

#10832
Mentioned in 3 episodes
The presentation of self in everyday life
Book • 1952
In this landmark work, Erving Goffman uses the imagery of theatre to portray the importance of human social interaction.
He argues that individuals manage their self-presentation to control the impressions others form about them, treating social interactions as performances with settings, props, and audiences.
Goffman's dramaturgical approach highlights the fluid and consciously maintained nature of human character, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a coherent definition of the situation in social interactions.
The book is considered one of the most important sociological works of the 20th century, receiving the American Sociological Association's MacIver award in 1961 and being listed as the tenth most important sociological book of the 20th century by the International Sociological Association in 1998.
He argues that individuals manage their self-presentation to control the impressions others form about them, treating social interactions as performances with settings, props, and audiences.
Goffman's dramaturgical approach highlights the fluid and consciously maintained nature of human character, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a coherent definition of the situation in social interactions.
The book is considered one of the most important sociological works of the 20th century, receiving the American Sociological Association's MacIver award in 1961 and being listed as the tenth most important sociological book of the 20th century by the International Sociological Association in 1998.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 3 episodes
Mentioned by 

when discussing front stage versus backstage selves and performative identity.


Brad Stulberg

146 snips
How to Build a Meaningful Identity in a Status-Driven World
Mentioned as a big book in sociology, named the 10th most important sociology book of the 20th century.

78 snips
Impression Management
Mentioned by 

in relation to the concept of social performance and identity.


Inger Mewburn

20 snips
Is this book bullshit? Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Proactive
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

in the context of social interactions and identity performance.

Ian Williams

Who can speak for whom to whom about what? — with writer and poet Ian Williams (CBC Massey Lecture 4)
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as the book he picked up when returning to scholarship.

Gary Jaworski

Gary D. Jaworski, "Erving Goffman and the Cold War" (Lexington Books, 2023)
Mentioned to describe social interaction as a kind of theatre where we are all playing roles.

Why Smart People Deliberately Kill Their Status
Mentioned in the context of conversation and power dynamics.

The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures | # 4: Who can speak for whom to whom about what?
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as the book that made Goggman famous

Matt Dawson

Dmitri N. Shalin, "Erving Manuel Goffman: Biographical Sources of Sociological Imagination" (Routledge, 2024)
Mentioned by Dimitri Shalin as Goffman's most read book.

Dmitri N. Shalin, "Erving Manuel Goffman: Biographical Sources of Sociological Imagination" (Routledge, 2024)