The Presentation of Self in the Age of Social Media: Distinguishing Performances and Exhibitions Online

TLDR

Presentation of self, as described by Goffman, is increasingly used to explain differences in meaning and activity of online participation, and social media frequently employs both synchronous situations and asynchronous exhibitions, with a virtual curator managing and redistributing digital content. The article argues that self‑presentation can be divided into synchronous performances and asynchronous artifacts, introduces an exhibitional approach with a curator, and proposes a theory of lowest common denominator culture to extend existing work on online self‑presentation. The authors introduce a theory of lowest common denominator culture that applies the exhibitional approach.

Abstract

Presentation of self (via Goffman) is becoming increasingly popular as a means for explaining differences in meaning and activity of online participation. This article argues that self-presentation can be split into performances, which take place in synchronous “situations,” and artifacts, which take place in asynchronous “exhibitions.” Goffman’s dramaturgical approach (including the notions of front and back stage) focuses on situations. Social media, on the other hand, frequently employs exhibitions, such as lists of status updates and sets of photos, alongside situational activities, such as chatting. A key difference in exhibitions is the virtual “curator” that manages and redistributes this digital content. This article introduces the exhibitional approach and the curator and suggests ways in which this approach can extend present work concerning online presentation of self. It introduces a theory of “lowest common denominator” culture employing the exhibitional approach.