Hogan argues that Goffman’s dramaturgical theory can be applied to social media. She specifically focuses on the presentation of the self and argues that self-presentation can be split into performances, (which take place in situations) and artifacts (which take place in exhibitions). She argues that performance spaces include the place where actors interact with each other, for example, chat rooms. As Hogan argues, Goffman’s dramaturgical approach is a metaphorical technique used to explain how an individual presents an “idealized” rather than authentic version of him/herself. For example, the choice of artwork and photos displayed in one’s house is a form of impression management. Generally most people choose to display happy photos of themselves because they want to portray a certain image of themselves. As Hogan argues, in the front stage, we are trying to present an idealized version of the self according to a specific role. In the backstage, we do much of the real work necessary to keep up appearances. For example, the sales assistant at a retail store may appear friendly and happy to help a customer but when the customer leaves, she may go at the back of the store and complain about the difficult customer. Hogan argues that Facebook cannot be considered as a back stage because the fact that Facebook allows only friends or “friends of friends” to see specific content does not suggest that the content signifies a backstage to other possible content that is available for anyone to see. However, I argue that Facebook would be considered a front stage because, as Goffman stated, impressions are usually given and online, you have some control over how you present yourself and what information you want to disclose, thus the individual intentionally presents themself in a certain way.
Hogan, B 2010, ‘The Presentation of Self in the Age of Social Media: Distinguishing Performances and Exhibitions Online’, Bulletin of Science Technology & Society, vol.30, no.6, accessed 20 August 2012, http://bst.sagepub.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/content/30/6/377.full.pdf+html
I would like to respond to this question of is Facebook “Front stage” or “Backstage”. This discussion also came out in our tutorial with arguments going both ways. Personally, I agree with you that Facebook is Front stage.
ReplyDelete“Front stage” is understood to be the performance given out in the open, that is, in front of other people or in the public eye. “Backstage” is more private, a place to prepare for the Front stage performance. For many people the number of their “friends” on Facebook is over 100 and for some even up around 500 or 600 people. It is my argument that even if those people are really your friends, an audience of hundreds of people is fairly open and public. Also with the ability to share things with others, say “friends of friends”, the circle opens even wider again.
Some people might argue that Facebook is a place to “be yourself” and share things just with friends, however Facebook blurs the lines between private and public in cases such as “friending” your employer, relatives, or friends of the family. The performance given in front of these people would differ from that given in front of intimate friends.
I agree that Facebook is Front stage because it gives you the ability to control how you present yourself (you only post the things you want others to know about). Also, it is important to note that Impression Management can become difficult when your “performance” is seen by a wide range of different people with different relationships to yourself. Personally, I think you should not put anything on Facebook that you don’t want your mother or your boss to know about. Consider it Front stage and keep it respectable.
Hi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog post! I like the example about Facebook, because everyone I know has an account, and sometimes I have seen a post or photo of a friend and thought, 'really??'. I have been surprised to see them present themselves in a certain way, when experiences imhave shared with them in real life havenleft me with a different impression! It's not necessarily a negative thing, just surprising what lengths people can go to, to present an idealized image of themselves. I have the opinion that Facebook is a front stage performance, as most things on someone's profile are there to 'say something' about them, even if these things are the mundane goings on of their everyday lives! I agree with you also, when you say Facebook blurs the line between public and private- to a certain extent, I even manage on my friends list who has access to certain things. This is mainly to 'manage' who sees certain photos of me, or status updates that may offend people (I'm quite opinionated, haha!), but the primary reason is so that people like my aunties don't know what a grub I truly am!