(extra credit)week 6 : Exploring Pleasantville Through Goffman’s Theory of Social Interaction -- LAOXINYI

 

In everyday life, we often act like performers, carefully playing different “roles” in various settings: the “good student” in class, the “obedient child” at home, the “curated life” on social media. These aren’t just “pretend” behaviors; they’re what Erving Goffman calls “performances in social interaction.” His dramaturgical theory suggests that we are all actors in a social play, constantly shifting between the “front stage” and “back stage,” trying to maintain the impressions others have of us.

The film Pleasantville (1998) offers a vivid portrayal of this theory. Through the story of two modern teens who get trapped in a 1950s black-and-white TV show, the movie uses the emergence of color as a metaphor for the transition from “social performances” to “self-realization,” perfectly reflecting Goffman’s key concepts of roles, stages, teams, and impression management.

1. Stages

Goffman talks about the front stage and back stage in social life. On the front stage, we perform roles for others; in the back stage, we can be ourselves.

In Pleasantville, the town is the perfect example of a front stage. Everyone follows the script—people smile, dress neatly, say polite things, and nothing ever goes wrong. For example, Betty is the classic front-stage housewife: always cheerful, always cooking.

But once color starts appearing, people begin to show what’s behind the mask. When Betty puts on colored lipstick in the bathroom, it’s a small but powerful moment of stepping into the backstage—she’s expressing her real self for the first time.

2. Teams

Goffman says performances are often carried out by “teams” working together—like a family or a group of coworkers.

In the film, David and Jennifer are forced to join the team performance of being a “perfect 1950s family.” They have to pretend to be polite children, go to school, and not mention anything from the modern world.

But when they start acting differently—Jennifer reads real literature, David challenges the teachers—they disrupt the team's performance. The whole “happy family” starts to fall apart, and the illusion begins to crack.

3. Roles

In everyday life, we all play different roles based on where we are and who we’re with.

In Pleasantville, Betty plays the “ideal mother,” George plays the “hardworking father,” and David plays the “nice, respectful son.” These roles are given to them by society—not something they chose.

As the story progresses, people begin to question these roles. Betty starts to reject the idea of being a traditional housewife. The painter creates art instead of sticking to “acceptable” images. These moments reflect people breaking away from fixed roles to explore who they really are.

4. Performance

A performance is the way we act to fit into a certain situation, especially when others are watching.

In Pleasantville, performances are everywhere—at school, at dinner, even on the street. People smile when they’re supposed to, clap at the right time, and follow social scripts.
But as David and Jennifer introduce new ideas and behaviors, those performances start to fall apart. People no longer stick to the “perfect” routine—they begin to express emotion, ask questions, and act out of character.

5. Communication out of character

This happens when someone slips out of their role—when they forget the script or act in an unexpected way.

One great example is when George comes home and Betty isn’t there. He walks in, pauses, and just keeps repeating “Honey, I’m home,” confused and helpless. He doesn’t know what to do because his whole role as “the husband” depends on Betty being there.
This kind of moment—where the mask falls off—is what Goffman would call communication out of character.

6. Impression Management

This is how we control the way others see us—trying to make the “right” impression in different situations.

In Pleasantville, characters work hard to appear wholesome, clean-cut, and cheerful. The mayor constantly tries to keep people from changing, banning color, books, and art that don't match the “ideal” image.
But over time, the townspeople stop caring about appearances. They start showing real emotion, breaking the rules, and no longer trying to fit into society’s expectations. It's a shift from managing impressions to embracing authenticity.