User:KJD05/dramaturgysoc

For the theatre-related meaning of this word, see dramaturgy.



DRAMATURGY
Dramaturgy is a sociological perspective stemming from Symbolic interactionism. The term was first coined by Erving Goffman as he, among many other sociologist, attempted to define the self. In dramaturgical sociology it is argued that human actions are dependent upon time, place, and audience. In other words,to Goffman, the self is a sense of who one is that is a dramatic effect emerging from the immediate scene being presented. Goffman forms a theatrical metaphor in defining the method in which one human being presents itself to another based on cultural values, norms, and expectations. Performances can have disruptions (actors are aware of such) but most are successful. The goal of this presentation of self, is acceptance from the audience through manipulation. If the actor succeeds, the audience will view the actor as they want to be viewed. Thus making it an intimate form of communication, highlighting it as a micro-level sociological theory.

FRONT STAGE
Front stage is the part of the dramaturgical performance that is consistant and contains generalized ways to explain the situation or role the actor is playing to the audience that observes it. This is a fixed presentation. Goffman says that the front stage involves a differntiation between setting and personal front. These two concepts are neccessary for the actor to have a successful performance Setting is the scene that must be present in order for the actor to perform; if it is gone, the actor cannot perform. A better way of understanding the concept of setting is to apply it. For example, in order for an ice skater to perform, an ice rink must be present. The Personal front consists of items or equipment needed in order to perform. These items are usually identifiable by the audience as a constant representation of the performance and actor. Sticking with theme of ice skating, an example of a personal front would be the ice skates the skater must wear in oder to perform. The personal front is divided into two different aspects, appearance and manners. Appearance refers to the items of the personal front that are a refelection of the actor's social status. Manner refers to the way an actor conducts himself. The actor's manner tells the audience what to expect from his performance.

BACK STAGE
Back stage is where facts suppressed in the front stage or various kinds of informal actions may appear. The back stage is completely seperate from the front stage. No members of the audience can appear in the back. The actor takes many methods to ensure this. It is difficult to perform once a member of the audience is in the back stage. To illustrate this, picture an ice skating competition. The skater would not want the judges to see her at practice where is she sloppy and falls. Her practice time would be seen as the backstage and the performance time as the front.

CRITQUE
It has been argued that dramaturgy should only be applied in instances that invole people associated with a Total institution. The theory was designed for total institutions and some believe that theories should not be applied where they have not been tested.

In addition to dramaturgy being seen as limited, it also has been said to not have contributed to sociology's goal of understanding the legitmacy of Society. Its claimed to be drafting on Positivism which doesn't offer an interest in both reason and rationality. John Welsh called it a "commodity." What he meant by this was that it is a theory that was created to appeal to the masses. While it is an entertaining concept, it holds little depth or use for the field of sociology.

DRAMATURGY APPLIED
Research on this is best done through Fieldwork such as Participant observation.

It has been used to depict how Social movements communicate power. Robert D. Benford and Scott A. Hunt argued that "social movements can be described as dramas in which protagonists and antagonists compete to affect audiences' interpretations of power relations in a variety of domains." The people seeking power present their front stage self in order to captivate peoples' attention. However, the back stage self is still present and undetectible. Its a competition of power; a prime example of dramaturgy.

A useful, and everyday way of understanding dramaturgy (specifically front stage and back stage) is to think of a waiter or waitress at a restaurant. Their main avenue of concern for him or her is "customer service". Even if a customer is rude, waiters and/or waitresses are expected to be polite - "the customer is always right" - as part of their job responsibilities. That same waiter or waitress speaks differently when going out to their break room. They may complain, mimic and discuss with their fellow peers how irritating and rude the customer is. In this example, the waiter/waitress acts a certain way when dealing with customers and acts a completely different way when with their fellow employees.