Independent Research Project

Independent Research Project                                 Joshua Noble

Merlin Luck – Big Brother Eviction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3N83X0gb_c

Background to Issue

The interaction being examined in this project will involve the 2004 Big Brother eviction, specifically Merlin Luck’s silent protest, on live television.

Big brother is a reality TV show in which contestants live in a house together for an extended period of time while the public watches on and votes for who stays or who becomes evicted. The show was disrupted one Sunday night in 2004 when a housemate named Merlin Luck staged a protest on the live eviction show. As Merlin entered the arena that was broadcasting the live eviction he pulled out a home made banner that displayed “Free the refugees”, in reference to the government policy on refugees at the time. Merlin also covered his mouth with duct tape and refused to speak throughout the entire show.

Introduction

Merlin was displaying a simple message to the general public, through means of protest and the medium of Television, so why is this interaction worth looking at?

This project will break down the interaction to examine the micro level of what exactly is happening. The key areas of the interaction that will be examined include:

-       The use of a banner to portray his message (three words)

-       Merlin’s ‘performance’

-       The use of silence (non verbal communication)

-       Body language

-       Intensity of facial expressions

-       The crowd’s involvement in the interaction

To examine these key areas of interaction, information will be drawn from key theories which include; Symbolic interactionism, Dramaturgy, and presentation of the ‘self’.

It is evident that Merlin’s eviction protest is a piece of naturally occurring data as obviously none of what went on during the interaction was planned or scripted. The audience, host and television editors all have a predisposed idea of what is going to occur in the interaction, but when it goes wrong, people seem out of place and unsure of how to react. It is here we can draw on ideas such as the ‘code of conducts’ or the ‘rules’ that are set in place, and why these are so important when studying the micro areas of interactions.

Interpreting the interaction

There are several reasons we classify interactions such as this, as micro. The particular actions and meanings that are portrayed in an interaction are related to social discourses. But they are not entirely shaped by them; they take their own form within the process of the interaction (Mouzelis, N 2003). Therefore it can be argued that whilst social norms and practices are usually resonated by individuals in an interaction, each interaction can differ in terms of the individual’s subjective meaning and position within these social norms. Interactive uncertainty is prevalent within all interactions and for this reason studying the micro sociology perspective is interesting. Of course the micro and macro are related and influence each other, but the micro characteristics of interactions and participants is what this project is focusing on.

The ‘interaction order’ important when analyzing Merlin’s eviction protest. The interaction order refers to the ‘normative expectations’ that are embedded within roles and positions that people are involved in (Mouzelis, N 2003).  Merlin’s behavior disrupted these norms, he did not play the role that was expected when he walked up onto the stage, and therefore the interaction was seen as a controversy. It can also be argued that Merlin intentionally broke the social rules set in place for his own personal benefit. It is evident that breaking social rules will highlight the interaction as ‘out of the ordinary’ and attract attention. The latter was Merlin’s purpose. The actions that take place within this interaction are definitely dependent on time, place, and audience and how the ‘self’ is presented. To understand this, Goffman’s theory of Dramaturgy is helpful.

In dramaturgical sociology it is argued that human actions are dependent on time, place and audience. To Goffman, the ‘self’, is a sense of who one is, a dramatic effect emerging from the immediate scene or interaction being presented (Ross, D 2007). This can be seen as a metaphor in defining how an individual presents itself to another, based on cultural values, norms and expectations. Relating this to Merlin’s interaction, he is completely disrupting the ‘norm’. The image of his ‘self’ changes and is in direct relation to the protest he is preforming on stage. Without the immediate scene of the interaction, Merlin would not hold so much power. The power stems from the interaction being presented, and how one person’s sense of self is prevalent when breaking norms and social expectations. Usually the goal of performances and presentation of the self is to gain acceptance from the audience, through carefully conducting yourself throughout the interaction. If the actor succeeds, then the audience will view them how they want to be viewed. Usually in the interaction individuals aim to save face, steer clear from unwanted awkwardness and present themselves positively (Kivisto & Pittman D 2007). Merlin broke these rules as he presented himself to the audience as a deviant of social expectations; the response he got was in relation to this. Boos and jeers from the crowd and an awkward TV show host, trying to cool the situation.

This is also evident in Goffman’s outline of obligations and expectations within social interactions. Goffman, E (1967) states, rules of conduct that inform an individual’s behavior do so in two ways: through obligations and expectations. In terms of Merlin’s conduct in the interaction, he did not fulfill his direct obligations as a contender; therefore the expectations of the audience were not met. It is evident that obligations involve a constraint to act in a particular way (1967). Merlin broke this constraint to perform a personal obligation (protest). Generally speaking most actions are guided by these rules of conduct that are usually performed without thinking. They are socially constructed rules in which the audience expects. It then becomes evident that Merlin was met with boos and jeers because the expectations of the audience were not met. Goffman (1967) states that an actor’s pleasant obligation will be met with the recipient’s pleasant expectation.  Merlin disrupted this process, resulting in an unpleasant reaction in the audience.

It is evident that the use of a banner and the taping of his own mouth shut was an effective way to portray the correct message for Merlin. It can be argued that the use of a banner with only three words on it is more powerful in this interaction than words would have been. To explore this idea, the theory of symbolic interactionism will be examined.

Symbolic interactionism refers to distinctive and particular features of interaction that take place between individuals (Roberts, B 2006). Individuals do not react simply to ‘stimulus’ (2006), but ascribe and construct meanings to objects in their social situation. Relating this idea Merlin’s interaction it becomes evident that the banner, with three words on it ‘Free the refugees’, becomes a product of the interaction in which the audience ascribes meaning to, so they can understand the purpose of the interaction. Symbolic interactionism (2006) suggests that an individual’s action is constructed, therefore it can be argued that Merlin had planned the interaction, specifically choosing the objects and symbols he wanted to portray, and making sure the objects portrayed the correct meaning to the audience. Central to symbolic interactionism is the ‘meaningful nature’ of interactions (Dennis, A 2011). Meaning is the outcome of the actor’s interpretations of the settings (2011). Therefore we can argue that the meaning within Merlin’s interaction is constructed and is a product of the immediate setting. Merlin carefully handles and preserves this meaning through the nature of his body language, facial expressions and use of symbols.

To examine Merlin’s facial expressions and body language Goffman’s (1971) theory of front stage and ‘personal front’ can be explored. The term ‘personal front’ refers to the intimate items a performer owns; these are separate from the environment of an interaction or setting. These intimate items involve: sex, age, bodily gestures, facial expressions and posture (Goffman 1979). Throughout the course of big brother Merlin displayed himself as an outspoken, caring and easygoing housemate. This ‘personal front’ that he displayed to viewers and other housemates was expected in the eviction performance, however Merlin adapted his personal front in hope of creating a different appearance. Goffman (1971) also divides this personal front into ‘appearance’ and ‘manner’, appearance in reference to Merlin, is the notions of the self that function at the time of the interaction to display his status, in which he displays himself as the most powerful individual because of this ‘manner’. ‘Manner’ refers to the role the performer is going to play within the interaction (1971). The ‘manner’ in terms of Merlin’s interaction can be seen as the serious, politically motivated, impression he gives, as the audience interprets the symbols. Merlin’s body language once he is on the stage sitting next to the show host, gives the impression that his ‘manner’ gave the impression he was here to portray a message, not simply taking the role of the evictee. Merlin’s ‘manner’ does not allow the interaction to go on as planned, the way in which his facial expressions and body language express his message to the audience, are a complete disruption from the norm. In the end resulting in Merlin being escorted out of the building for the disruption that does not suit the producers of the show.

It is evident that Merlin holds a ‘Situated identity’; this refers to the ‘self that can be identified with the role one is currently playing’ (Brissett D & Edgley C 2006). Merlin is defined by the audience as a protester, because he is defined in the role he is playing at this certain point in time. It can be argued then that if any Australian put big brother on this night, without knowing the context – Merlin would be labeled a protester. Here it becomes evident that there is confusion within the crowd because the audience has built up knowledge of Merlin as a contender, not as a protester. His role has now suddenly changed and the audience quickly makes up their mind to label the role he is now playing, in order to understand the interaction.

Gardner & Avolio (1998) outlines the idea that an actor’s efforts to secure power and effectiveness in an interaction can be termed ‘self promotion’. Images of the self are projected to uphold their competence in the interaction (1998). It becomes evident here that Merlin is effectively promoting himself to gain power and promote the social cause of the refugee situation. In doing so he projects himself as an influential person within the interaction, kids around the country see this message. Even though Merlin is exploiting the situation, it is evident that it is an effective example of ‘self promotion’.

Conclusion

The nature of the Merlin’s interaction informs the response that it gained by the audience at present and also how it resonated through the country as a whole. This nature was serious, but also meaningful, in prime time television, it is out of the ordinary. As Merlin brought this type of interaction to the prime time, the audience met it with different responses.  It is evident that Merlin did not use his pre-existing appearance (or status) within this interaction but challenged the norm by presenting himself as a different identity. It became apparent that the power within the interaction was focused upon Merlin his ‘manner’ was able to assert his role and message as a valid expression of his self, for purpose of a social issue. Through examining ‘symbolic interaction’, ‘presentation of the self’, and ‘dramaturgy’ it becomes easier to understand how and why the interaction is interpreted by the audience and all involved. Also understanding the way the interaction was constructed by Merlin and his role within it, so it portrayed the message that was intended.

Joshua Noble

References

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Goffman, Erving. 1967. “The Nature of Deference and Demeanor.” Pp. 47-96 in Interaction

Goffman, Erving. 1971. “Performances.” Pp. 28-82 in The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Harmondsworth: Penguin

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