Goffman’s book on presentation of self explains the importance of social interaction. He also explains that when a person comes in contact with other people, that individual controls and reacts in accordance. The control action can range from changing ones mannerism, clothing, facial expression, and body language. This would be an example of what Goffman calls maintaining face. Goffman classified the face as the positive social value a person claims for himself by the line he presents in social encounter as well as the emotive representation of self (Goffman 1956:5). Your facial expression and other procedures you take in order to establish your identity would be considered face work. The changing of mannerism, clothing, and body language would fall under what Goffman classified as line. The line can be defined as verbal and non-verbal patterns that are made apparent through the evaluation of one’s audience. He also speaks on the maintenance of face work which is vital in social interaction. When the face and line are out of synch, this causes what Goffman calls wrong face. There is also out of face that occurs when there isn’t a line ready to go with the face one is presenting. All of this would then lead to embarrassment.
The way an instructor presents and conducts his behavior is an example of line and face cooperating with each other to establish how he wants to be perceived in class e.i face work. Professors and instructors dress according to how they want their students to perceive them. This ties in to how Goffman believed that when a person comes in contact with other individuals, that person will try his best to control the impression of others by adjusting to the circumstance. In the classroom setting, when students fail to read the required material, it is quite obvious to the instructor at hand. Instead of the instructor yelling and causing a ruckus, he adjusts his facial expression and body language to express to the students that he is unbothered by their negligence, despite any urges he might want to express. This also occurs when an instructor asks a question and no one attempts answers. The instructor might want to exhibit many facial expressions of worry, doubt, disappointment, and anger, however, he tries his best not to lose face and maintain face throughout the duration of the class period.
As for the students, not coming to class prepared presents many wrong faces as create out of face experiences which leads to embarrassment. If an instructor calls on (knowing that you are unprepared) while attempting to answer the question, your body might show confidence while your face exhibits uncertainty. This un-synchronizing of face and line ultimately leads to embarrassment.
Goffman explains embarrassment as a result of not being perceived by your audience as you intended to present yourself. It can also occur when certain event suddenly interrupts the atmosphere that you’ve created. In the classroom if a student is called upon and isn’t prepared to answer the question, embarrassment consumes them because they have threatened whatever aspect they wanted other individuals to perceive about themselves. To the teacher they wanted to give off the impression of being prepared. To their peers, they might want to give off the impression of intelligence. When the impression that you intend to give off is threatened, this leads to embarrassment because your line and face thrown off. This ultimately leads to an individual being out of face and wrong face.
The classroom setting is a great example to use to understand and apply Goffman too. The classroom setting is a prime example of why face to face interaction is essential in order for society to operate efficiently. In order for the class room setting to work effectively, the Professor has to set for himself how he wants to be perceived through line and face as well as the students. Without a proper cooperation of the face, line, and face work, the non-maintenance of these would lead to an imbalance in all institutions.