Body Techniques, Agency and Intercorporeality: On Goffman's Relations in Public

Abstract

The work of Erving Goffman is of great relevance and importance to the contemporary sociological interest in the body and embodiment. Very little has been written on his contribution to this area, however. This paper examines Goffman's relevance and importance. Specifically it considers how his Relations In Public might be used to develop the concepts `body techniques' (as developed by Mauss) and `intercorporeality' (as developed by Merleau-Ponty). Moreover, it considers how the concept, `intercorporeality' could be used to effect a new reading of his work. This reading identifies Goffman as a radical, corporeal sociologist, who has broken with the Cartesian moorings of traditional sociology.