! Normals may be �discreditable�

16. W. E. B. DuBois Race and stigma �Passing� as a way to avoid stigma Civil Rights Movement as a way to end stigma