Re: presentation of the "mask" -- Sociology 3151 Message Board

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 18:40:34 03/11/05 Fri
Author: Kim Herman
Subject: Re: presentation of the "mask"
In reply to: mark cormier 's message, "presentation of the "mask"" on 15:24:11 03/11/05 Fri

I can understand how Goffman's "mask" theory can intially seem kindof depressing. NOne of us like to think of our actions as "acting" or "preforming" for others. Rather, we hope that we are always being true to ourselves. However, I don't think that GOffman's intention was to say that we are not individuals. Our "mask" is not something we pretend to be in order to decieve (ussually), rather it is a reflection of our true selves in different contexts. I think that Goffman's theory can be looked at in a more positive way as well. Perhaps "mask"ing is what makes us such a social, complex, and innovative life form. THe human ability to adjust our behaviors and act out multiple roles according to context is what separates us from animals. IF I brought my puppy in to class, for example, he would sniff crotches, whine, run around, and act like a dog. That is all he can be. Humans, on the other hand, can be students, lovers, daughters, sons, team mates, employees, bosses, whatever.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: presentation of the "mask" -- matt nebel, 19:11:12 03/13/05 Sun