Maintenance of expressive control

• In reference to the section “Maintenence of Expressive Control” on page 51, I would ask if you can tell when a person is putting on a particular front if you do not know the person. (PW)

• On page 52, the author details how people lose there professionalism when they yawn, trip, or belch. Do you think this is a detriment to ones personal status or do these actions humanize people? (SM)

• “As human beings we are presumably creatures of variable impulse with moods and energies that change from one moment to the next. As characters put on for an audience. however, we must not be subject to ups and downs.” (pg. 56) I thought this was an interesting tie to Montaigne’s theories on lack of human constancy. (WF)

• My question for tomorrow’s discussion is to discuss the use of masks as persons (page 57) and the authors purpose to use the words as synonyms. (EA)

• Discuss Excerpt on bottom of 57 and top of 58. Do we create an image to strive for our own stability or for approval of others? (AR)

Misrepresentation

• Page 59. Do you think what is said at the beginning of the first paragraph relates to our discussion Wednesday? (JC)

• What are the consequences of misrepresentation? pg. 64 (KH)

Mystification

• Leaders creating awe with a false sense of mystery pp. 67-70 (CS)

• What are the benefit and disadvantage of having mystification in our society? (pg.68 & 69)—PY

Reality and contrivance

• On page 73 and others Goffman refers to playing a “confidence game.” This term has a negative connotation. Is it wrong to act a certain way to elicit a specific response? (BF)

Earlier sections

• Should we disregard the methods upon which we use to reach a final result? (44-45)—AW

• Performers underplaying details about themselves that aren’t compatible with their ideal self. I think this is a pretty good point. Is this being untrue to yourself? Does it make a difference whether or not you are underplaying facts vs. highlighting facts? (Pg. 48 paragraph 3)—WF