Extra credit— Project One: Interaction Observation ——LI YULUN and HAO JINGYU

Project One: Interaction Observation

Location: Inside a clothing shop

Process：

Observer (L): H came to the clothing shop and just after entering, he deliberately knocked over a nearby hanger, people around him immediately looked towards H's side, curious about what happened, then the clothing clerk hurriedly came over and smiled, saying that it was okay, then H kept picking out the clothes he liked, choosing many pieces of clothes and entering the fitting room one by one to try on various clothes, testing the attitude of the clerk and the attention of the strangers around him by this behaviour. In the process of trying on the clothes, H suddenly asked a passing customer if the clothes looked good, the customer was confused for a while, and after a few seconds, he said the clothes looked good and left in a hurry. The couple seemed a bit embarrassed, but they took the photos anyway. People passing by were curious to see who would buy so many clothes, and the shop assistants all looked at the pile of clothes with surprised expressions, but also seemed to be worried whether H would end up buying them. Finally H finished trying on all the clothes he had chosen and said that I was not too happy with all these clothes, so he put them down and left. After walking out the door the shop assistant said thank you for coming, but his face seemed embarrassed as there was a pile of clothes to sort out. 

Performer (H):I came into the costume shop and first of all put myself into the world of a performer. That's why I bumped into the neighbouring hanger just after I entered, to find out what people thought. Sure enough, people around me immediately gazed in my direction. I then rushed over to the clothes shop assistant, smiling and saying it was okay, and then I thoughtlessly chose a number of clothes and went into the fitting room to try them on, trying to test the attitude of the shop assistant and the attention of the strangers around me again by this act, and on my way to try on the clothes, I came up with a very daring idea, which was to suddenly ask a passing customer if the customer looked good. After a few seconds of confusion, the customer said that the clothes looked good and left in a hurry. Afterwards, a couple passed by and I asked them to take a few photos, the couple agreed and took a few, but I deliberately acted as if I was not satisfied and asked the couple to take a few more. The other customers in the clothes shop were giving very puzzled looks because they were trying on so many clothes that they were piling up next to each other. The clothes shop assistants all looked at the pile with surprised expressions too, as if they were also worried whether I would end up buying these clothes or not. Finally I finished trying on all the clothes I had chosen, said I wasn't too happy with any of them, and put them down and left. As I walked out the door, the clerk said thank you for coming, but her face seemed embarrassed and even a little mocked. The other customers who saw the scene were whispering because I had left a pile of clothes to sort out.

According to Goffman's interaction theory, H's behaviour can be divided into four areas: elemental operation, team operation, role operation and area operation. Through actions such as trying on clothes in a clothing shop, asking other customers what they think and calling out to couples to take pictures, the performer creates a performative scene and attracts the attention and participation of others. Others also participate in the scene by observing, commenting and other behaviours, forming a team. The performer took on the role of a mischievous and daring character who liked to try on clothes and drew the attention and interest of others. The scene is influenced by the character of the area and the role within the clothing shop, which constrains and influences the behaviour of others.