Erving Goffman, a prominent Canadian-American sociologist, authored Człowiek w Teatrze Życia Codziennego (often translated as The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life), a highly influential work exploring the dynamics of social interaction. This book, accessible often through PDF format and widely studied, offers a dramaturgical perspective, viewing everyday life as a theatrical performance. Goffman's central argument revolves around the idea that individuals consciously and unconsciously manage the impressions they convey to others.
The core concept is that of impression management. Goffman posits that individuals are akin to actors on a stage, striving to present a particular image of themselves to an audience. This performance is not necessarily deceptive; rather, it is a strategic effort to define the situation and elicit desired responses. He introduces the concepts of the frontstage and backstage. The frontstage is where individuals perform for an audience, adhering to social norms and expectations. The backstage, conversely, is a private space where individuals can relax their performance and prepare for future interactions.
Further enriching Goffman's analysis are the notions of lines and face-work. A 'line' represents a consistent pattern of verbal and nonverbal acts expressing a person's view of the situation and of themselves. 'Face-work' refers to the actions individuals take to maintain their own face and the face of others during social interactions. Goffman emphasizes that maintaining 'face' is crucial for smooth social functioning, and individuals engage in various strategies to avoid embarrassment or humiliation. Ultimately, Człowiek w Teatrze Życia Codziennego provides a powerful framework for understanding the subtle yet pervasive ways in which we construct and negotiate social reality through our everyday interactions, making it a cornerstone of sociological thought and a subject of ongoing scholarly debate.