Goffman's Dramaturgical Analysis

Over the past 15 years, social media has experienced widespread popularity with extensive use of internet and increasing time spent on social networking sites. It is pointed out that the power of these social sites is coming from their inherent design to construct gripping images, their ability to update stereotypes and to hold them on center stage. The progress of Web 2.0 technologies such as social media is one such example of this. Social network sites, blogs, wikis, and online discussion forums can be defined as a social media, and they involve a set of social and technical facilities which have the potential to affect identity and remold how individuals view themselves and others. These facilities include the ability to engage in selective

The dramaturgical analysis is the opinion that people 's day-to-day lives can be understood as performers in action on a theater stage. We are much like actors who are putting on performances for their audience because we present ourselves in various situations with a different way. According to Goffman, our life is composed of a series of performances. Actually, we all behave differently with our friends than with our boss. In other words, we do not treat our workmates and our family members in the same

Through this performance, the individual can attribute meaning to themselves, to others, and to their situation. These performances carry impressions to others and the information is interchanged to confirm identity. (1959).The actor may not be aware of their performance; however, the audience is always ascribing meaning it and to the individuals. It is asserted that when an individual interacts with others, they are endeavoring to guide and create a certain image in which the other person sees them and attains knowledge about them. (Goffman,1959). This guiding is trying to highlight positive ideas of self and desired impressions. The individuals in the interaction are able to choose their own stage for specific audiences. According to Goffman, in this stage, as in everyday interactions, there are two regions which are a front stage and back stage. Each of them has different effects on an individual’s performance. The front stage is a place where the actor formally performs and adheres with assemblies that have intending of the gathering of people. The actor knows he or she is viewed what 's more acts as needs are. On the other hand, when in the back stage, the actor may behave differently than when in front of the audience. This is where the individual genuinely gets the chance to act naturally and dispose of the parts that he or she play when they are in front of