Regarding Performance and Self Presentation

Dr. Husen reads from Goffman's 1959 classic on the subject and the chapter on "performance"

Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. New York: Anchor Books

“When an individual plays a part, he implicitly requests his observers to take seriously the impression that is fostered before them. They are asked to believe that the character they see actually possesses the attributes he appears to possess, that the task he performs will have the consequences that are implicitly claimed for it, and that, in general, matters are what they appear to be. In line with this, there is the popular view that the individual offers his performance and puts on his show “for the benefit of other people.” (p. 17)

“To the degree that a performance highlights the common official values of the society in which it occurs, we may look upon it … as a ceremony-- as an expressive rejuvenation and reaffirmation of the moral values of the community. Furthermore, insofar as the expressive bias of performances comes to be accepted as reality, then that which is accepted at the moment as reality will have some of the characteristics of a celebration.” (p. 35)

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