(extra credit) week 6 : Analyzing The Sting through Goffman’s Theory of Social Interaction -- LAOXINYI

1) Frontstage and Backstage: The Performances in The Sting

 - Frontstage: The Public Performances

Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff are both masters of the art of performance. Their con game requires them to be incredibly skilled at managing their public persona, especially when interacting with their targets. The key to their success lies in the way they present themselves on the frontstage – in the world outside the con.

Johnny Hooker, for example, is a small-time hustler who presents himself as a naive, inexperienced grifter to the mob boss, Doyle Lonnegan. He has to act the part of a rookie, someone who is easy to manipulate, in order to gain Lonnegan’s trust. Every move he makes, from his clothing to his speech, is carefully designed to create a certain impression in Lonnegan’s mind. He plays the role of the simple, street-smart con artist, all the while positioning himself for the big play.

Similarly, Gondorff plays his own frontstage role, carefully constructing the image of a washed-up, eccentric gambler. He’s pretending to be a man who has nothing left to offer but a knack for gambling, and this façade is central to the con. In the public eye, he’s seen as a bit of a joke, an aging gambler with no real influence. However, behind the scenes, he is orchestrating a complex scheme to bring down Lonnegan.

  - Backstage: Behind the Con

The backstage moments in The Sting are where the true characters and their plans come to life. In the safety of their private spaces – such as the hotel rooms where they prepare their scam – Johnny and Gondorff can reveal their true selves, their doubts, and their strategies. In these private settings, they let go of their public personas and discuss the intricacies of their con. Here, the masks slip, and we see the real men behind the performances.

For instance, while on the job, Gondorff reveals his true cunning and strategic thinking. In these moments, he’s not just the washed-up gambler he pretends to be – he’s a brilliant mastermind, and the audience gets to see his depth and intelligence. In the backstage spaces, Johnny and Gondorff are no longer just playing parts; they are individuals deeply involved in a game of deception.

2) Impression Management: The Art of Deception

One of the core ideas in Goffman’s theory is impression management – the process of controlling how others perceive us. In The Sting, every character is constantly working to manage the impressions they create in the minds of others.

Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff both master the art of impression management throughout the film. For instance, Gondorff’s entire persona is built around appearing to be a has-been gambler with no real skills. He cultivates an impression of failure and desperation, which lowers the guard of his targets. Meanwhile, Johnny plays up his “rookie” status, trying to seem like he’s in over his head, which helps him earn the trust of Lonnegan.

The entire con they are pulling is based on creating a false impression. They manipulate their targets’ perceptions and expectations, guiding them toward believing something that isn’t true. The final payoff – the successful con – hinges on their ability to maintain these fabricated impressions and manipulate how Lonnegan views the situation.

3) Role Performance: The Masks We Wear

In The Sting, both Johnny and Gondorff are constantly shifting between different roles, a concept that Goffman touches on with his idea of role performance(source：The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life）. Both men must perform specific roles depending on the context, and they do so with precision.

Johnny Hooker performs the role of a naive young con artist in his interactions with Lonnegan, and later, he switches roles to become a more experienced hustler, working behind the scenes to help Gondorff. His role constantly shifts as the con develops, and he adapts his performance to fit the changing circumstances.

Gondorff, too, plays multiple roles. On the one hand, he’s the washed-up gambler, but behind the scenes, he’s a sharp and calculating mastermind. His ability to perform these roles convincingly is crucial to the success of the scam.

The concepts mentioned above come from Goffman's book The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life.