Overview

Although Erving Goffman never claimed to be a media or communication scholar, his work is definitely relevant to, and has already served as a substantial resource for, those who are. This is the first detailed presentation and analysis of his life and work intended specifically for a communication audience. While primarily an introduction to Goffman’s work, those already familiar with his ideas will also learn something new. In addition to summarizing Goffman’s major concepts and his influence on other scholars, the book includes an intellectual biography, explication of his methods, and an example of how to extend his ideas. Readers are invited to consider Goffman as a lens through which to view much of the pattern evident in the social world. Goffman’s work always appealed to the general public (several of his books became bestsellers), and so this book has implications for those who are interested in the role of media or communication in their own lives as well as those who study it professionally.

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9781433109935

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Reviews

Winkin and Leeds-Hurwitz have written a superb short introduction to Erving Goffman, especially useful for a wide range of readers in communication and media studies. A brief biography of Goffman illuminates the origins of his unique style and approach. A concise, authoritative overview of his works and main ideas is followed by an insightful reconstruction of his methodological approach and several models and suggestions for extending his approach in communication research. A highly recommended book. (Robert T. Craig, University of Colorado Boulder) Oriented towards communication studies, this book offers a fresh understanding of Erving Goffman's contribution. It stands out for its biographical tracking of the development of Goffman's ideas, for its shrewd appreciation of his methods, and for its attention to the detail and the spirit of his writings. Yves Winkin and Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz aptly capture the temper of the man and the work, reminding us of Goffman's intellectual stature and the continuing capacity of his thinking to provoke thought and animate inquiry. (Greg Smith, University of Salford, UK)

Author Information

Yves Winkin is University Professor of Communication at the Ecole normale supérieure of Lyon (ENSL), France, and Extraordinary Professor of Anthropology at the University of Liège, Belgium. His major books include Anthropologie de la communication (1996, translated into Spanish and Portuguese); Erving Goffman: les moments et leurs hommes (1988, translated into Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese); and La Nouvelle Communication (1981, translated into Greek, Spanish and Portuguese). His latest book is Vers une marche plaisir en ville: boîte à outils pour augmenter le bonheur de marcher (2012, with Sonia Lavadinho). His MA is from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; his PhD is from the University of Liège. Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz is Director of the Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Professor Emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Among her books are: Learning Matters: The Transformation of US Higher Education (2012, with Peter Hoff), The Social History of Language and Social Interaction Research (2010), Socially Constructing Communication (2009, with Gloria Galanes), Wedding as Text (2002), Social Approaches to Communication (1995), Semiotics and Communication (1993), and Communication in Everyday Life (1989). Leeds-Hurwitz earned her MA and PhD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

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