Symbolic Interactionism, Dramatism,

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Symbolic Interactionism, Dramatism, Narrative
Theory

• Its a dance--communication is, we work it out
• We create signs, symbols, meanings messages,
  discourses, though not a waltz
• Interactionists claim its a tango, never done by
  just one person

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More Introduction

• Theres structure, but its dam building or barn
  raising
• Its on the job or at the partys bunch bowl that
  communication is constructed. Messages and even
  meanings are constructed
• Past theories had a strong psychologically bases.
• These have a sociologically bases.

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Even More Introduction

• Watch Children at play--they create all sorts of
  symbols, meaning games, dances
• Dramatististic/Narrative approaches claim that
  interactionism produces dramas/stories.
• Key theorists Bormann, Burke, Fisher

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The Assumptions of the Symbolic Interactionists

• Human understanding is achieved by assigning
  meaning to experience.
• Meanings are learned in interactions.
• e.g. Texas 55
• All social structures and institutions are
  created by interaction between individuals.
• e.g. MSU-Billings

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More on Assumptions

• Social realities are created and recreated by
  interaction
• Burkes stove
• Mind is a mirror of interaction between persons.
• Thoughts reflect life in society or your looking
  at your/our mind

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More on Assumptions

• Behavior is enacted in the social group through
  interaction. (Created during experience)
• ex. Acting out or alone I would never . . .
• Behavior can only be understood by ascertaining
  the individuals meanings for the behavior and
  the meaning is in the symbolic interaction
  mirror, thus motive

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So . . .

• Follows nicely from systems theory
• Families and stories
• Religion and my family
• Marketing
• Chaining, Fantasy Themes, Rhetorical Visions
• Cultures

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First Ernest Bormann

• Convergence Theory
• Studied Group Communication--Bales and Yale U.
  72
• Then one day while looking at coherence in
  groups . . .

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More on Bormann

• Chaining
• Peoples visions of reality formed by stories
  created interaction
• Fantasy Themes are stories told in small groups
• Fantasy Themes get chained out in society

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Fantasy Themes

• Cheyenne Chronicle
• Manifest Destiny
• Your best friends
• Mayoral Elections
• e.g. Cragan and Shields
• Sonja and the ERA

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Bormann Applied

• Marketing or how to make money with Bormann
• The Iowa Firm

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Kenneth Burke

• The Unending Conversation
• A little background and some fun

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Burkes Ideas

• Wide ranging powerful theory of symbols and
  interaction
• Distinguishes action (purposeful or choice) from
  motion or non-purposeful communication e.g.
  animals
• Action involves symbol use
• Reality is mediated through symbols and their
  meanings

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More

• Symbols expiate guilt
• Guilt is caused by the negative or the
  proscriptive nature of language
• Guilt is caused by the perception of imperfection
  or the perfection principle
• Perfection is also caused by social hierarchy
• It leads to mystification

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More on Burke

• Major function of communication is to rid
  ourselves of guilt
• Communication involves consubstantiality or
  sharing of substance
• Communication and persuasion are increased when
  identification results between people

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More on Burke

• Three kinds of identification
• Material--objects ex. fishing
• Idealistic--ideas ex. Religion
• Formal--forms of communication e.g. novels

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And More on Burke

• Communication can also result in division or
  separation between people
• Mystification occurs when one identifies with a
  charismatic person much higher in the hierarchy
• Strategies are used to achieve identification or
  division

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Even More on Burke

• Actions using symbols results in drama
• To analysis dramas he uses the pentad
• Actwhat is done
• Agentwho done it
• Scenewhere it was done
• Agencyvehicle through which the act is
  accomplished
• Purpose reason for the act

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Lets do one . . .

• I kings 316 The Wise King
• Act?
• Agent?
• Scene?
• Agency?
• Purpose?

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Weighing Ratios

• Which of the elements is dominant?
• Compare and contrast through a calculus
• So, which element is dominant?

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Now for a Philosophy

• Corresponding philosophic terminology
• Actrealism
• Agentidealism
• Scenematerialism
• Agencypragmaticism
• Purposemysticism

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What about you and me?

• Would you analysis your own communication?
• How could you?

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Fisher

• Homo Narran
• All rationality is based on narrative
• Persuasion is based on the acceptance of good
  reasons
• Two Criteria for judging stories
• Coherence--Holds together
• Fidelity--Rings true

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Lets tell a story

• Once upon a time . . .