The Story of the Nearest Relative: Shifts in Footing in Dramaturgical Replayings

Lisa Morriss; Greg Smith

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.15.2.06

Authors

Lisa Morriss Lancaster University, UK
Greg Smith

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.15.2.06

Keywords:

Conversational Interaction, Goffman, Dramaturgical Replaying, Footing

Abstract

This discussion assesses the utility of Goffman’s thinking about conversational interaction for illuminating features of a research interview between one of the two authors (LM) and a fellow social work professional. We use this case to explore aspects of Goffman’s contribution to the sociological understanding of spoken interaction. While many of his ideas offer rich sources of guidance for interactionist and qualitative researchers, the value of Goffman’s (1974) concept of “dramaturgical replaying” has been overlooked. We trace the leading themes of Goffman’s thinking about conversational interaction and show how they can provide an analysis of the story of the “Nearest Relative” that is attentive to its live, improvised enactment. Goffman’s approach to storytelling is shown to be distinct from but complementary to conversation analytic approaches to storytelling.

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Author Biographies

Lisa Morriss, Lancaster University, UK

Lisa Morriss is based in the Sociology Department at Lancaster University. She qualified as a social worker in 1995 at the London School of Economics and worked in Community Mental Health teams in London and Greater Manchester. Lisa completed her Economic and Social Research Council funded 1+3 Ph.D. in 2014, in which she used an ethnomethodological approach to explore the identity of Approved Mental Health Professionals. Lisa’s research interests include stigma, hauntology, motherhood, tattoos, and mental health. She is also the European Editor of the Sage journal Qualitative Social Work.

Greg Smith

Greg Smith is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Salford. He has researched and written books and articles in the areas of embodiment, the sociologies of interaction, visual sociology, and the work of Erving Goffman. He is currently working on a study of restorative justice meetings with Christopher Birkbeck.

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