RPG Master Class

Currently Playing: Two Selves, One Table: Applying Goffman's Dramaturgical Theory to GMing

Dr. Ben discusses Dramaturgical Theory in TTRPGS (Episode #179). #dnd #pathfinder #ttrpg #wfrp Stanislavski video: https://youtu.be/IFILefSNz-s Chekov: https://youtu.be/RXI4SMY2aC8 Website https://rpgphd.com/ Discord https://discord.gg/e49rJVQCwW RPG PHD swag!!! https://rpg-phd.myspreadshop.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089593636905 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rpg_phd/ Bluesky @rpg-phd.bsky.social Special thanks to Evelina for the thumbnail template, much appreciated!! 😊 Description Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory says ordinary social life already has the structure of theater, front stage performance, backstage secrets, impression management, whether anyone means it to or not. In this video, we apply Goffman's 1956 framework directly to game mastering: the GM screen as a literal front stage/back stage boundary, performance teams and how tables protect a shared front without noticing, appearance versus manner in NPC design, the split between a player's character self and their actual self at the table, and Goffman's later work on stigma and discreditable identity applied to secret PCs and hidden-identity plots. We cover pitfalls GMs run into applying this framework and a step-by-step guide for building fronts on purpose. Part of the RPG PHD series applying academic theory to tabletop game mastering and design. Tags Goffman, dramaturgical theory, front stage back stage, impression management, GM screen, NPC design, tabletop RPG, game mastering, TTRPG theory, sociology of games, RPG design theory, DM tips, worldbuilding, character design, session zero, safety tools, hidden identity, secret role mechanics, RPGPHD, GM advice --------------------------------------------- 00:00 Intro 01:03 Performance & Audience 04:21 The GM Screen 07:32 Performance Teams 09:51 Manner & Appearance 11:25 Character Self & Player Self 13:41 Stigma 16:31 Pitfalls 18:12 Strep-by-Step Guide 20:46 Thoughts? -------------------------------------------- Works Cited Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre, 1956. Anchor Books, 1959. Goffman, Erving. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Prentice-Hall, 1963. Music and Sounds: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Erdns8jA3D/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/MRyCi54t7M/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/AQBpWzOsID/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe/ Music: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe/ Music: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/bWHPOsoaql/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uDAHxg3lIS/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/2dLRmfzdA5/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jrNZjxJQqZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ/ https://www.epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/8c51eca6-dbb5-4925-b4ec-7ee51630322e