Escaping Embarrassment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Escaping Embarrassment - Essay Example A strong example that the author closely relates to is that of a rapper who is performing on stage to a particular audience. It’s noted that when a rapper is close to making an embarrassing mistake such as an abrupt stop during a performance, they instead use rhymes that are prewritten. This closely brings out a learned behavior that the rapper has internalized to avoid bringing the performance to an abrupt stop. Alternatively, a colleague with whom they share the duty of keeping the performance going may actually chip in and continue with the rapping. This timely intervention keeps the performance going on and spares the other rapper the embarrassment of messing it up. This is what the author refers to as collateral face saving. Hence, an individual can escape embarrassment through either employing â€Å"canned resources† which are behaviors that have been learned over time or through collateral face saving. These same social resources can be employed in other social s ituations that require an individual to save their face and avoid an embarrassing situation (Jooyung). First, a distinct connection with these observations was made by Goffman as he explores the presentation of an individual in everyday life. He keenly looks at factors that affect face to face interactions. Goffman argues that when a performer comes on stage to perform, he or she will always try to influence the impression of the audience by altering his or her setting, appearance or manner. Concurrently, the person the individual is interacting with is on the same hand attempting to get information about the performer. Hence, Goffman observed that all parties involved in a particular social interaction are automatically involved in particular practices aimed at either avoiding embarrassing others or being embarrassed (Gofman). Secondly, the author, Sawyer compares