A Case Study of Erving Gaffman's " Theatrical Performance" and Harold Garfinkel's " Ethnomethodology" in the PlayOleanna by David Mamet

Analyzing the social performances in verbal actions and interactions of individuals is one of the recent approaches in the sociological studies (also famously known as micro-level analysis). Such verbal interactions cannot be limited to some manifest features comprehensible by individuals; rather, they include some latent elements which, while may not be directly pointed at in an individual's behavioral actions, certainly play significant role in the analysis of his/her actions. David Mamet, a well-known American playwright, has made his works a playground, the thorough understanding of which is heavily dependent on reconstructing character's action- based performance codified in their silence and speech. These action- based performances are studied in the sociological theories of Erving Gaffman and Harold Garfinkel. The present article attempts to apply these hidden social interactions (namely Gaffman's theatrical performance, impression management, self-representation, before-scene and behind-scene manner, performance evaluation and also Garfinkel's breaching tests in ethnographical methodology) to Oleanna- one of Mamet's best known plays.