After reading Goffman’s assigned excerpt from The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, consider what kind of human subject, agent, or actor exists in theory Goffman’s theory. Your assignment is to describe this agent (describe Goffman’s idea of what it means to be a person in society) by drawing on specific quotes or examples in the reading. Some possible questions you can consider are: Why do people do what they do? What is important for people? Do individuals make free and autonomous decisions? Are actors playing parts assigned by social structures or acting in ways that are already determined by outside forces?
Then, compare or contrast this understanding of the human actor with the view presented by either Randall Collins orPierre Bourdieu. Are there similarities between the two? Do these authors discuss similar things in different terms? Are their views of human agency similar or different?
The reference entry for the Goffman reading is:
Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday.
It is recommended you organize your assignment into two paragraphs (500 words maximum), with the first addressing Goffman and the second addressing (Randall) Collins or Bourdieu. Sources must be cited using APA style.
Then, compare or contrast this understanding of the human actor with the view presented by either Randall Collins orPierre Bourdieu. Are there similarities between the two? Do these authors discuss similar things in different terms? Are their views of human agency similar or different?
It is recommended you organize your assignment into two paragraphs (500 words maximum), with the first addressing Goffman and the second addressing (Randall) Collins or Bourdieu. Sources must be cited using APA style.
The reference entry for the Goffman reading is:
Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday.
