Week 1 - Goffman

This week we discussed Erving Goffman and his ideas about presentation of self. If you're not a Goffman fan, his ideas might seem a little confusing but a lecture, tutorial, presentation and 50 long pages later and hopefully we've all got a pretty good idea. For anyone out there wondering like I am, how this all applies to us nowadays, I've read and attached a link to a relevant article called The Presentation of Self in Electronic Life: Goffman on the Internet written by Hugh Miller.

Miller notes that presenting ones self through electronic communication, or EC as he calls it, changes what Goffman labels the 'framing' of the interaction altogether. By communicating over the web via email or facebook for example, there is no situational context or references available to us. He also notes that embarrassment, what Goffman considers the most important motivator of presenting ones self, changes in online interactions. It is easier to establish contact over the Internet and it is usually done so without even the thought or worry about rejection. You are also saved from others' initial reactions and judgements because what you receive is a thought out and edited version of what you would get in person. Goffman would also argue that EC is much more limited and is less rich than interaction in person.

However, there is one similarity between the two forms of interaction that Miller points out: both instances of presentation of self depend on the recipient's interpretation. In person, they can choose not to listen, not to make eye contact, or they can just interpret something you say much differently than what you intended. Over EC Miller notes, "lots of images can be included, but the receiver can always choose not to receive them, and may not have a system which is able to receive them".

The gist of the article is that while electronic communication changes nearly every aspect of Goffman's presentation of self, it is a growing and adapting form of communication that some argue is making its own rules of self presentation.

Anyways, I'm well out of words but I hope this helped you relate to Goffman a little better, feel free to comment and let me know what you think!

Reference:

Miller, H 1995, 'The presentation of self in electronic life: Goffman on the internet', 23/08/2012.
http://www.dourish.com/classes/ics234cw04/miller2.pdf