Extra credit: Goffman's Theory Analysis of Casablanca movie


  Casablanca is a classic 1942 American film, directed by Michael Curtiz, and is often regarded as one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. The movie is set in Casablanca, Morocco during World War II and follows the story of a cynical expatriate named Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, and his romantic relationship with Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman.

   Erving Goffman's theory of dramaturgy offers a valuable framework for analyzing the film's characters, setting, and storyline. According to Goffman, individuals perform a certain role in a particular social context, and this performance is designed to create a particular impression on the audience. Here are several elements of Goffman's theory that can be identified in the Casablanca movie.

1. Front stage and Backstage

In the film, Rick's Cafe Americain serves as the front stage where individuals from different backgrounds come to socialize and interact. However, behind the scenes, Rick's bar serves as a backdrop for secret meetings and deals, where different characters display different behaviors in their backstage roles.

2. Role Playing

The main characters in the movie play specific roles, which help them to navigate the complex social dynamics in Casablanca. Rick's role, for example, is that of a cynical and detached businessman who is not interested in political affairs. However, this changes when Ilsa, his former lover, appears in his life. Ilsa's role, on the other hand, is that of a devoted wife, torn between her love for her husband and her feelings for Rick.

3. Impression Management

Throughout the movie, characters engage in impression management, trying to present themselves in a particular way to others. For example, Captain Louis Renault, the chief of police, wants to project an image of being in control of the situation, even though he is corrupt and susceptible to bribes. Similarly, Rick tries to maintain an air of detachment and aloofness, even though he still harbors deep feelings for Ilsa.

4. Interactional Scripts

The film also features different interactional scripts or patterns of behavior that individuals follow when interacting with each other. The scene where Rick confronts Ilsa about her past relationship with him is an example of this. Rick's script involves being angry and resentful, while Ilsa's script involves being apologetic and pleading for forgiveness.

   Overall, Casablanca is an excellent example of how Goffman's theory of dramaturgy can be applied to analyze complex social dynamics in a film. The different elements of Goffman's theory that are present in the movie help to create a rich and engaging narrative that has stood the test of time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction to blogging

This blog is a digital forum where students from the Spring 2023 class in Everyday Life and Social Structure at Hanyang University in Korea will discuss their weekly readings and activities. Blogs for this class are an optional extra credit activity. An ideal blog post should be about 800 words (for face-to-face classes, or 1,600 words for online classes), divided into three clearly labeled sections in which you: 1) summarize in your own words of materials you read; 2) mention of any new, interesting, or unusual items learned; 3) identify at least one question, concern, or discussion angle that is either problematic in some respect or could have been elaborated more. This question is likely to be incorporated into our class discussions. You are allowed to quote interesting passages from the text(s) you've read, but the quotes will not count toward any length requirements. Note that for this assignment you will need to create a Google Account ( https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAc...
Read more

March 4th 주영영 zhuyingying

  1. summary Through Wikipedia, you can learn a variety of knowledge, including historical events, scientific theories, cultural backgrounds, biographies of people, geographical information, and so on.Wikipedia is an open online encyclopedia that contains a large amount of content that users can search for or browse for information.Wikipedia is not only a repository of knowledge, but also a vibrant and creative community filled with endless learning and exploration. 2.Interesting points Wikipedia understands the cultural differences between countries.On Wikipedia, you can find information about the history, geography, politics, religion, traditions, customs and so on of different countries.By comparing the cultural characteristics of different countries, you can gain a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences between different cultures, thereby promoting cross-cultural exchange and understanding. 3. Question Does Wikipedia have to be complete?
Read more
Image
Our group's park has stray cats, flower beds and some trees, and there are fitness equipment to provide exercise services and so on.  We also have playground equipment for children to play, and chairs to rest and walk.  There is also a fountain pool for viewing and you can throw coins into it to make a wish.  There is also a sink for children to wash their hands and a toilet.  There is a convenience store outside the park, which is very convenient.  
Read more