An example of front in my own life is the part of me being a student. Goffman (1959), describes the front to being “the individual’s performance which regularly functions in a general and fixed fashion to define the situation for those who observe the performance” (p.557). When I am at school, I behave in a certain way in order to be seen as a good student from my peers and teachers. When I behave and look a certain way it is referred to by Goffman (1959), as a personal front which “is sometimes convenient to divide the stimuli which make up personal front into “appearance” and “manner”” (p.557). Some examples of manners I use is I makes sure to show up on time and sit in my seat. I pay attention to what the teacher is saying and make sure to take notes. I make sure to look like a student so I make sure my personal front matches the role of a student. Some examples I use for appearance is I make sure my appearance is of the norm for a student. I don’t show up to school in my pajamas or dressed up like I’m going to have a Saturday night out. I would typically wear clean, casual, comfortable clothing to school as that is the norm for a student to wear (with the exception of schools who utilize uniforms). When I am at school, I play a specific character in front of other students and teachers. Goffman (1959), describes setting in detail “ a setting is to stay put, geographically speaking, so that those who would use a particular setting as part of their performance cannot begin their act until they have brought themselves to the appropriate place and must terminate their performance when they leave it” (p.557). I play a character in a performance when I am in the school setting as a student but once I leave that setting my performance will change because I will no longer be playing the character of a student. Goffman (1959), states that a character “is an implied part of what we are all trying to present.” (p.561). In my case at school I will be presenting myself as a good student and playing that role at school. An example of backstage in my own life is being at home. The backstage is the opposite of the front “the language and the mask of the stage will be dropped” (Goffman,1959, pp.561). I don’t have to put on a performance and can be more of myself at home. However, even when I am backstage and no longer playing the character of a student, I still am a performer. A performer described by Goffman (1959) “he is given fantasies and dreams, some that pleasurably unfold a triumph performance, others full of anxiety and dread that nervously deal with vital discreditings in a public front region” (p.561). When I get home, I’m able to think about my performance I’m able to have feelings and be a realer version of me. When I get home from school I can relax and be myself. I no longer have to play the role of a student. I don’t have to listen to the teacher or take notes. I don’t have to sit still. When I get home, I can do what I want I can watch my favorite television shows or sing my favorite song which is something I can’t do as a student when I am in school.
When I am in school, I use the character of a good student in order to impress fellow students and teachers. I want them to believe that I am in fact a good student. Goffman (1959), states “they can reorient their frame of reference and devote their efforts to the creation of desired impressions” (p.560). People will create a character in order to get the desired impression from their audience. For instance, in the video The Codes of Gender they go over how Goffman’s theory applies to people’s impression on gender how there is a norm in how a woman should look and behave along with that there also is a norm in the way a man should behave and look (Jhally,2009). Goffman (1959) speaks about how appearance is important for impression “the more the individual is concerned with the reality that is not available to perception, the more must he concentrate his attention on appearances” (p.559). I stated previously about how when I go to school, I make sure to wear appropriate clothing to fit in to the norm of the appearance of being a student. If I showed up wearing a professional suit people may not be impressed by me and may mistake me for being a teacher.
Also, appearance is huge in imagery as the video noted. The video went over femininity and masculinity in images and how women even in just magazine images were put into clothing and poses that were feminine and the norm for women, while men were in manly clothing and manly poses however, when we didn’t see images that were of the cultural norm it seemed strange to us (Jhally,2009). In order to make a good impression we must fit in with what the norm is. When people take pictures or selfies, they are trying to make an impression on the audience. When a person takes a selfie typically, they want to make an impression so instead of waking up and taking a picture many get into a sort of character in preparation for the selfie. Many will fix their hair, put on nice clothes and wear makeup. They also try to put their best face out there that will impress others. Many will take multiple selfies before picking one that makes their appearance look good. There are also filters and editing apps that are being utilized in order to enhance appearance and impress the audience. Goffman (1959) states that “it is always possible to manipulate the impression” (p.560). Many people will manipulate what they put out there for others to see. When picking a selfie to upload onto a social media platform where many people will observe it, it will have many people manipulating the image through use of filters and editing to give off an impression that they are put together.
