Product Description

In what the General Practitioner called ‘this intelligent searching work’, the author of ‘Stigma’ and ‘Asylums’ presents an analysis of the structures of social encounters from the perspective of the dramatic performance. He shows us exactly how people use such ‘fixed props’ as houses, clothes, and job situations; how they combine in teams resembling secret societies; and how they adopt discrepant roles and communicate out of character. Professor Goffman takes us ‘backstage’ too, into the regions where people both prepare their images and relax from them; and he demonstrates in painful detail what can happen when a performance falls flat.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11463 in Books
• Published on: 1990-09-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

About the Author
Erving Goffman (1922-1982) was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century. He was Benjamin Franklin Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews

full of useful insights
This book was first published in 1959 but it has not dated at all. It is a fascinating read. Goffman explains how every social transaction can be viewed as a performance. We all create and give out impressions to others. We also learn how, in life, to control and consciously alter the impressions we give out. Groups or teams of people co-operate in order to shape the impressions and interactions of the team. Interpretations of situations are radiated and conflict or consensus is managed. There are plenty of wide ranging examples of how the 'dramaturgical perspective' works, from waiters in restaurants to lawyers in court. This book changed my life and helped me see that experiences of intense embarrassment or shame are common consequences of our need to maintain face and manage personal presentation in the play-act of life. Also discussed are regions, roles and con-tricks. All the world's a stage and we are merely players... just don't hide behind the mask more than you need to!

fascinating
This is a very interesting book which reminds me of Satre's Being and Nothingness and also the work of the Situationists. It is distinct from these works in that it focusses on social role-playing from a expressily "theatrical perspective" - using notions of front/backstage to distinguish between performances made for "audiences" (in the broad sense of "people around you") and the prepartion of these shows. Highly Recommeneded!

Goffmans Self in Everyday Life
I had to write a book review on this particular book and to be honest found it a very difficult read at first. However, i persevered and by reading round and other commentators on Goffmans work I have found it to be insightful in how I now look at individuals - he is right - we are all actors - THE DRAMATURGICAL SELF:
PLAYWRIGHTS - They create their own Social Scripts
ACTORS - They ACT out these scripts
AUDIENCE - they WATCH themselves perform
CRITICS - They JUDGE their performance
Although Goffman doesn't use a lot of empirical evidence and based this study on observational technics we have to ask was he right or wrong.
Again he looked at things at a micro level - but isn't that HOW we all interact with other individuals so why should we observe the macro???

Anyway - am handing my 'Book Review' in tomorrow so fingers crossed i got it right - lol

Kathie