W4.1 Interactive observation assignment —JIA YUAN

1. What did I do?

To complete the classroom assignment for this interactive observation, I chose a place that is ordinary but filled with social interaction—Siberty Fast Food Restaurant. The "unconventional behavior" I set involves placing orders through singing, using melodies rather than speaking to express the types of bread, ingredients, sauces, and so on. I prepared the melody and lyrics a bit in advance to avoid getting stuck on stage.

Upon arriving at the scene, I took a deep breath and, after the clerk asked me "What would you like to eat?" I sang in a light tone, "I want Italian vanilla bread with roasted chicken and lettuce, and a bit of honey mustard." At first, the atmosphere was awkward, and the clerk seemed unsure if I was joking. But she couldn't help laughing when she realized I was indeed ordering and that my attitude was serious. Then return to a professional state and serve me. Several nearby customers were also drawn in, looking up one by one. Some showed puzzled expressions, while others discussed my behavior. The entire scene became unusually relaxed with a touch of "dramaticity."

2. What did I learn?

This experience taught me a lot. Usual interactions at restaurants, such as ordering, queuing, and paying, are actually default "standard scripts" in society. Goveman argues in his book "Self-Presentation in Daily Life" that people present an image that meets societal expectations as actors in social interactions, while hiding their true emotions and states behind the scenes. I broke the routine of everyday interaction with singing this time, essentially "reordering the script," which also drew attention, curiosity, and reaction from those around me. This also confirms what Goffman said: when one person violates conventional interaction scripts, others tend to employ corresponding "repair strategies," such as using laughter to alleviate embarrassment and redefine the situation.

During this process, I also gained a deeper understanding of the practical significance of the concept of "interactive order." Although people's reactions are diverse, they are generally inclusive and benevolent, which may indicate that individuals have a higher acceptance of "sudden actions" in modern society, especially without causing distress to others. Through this small experiment, I also found that my sensitivity to strangers' reactions has increased, making me more attuned to changes in their body language and expressions. This is also an improvement in my social observation skills.

3. Is it interesting?

Of course, this process is not entirely easy or fun. Before uttering the first sentence, I was actually very nervous, worried about being misunderstood as showing disrespect to others or causing trouble. But the ultimate reaction was positive, which also taught me that occasionally breaking daily rules and trying different social approaches can not only bring new experiences but may also inspire others' positive emotions.

Overall, this interactive observation helped me gain a more concrete understanding of the "theater" nature of social behavior and closely connect abstract sociological theories with real life. The concepts of "front-end and back-end," "role-playing," and "interaction rules" that were originally seen in books have been put into practice and validated through a simple ordering process. One could say that this is a more vivid introduction to sociology than a textbook, and it has also sparked more interest and reflection in interpersonal interactions.