This week’s topic ‘Dramaturgy’
is a continuation from last weeks ‘Self Presentation’, leading us to a further
analysis of the self. So what exactly is
Goffman trying to say throughout the article? My understanding is that he is
trying to establish the grounds for which everyday interaction works upon, theorising
that humans in their daily interaction act much like as if they were in a stage
production.
I do agree with Goffman in
his argument that we often portray
ourselves differently in a
range of social settings, however I believe his attitude throughout the reading
was a little cynical. I mean for Goffman to say we are all playing part of an
act/drama our whole lives is a bit ridiculous. I can understand at times this
is probably true, however I can’t wholey agree with such a strong statement. I
think Goffman’s concept of dramaturgy is more applicable to say a younger age group-
for example, when you are trying to fit in during school years, trying to be
‘normal’, which requires one to act in a certain way that others will approve
of. I think this period of life is
perhaps when you aren’t sure of yourself (generalisation offcourse but probably
true for the greater proportion of society), so you will change your behaviours
to suit those who may appear to be ‘popular’. I truly believe and would hope that as you get
older (and wiser) you don’t care as much and feel more comfortable in yourself,
therefore you wouldn’t feel the need to necessarily play the part in the so
called ‘drama’.
The way I acted at fourteen was very different to the role I play now, but I would have to disagree with the concept that as we develop into adults we no longer feel the need to act.
ReplyDeleteYes the roles we played as our fourteen year old selves were a lot more dramatic (I was often referred to as a ‘drama queen’ and looking back I can understand why) but just because our current roles are more subdued it does not make them any less of an act. I propose that perhaps as we grow into adults we simply improve our acting skills on the stage of life; we choose the parts we wish to play and use these roles to create our identities. Perhaps we go through these awkward teenage years of over acting in order to learn how to act in our adult lives.
Even as I read this post I pick up on a certain amount of role-play at hand, you are playing the role of a university student who seeks to come across as comfortable and confident in yourself. This may be the case in reality, I am sure you are comfortable in yourself, but I think this is something you have learnt and internalized through acting. I don’t see this form of acting as a bad thing, or something that is fake. I see it as a way of learning and a mode of expression that is essential for everyday interaction.
I agree with what you are saying and I too understand where Goffman is coming from. I don't think when we are 'acting' we are not being who we truly are, I think we are just showing either a constrained version of ourselves or just tweaking ourselves to suit that particular situation. But I think that it still applies at our age and also as we get older. It’s just how we have been taught, its second nature to us to present ourselves differently at work, at uni, at home, with certain friends etc. I’m aware of when I’m doing yet I still can’t help it. So I definitely agree with Elle that as we develop into adults we still act, yet probably not as dramatically as we do when we are younger.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to friends and people I meet throughout uni, I am definitely more comfortable in myself just to be who I am, more so than I was when I was in high school. But at 23 there are definitely still situations where I can’t help but change the way I act in front of some people, especially at work and in front of my boss. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all and is not a reflection of how comfortable I am with myself; it’s just a social necessity. I hope that makes sense..??!!