In this article I will combine Erving Goffman’s sociology with some of the main aspects of Actor-Network Theory in order to outline a theatrical conception of social power. My first aim is to try to summarize the sociological perspective introduced by Kenneth Burke and then improved on by Erving Goffman to understand the face-to-face interactions of everyday life. Secondly, I will try to use the theatrical metaphor underlying this theoretical framework to describe power-over relations in everyday life. Thanks to the combination of the dramaturgical theory proposed by Erving Goffman and the ‘object turn’ given to social theory by Actor-Network Theory, a theatrical conception of power allows the episodic, dispositional and systemic dimensions of power relations to be mapped respectively depending on the actors’ performances, their roles of power and the institutionalized scripts. Moreover, this theatrical representation of power-over relations is a defaced understanding of the phenomenon that enables us to investigate not only its different directional forms (power-to, -over and -with), but also their possible variants (empowerment, resistance, domination and solidarity).

Mazzone, L. (2022). A theatrical conception of power. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL THEORY, 21(4), 759-782 [10.1177/1474885120922778].

A theatrical conception of power

Mazzone, L
2022

Abstract

In this article I will combine Erving Goffman’s sociology with some of the main aspects of Actor-Network Theory in order to outline a theatrical conception of social power. My first aim is to try to summarize the sociological perspective introduced by Kenneth Burke and then improved on by Erving Goffman to understand the face-to-face interactions of everyday life. Secondly, I will try to use the theatrical metaphor underlying this theoretical framework to describe power-over relations in everyday life. Thanks to the combination of the dramaturgical theory proposed by Erving Goffman and the ‘object turn’ given to social theory by Actor-Network Theory, a theatrical conception of power allows the episodic, dispositional and systemic dimensions of power relations to be mapped respectively depending on the actors’ performances, their roles of power and the institutionalized scripts. Moreover, this theatrical representation of power-over relations is a defaced understanding of the phenomenon that enables us to investigate not only its different directional forms (power-to, -over and -with), but also their possible variants (empowerment, resistance, domination and solidarity).
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Actor-Network Theory; dispositional and systemic power; domination; Erving Goffman; object turn; systemic;
English
1-lug-2020
2022
21
4
759
782
reserved
Mazzone, L. (2022). A theatrical conception of power. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL THEORY, 21(4), 759-782 [10.1177/1474885120922778].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
L. Mazzone, A Theatrical Conception of Power.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia di allegato: Submitted Version (Pre-print)
Dimensione 272.22 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
272.22 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/278230
Citazioni
  • Scopus 2
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 2
Social impact