W5.1 April 1 (MON)—MUQING

 Analyze the movie "Casablanca" using Erving Goffman's theory:


Stage Theory (Dramaturgical Theory): The stage theory proposed by Goffman believes that social interaction is like a performance on a stage, and people play different roles in different situations. In "Casablanca", the nightclub run by the protagonist Rick is like a stage, on which the characters display different identities and roles. For example, in a nightclub, Rick usually presents a cold, taciturn image. He is the owner of the nightclub and maintains a serious attitude towards customers and employees. This image gave him authority and dignity on the nightclub stage, giving him a unique charm. Privately, however, Rick's image may be different. When he reunites with his old lover Ilsa, his inner pain and sentimentality are exposed under his cold appearance, showing another side of his emotions.


Face Theory: Goffman's theory on face points out that people strive to maintain their own face in social interactions to maintain their social image. In the movie, Rick is a contradictory character who often appears cold and ruthless in public, but has different emotions and motivations in private. His behavior is often to maintain his own face or to create a certain image. Rick would often take actions to protect his image, especially when facing Nazi authorities. Although he was personally anti-Nazi, he also had to maintain the operation of the nightclub, so on certain occasions, he would choose to remain neutral or cooperate with the Nazis' requests to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.


Impression Management: The impression management theory proposed by Goffman emphasizes that people strive to manage their own image in social interactions in order to gain the recognition and respect of others. In "Casablanca", many characters engage in impression management to varying degrees, using their words and deeds to influence others' perceptions of themselves in order to achieve their own goals. for example:


1. Rick: As a nightclub owner, Rick usually shows a cold and ruthless appearance in public. The nightclub he runs is a very majestic and authoritative place, and he needs to maintain a tough image to protect himself and the interests of the business. But in private, especially in his personal interactions with Ilsa, he showed a softer and more sensitive side. This transformation may be to achieve some purpose, such as retaining Ilsa or de-escalating. relationship between them.


2. Ilsa: Ilsa also shows different faces in the movie. She is usually an elegant and confident woman in public, but in private, her heart is full of contradictions and uneasiness. She tries to cover up her inner struggles and emotional entanglements by maintaining a noble, calm image, in order to influence others' perceptions of herself, especially their attitude toward Rick.


Group Behavior: The background of the film is Casablanca during World War II, where people from different countries and backgrounds gathered together to form a complex social group. For example, Rick's Nightclub is an important social venue in Casablanca, attracting people from all nationalities and backgrounds. In the nightclub, the audience can see people of different nationalities drinking and dancing together, showing a unique group behavior. There are people from different cultures and regions here who communicate and interact with each other in this common social place, forming a mixed group atmosphere. In this group, different people exhibit different behaviors and attitudes, reflecting some of Goffman's observations and understanding of group behavior.


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