Journal Article

The Establishment and Collapse of Character Design

Jiang, Liwen

2024

Overview

The polished image of netizens on social media can confer numerous benefits. Drawing on Goffman's Dramaturgical approach, this study analyzes the rationale and repercussions of crafting idealized personas on social media platforms. This approach is evident in the way individuals curate their online presence. Enhancing one's image can boost personal confidence in social interactions; however, a falsified portrayal can lead others astray, affecting social trust. In people’s daily lives, this understanding helps us to better comprehend and navigate interpersonal relationships through nuanced social interactions. The Internet cannot fully capture the essence of individuals, and attempts to gain a comprehensive understanding of a public figure solely through online means are often futile. For individuals, any received information should be thoroughly analyzed, moving beyond the idealized facade that others present, examining the underlying substance, and assimilating only credible and genuine information. By applying the theory of dramaturgy to analyze social images both on stage and behind the scenes, one can objectively assess the true intentions behind the creation of social personas. Those seeking greater benefits may resort to excessive packaging to deceive the public, necessitating more discernment and critical thinking in social interactions to prevent being misled.

• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• Subject: Assimilation / Critical thinking / Dramaturgical approach / Internet / Interpersonal relations / Mass media images / Packaging / Public figures / Social interaction / Social media / Social networks