Before delving into the analysis of the basic terms that Goffman introduces in his theory, and giving examples from today's life, we need to understand the basic ideas that the sociologist considers in his work. Below are three of them.

1⃣ Social Interactions Are Performances:

Goffman's key idea in "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life" is that all human interactions are akin to performances, where individuals play roles in various social settings. Whether in a conversation or job interview, people act as both performers and audience members.

Sociologist suggests that, consciously or subconsciously, individuals engage in performative behaviors influenced by learned patterns, emphasizing the theatrical nature of everyday life.

2⃣ Performances Need a Stage—and Performers Must Guard It:

Expanding on the performance metaphor, Goffman introduces the concept of a stage divided into front and back regions. The front region, visible to the audience, is carefully managed to present a certain image. In contrast, the back region is where performers prepare, hidden from the audience's view.

Goffman emphasizes the importance of maintaining a distinct boundary between the two, and he introduces the term "intruders" for those who disrupt the performance by entering the back region without invitation.

3⃣ Performances Have a Director:

Goffman compares social performances to plays and concerts by highlighting the role of a director. Even in seemingly equal groups, a director emerges to coordinate efforts, assuming a level of power over the team. The director's influence is evident behind the scenes during planning and sometimes subtly during the performance. Importantly, the director may not be the star of the show and can delegate duties to others.

Goffman notes that directors, while influential, do not possess absolute power over team members or the audience.

4⃣ Impression management

Goffman sets forth the overarching metaphor of dramaturgical analysis: social situations are like dramatic performances, and people in those situations are like actors. This is what we have already found out.

What is also very important for Goffman's theory is that individuals are often intensely interested in managing the impressions others receive of them. Moreover, people are often eager to define the situations in which they take part. In attempting to control impressions and define situations, Goffman observes, individuals use many of the same tools and techniques used onstage.

People at home don’t behave the same as they would at work or any other place. Additionally, people don’t behave the same as they used to at any given moment before now, because our societal rules change as the time passes and social movements shape our understanding of social norms.

An idea of the Impression management becomes therefore one the main ideas of Goffman's work.

Now that we have figured out the basic ideas of Goffman's work, we can move on to the main terms. To make it more simple to understand, we will give examples from everyday life.

1⃣

Backstage, an alternative term for "back region," is utilized by performers for preparatory activities that could disrupt the performance if conducted in full view of the audience.

Fronstage denotes the physical space or setting where performers interact with the audience in controlled conditions. For instance, the lobby of a hotel serves as a front region for the hotel staff, while areas like kitchens and janitorial closets do not.

We often find a division into a backstage on which the performance of a role is prepared, and a frontstage on which the performance takes place.

2⃣

Performance refers to the actions an individual takes to create a specific impression on observers within a defined time frame. In Goffman's terminology, a "performance" can range from the artificiality of testifying before Congress to the seemingly casual nature of a spontaneous conversation with a neighbor.

3⃣

A team is a collective of individuals collaborating to execute a singular routine. Goffman's examples encompass groups of co-workers aiming to impress a client and married couples exhibiting different interactions around guests compared to their private interactions.

4⃣

Routine is a recurring element of social performance, representing a distinct part. Examples include a teacher taking attendance, an officer making an arrest, and a doctor reading a patient's chart – all instances of performing a "routine" in this specialized sense.

Here are some useful links for those who would like to delve into the study of Goffman's theory. Three short, yet quite informative videos that offer a more detailed look at "Representation of Self in Everyday Life":

1⃣ https://youtu.be/N9f_m-ZLx70?si=Ok4JLWjQLp98DvQ8

2⃣ https://youtu.be/6Z0XS-QLDWM

3⃣ https://youtu.be/Kv_nNSOz1Fs

One example for which Goffman's theory fits the most is the recent leakage of a secret meetup between high-ranking politicians from Germany’s far-right AfD party (Alternative für Deutschland -> engl. "alternative for Germany"), neo-Nazis, and some businessmen in a hotel at Potsdam near Berlin.

The AfD at first glance portrays itself as being a pro democracy and against all the remaining "undemocratic, anti-consitiution" parties of the german parliament on there own website (see picture in the comments).

However a german investigative online-newspaper by the name "Correctiv" conducted undercover research while the afore mentioned meeting was held. In it, several people gave speeches about forcefully "reimmigrating" not only foreign people, that are currently living in germany - legally and illeglally - to their homecountry, but also people that are as German Law states German citizens that "haven't assimilated enough to the german culture".

Here is a link to the mentioned article:
https://correctiv.org/en/top-stories/2024/01/15/secret-plan-against-germany/

In this context the hotel in which the meeting was held serves as a backstage for AfD-supporters and AfD-members. It wasn't supposed to be seen by the publicity.

This means that, eventually, anyone deemed by the AfD or other neonazi AfD-supporting groups as "not assimilated" or "not fitted" for "german culture" could be forcefully removed. Contrary to their own act as a democratic party in front of public observation, now the exact intend of some influential people working for, in or with the AfD can bee seen by looking behind the front stage, by 'seeing' what lies at the backstage.

In an attempt to realign and save the overall performance and front of the AfD, Alice Weidel, as the co-leader of the party, firstly redefines the backstage at the hotel not as a place of party interest but as one of private interest. Thereby she redefines AfD-party members and AfD-Associates at time of the meeting as not being part of the same team of sorts and reasures that realigment by stating that she wanted to cut ties with her consultant Roland Hartwig (who was attending the meeting as probably the highest ranking AfD member) anyway.

Secondly, she discredits correctiv's investigative article by comparing it to the immoral espionage activities of past East Germany's (German Democratic Repuplic's) Ministry of State Security, to save the AfD's front in front of German Publicity.

Here's a link to her statement (umfortunately german Audio only):
https://youtu.be/aaQdHwqhrwg?si=9ogywIMaZ_xa5AkY

Below is a small quiz that will help you consolidate your knowledge. Good luck to everyone!