Goffman as We Remember

Abstract

Has Goffman influenced the development of contemporary sociology? On the one hand, he remains a most widely read and the most candidly worshiped figure in the XX century social science. On the other hand, the disciplinary “memes” associated with him, are at best utterly simplified (“the dramaturgical perspective”), and at worst completely misleading (widespread understanding of “frame” as synonymous with a definition of a situation). The most immediate continuation of his work can be found in sociolinguistics, not in sociology. Goffman’s strange status of a milestone, which is remembered, but not followed, can be explained by the changing sociologists’ implicit understanding of their discipline mission, which they, however, are not ready to embrace completely.