More Masks

[Federica]

Are you attracted to Gergen's suggestion that we should deliberately play more roles (or wear more masks), in order to combat the burdensome and restrictive "code of coherence" to which we are each subject?

[gerrberr]

I dont think we can ever combat the restrictiveness of a relationship. When the text talks about marriage, it springs to my mind that marriage has it rules in the sense that it is different from friendship. However, the people involved in a relationship can choose to liven it by putting a mas on temporally to play a certain role together. As it is a relationship so both people need to be happy with it otherwise there will be a breakdown. For me relationship brings more of stability then restriction.

[j´adore]

Speaking for myself, I am definitely attracted to the idea of wearing and using masks throughout one’s life because I believe it to be true and even necessary. Masks make us be able to handle different situations appropriately and in the best possible way so that we are successful at complying with other people’s expectations throughout. They help us manage our life, yet I do not think that we have hundreds of different masks but a set of masks we wear in different kinds of situations (for example a professional mask for your work place and networking, which you then take off when arriving home because you can then act differently, not meaning you are a whole different person). Therefore the various settings and situations we are in force us to adapt through the use of masks which in turn means a break of coherence. Nevertheless, I believe that no person stays in only one consistent manner and never changes, because the human has too many facets and abilities which need and should be lived.
Erving Goffman in The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) also proposes that we change our behaviour and ourselves in different situations and that we all play theater according to Goffman. He suggests that we all play roles and we manage our impressions (impression management) as we want to look as good as possible- and I think that’s true, even if one will try to argue that one does not change or does not want to leave a good impression, there will always be a case where he does. Therefore the idea of wearing masks to manage our life and its various challenges as well as the linking proposition of playing roles by Goffman make very good sense to me.

[Karla]

I agree with Gergen's suggestion that we should wear more masks in order to combat the restrictive 'code of coherence'. Recently I have become more aware of the different masks that I wear... one mask I wear when I am at work, a different mask for when I am out socialising with friends, and yet another for when I am at home with family. I think it is important to be conscious of the masks you wear and the roles you play in order to fit in with the context and surroundings you find yourself in. In Goffman's The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life he reminds us of the clear understanding that first impressions are important, and when an individual appears before others he has many motives for trying to control the impression they receive of the situation (p13). Which is true, as everyone wants to appear as best they can in a given situation. I think failure to wear a given mask in a given context would result in not only communication breakdowns, but relationship breakdowns as well.

[Chesca]

Yes I agree because we do not only deliberately have to wear many masks or play many roles but we have to, in order to combat the restrictive ‘code of coherence’. This is because of society and what is expected of us. I do not necessarily believe we have loads of masks but a set of masks that is used for different occasions or situations that may arise e.g. in order to get a good job, one must dress smart to fit the role. Even if this may not be you, it is something you have to do to prosper. From this I believe society forces us to succumb to these masks and put on an act for self purpose. In actual fact without those masks you may in fact get no where in life.

[sweetgirl]

In life we draw ourselves in many different masks which can be referred to as labels. The question is do we define the masks we wear or do we allow the masks to define who we are?
A lot of us live our lives under these masks the wearing of different makes is an interpretation of the atmosphere we are in, for example going to an interview you are more likely to wear smart clothes and not go in jogging bottoms why?
This plays as our mask it is something that represents us in that particular time. Behind these masks I believe lies a real person, but I strongly believe that for society we should stop these different masks and represent who we truly are. In terms of postmodern consciousness there may be a chance that underneath the mask is a factual self in that sense the mask will play as an genuine representation 'image is everything'.

[jbird]

Hmm, i think this is a really interesting question, and whilst i accept that we do all wear different masks at different points/situations in our lives, think how many people in the world who are not even aware of this concept of 'masks'. for example someone who has not come across it through studying, why would they even consider the concept. and if those who are not aware of the concept play different 'roles' does this make their masks more natural if they are not aware that they could be using a mask? It is something i could think about for ages, but i think the idea of deliberately putting on different masks as Gergen suggests would be fun/interesting from a psychological point of view, and maybe contributing to some sort of self satisfaction for the 'wearer' of the mask. Other than that i do not see why we should deliberately and knowingly try out different masks. Surely its hard enough just trying to be oneself!

[katievolone]

I agree, sometimes people are unaware that they are wearing different masks. As Karla said, she has begun to notice the different masks that she wears but is this only from studying this subject. If we had not studied this subject we would obliviously live our lives the way we know how, and not realize the amount of masks that we actually wear. It is easy to notice when others are acting differently in different circumstances, and yes this could be them conforming to the 'code of coherence'. But would we have realised ourselves?

[Millie]

I thought Gerdens theories were interesting; I beleive we are capable of wearing different masks for different occasions, including   
playing many different parts.  These masks and performances can be interchangeable according to ones circumstances. 
At the begiining of Gerdens chapter p132 the quote from Hamlet; ...'To thine own self be true'... In todays society, especially in a working environment this in my experience is rarely possible.   In my opinion the we are most true to ourselves when we are either alone and with those we are closest to.

Since reading Gerden I've noticed my own style of correspondence changing from one person to another.  In one instance my friend had e-mailed me with all her troubles - I found myself emailing back in some parts jovial, yet in another part sharing some very minor troubles of my own why I'm not sure.  Moreover in my reply I hadn't relayed any good news to her although I could have.  Intersestingly the table turned and she emailed back on a happier note.

However I beleive there are some who are much more creative in circumstances when a performance or mask is required. 

[Blair]

I like Gergen (1972) challenge the hypothesis that a person develops a coherent sense of self instead society constricts and freezes identity into a single narrative. The theorist Boyd stresses the construction of identity is embedded in discourses of gender, class, race and queer (2008, p.123). Therefore pending on the situation and company one keeps at any given time an appropriate mask will be adopted, this mask will be influenced by cultural factors, social standing and norms and rules proliferated throughout society. Additionally, the notion of Gidden’s (1991) reflexive self as means to constructing identity; which sees the self as a project consistently undergoing self-monitoring- scrutinizing and monitoring oneself in comparison to the normal other. For Gidden’s self-identity is ‘the self as reflexively understood by the person in terms of her or his biography’ (Giddens, 1991, p.53). Mead’s (1934 cited in Livingstone, 2008) understanding of identity is a vital theory to consider. Mead suggests an essential distinction between the ‘I’ and the ‘Me’ as joint aspects of the self, the ‘I’ is the active, primal will of an individual and the ‘me’ is the aspect of the individual that provides reflection of social ties (Gidden’s, 1991, p.52). To some extend the individual consciously negotiates masks and roles to adopt in appropriate situations but society has governed the choice of roles and masks one can perform.

[aj89]

I have also begun to notice the different masks I wear in everyday life, for example being professional at work, going out with friends, like some earlier replies above. However, I also think the way we act differently around different people is to do with 'face' theories. For example with people we are not familiar with, we feel the need to 'save face' but with friends and family, we don't neccessarily care about 'saving our face' or acting professionally for example. I think our masks are controlled by what company we are in not the other way round.

[Tiffany]

I agree with Gergen's suggestion that we should wear more masks in order to combat the restrictive 'code of coherence'.
Everyone you know is a hypocrite to some degree. The masks that most people wear were are usually the polar opposite of the personality they’re trying to hide. It is a form of misdirection, intended to allow that individual to blend seamlessly into their environment. Masks are really a psychological defense mechanism designed for the sole purpose of easing the task of survival. People wear masks to be accepted, loved or ignored. Masks give them the cover necessary to facilitate acceptance by society. Being rejected by society can have very serious implications, ranging the full gamut from scorn to exile and even in some cases, death.

I also think that a few people are super pretenders (luckily there are only a few) ...they wear multiple masks. They are the super humans able to switch masks for different people for the same situation! They are quick to adapt and mould themselves per the situation. These are the people who are nice at one instance...and then completely indifferent at the very next

[ToYz]

It seems logical for you would always have your guard up for every situation/environment in your life, but what happens when we face an unexpected incident? This is when we would begin to crack! In general, If these 'masks' are suppose to help us identify ourselves, maybe we would eventually find out who we are in response to the masks we choose to wear more often or more comfortably within a certain situation. On the other hand, I believe this may make an individual more confussed with who they really are. It seems unstable, it would be hard to keep up, it could develop you into an emotional wreck- preparing a particular mask daily what if we fail this organisation?

[lady123]

I definitely believe we should learn to play more roles.  It is an uncomfortable situation to be put in when you are unable to play the role that is chosen for you.  We should get out of our comfort zones and experience new traits of ourselves. 
For example,  for part of a compulsory module on the course, it is necessary to perform a 3 minute speech, adopting a political stance.  In order to come across effectively, we need to essentially wear a mask that allows you to feel comfortable in such a situation.  The mask will encourage you to successfully adopt a political personality and deliver the speech with enthusiasm and persuasion.  If the mask isn't practiced beforehand, not only will it result in an embarrassing 3 minutes but the goal of persuading the audience will fail.  Therefore i believe Gergen was right in identifying this in order to combat the restrictive 'code of coherence'. 

[chunnu]

Even though it is merely impossible for a person to uphold a coherent self, but if everyone tries to play more roles deliberately, the society will be a fake one. Take Youtube as an example – It has become the popular sharing platform that spreads around the world. There are make up tutorials that encourages make-overs to conceal one’s imperfections. Other than that, many videos are also highlighting the scariness of pop stars without make-ups.

With reference to this, I think somehow make-up can be seen as the masks women deliberately put on to conceal their imperfections. This is how many women impress others so that they won’t be judged by their real without-makeup-look. Make-up is a tool for them to hide their short-comings and imperfections on their face and their personality.

Rather than combating the burdensome and restrictive “code of cohenrence”, I think putting up different roles deliberately avoid many people from having a genuine self. They are simply not being true to themselves and to people around them. All they do is to cover up the way cosmetics do.