This document discusses Erving Goffman's character theory for analyzing roles in media. Goffman's theory identifies four main character types: the protagonist (leading character), deuterogonist (secondary character), bit player (minor character with unknown background), and fool (character that uses humor to convey messages). The document then provides an example analysis of the animated movie Finding Nemo, identifying Nemo as the protagonist, his father Marlin as the deuterogonist, and Dory the blue fish as the fool character.

1. Goffman’s Character Theory

3.  A character theory in the context of media, such as
print or electronic media texts or productions such as
films and plays, is useful for analysing and
understanding media in which people take on the role
of an actor or social actor.
 Character theories are popular with academics
teaching and researching media and film studies as
they are useful for appreciating the structure of
different types of media and the roles of the characters,
fictional or otherwise that are portrayed in them.
 Character theories are often based on stereotypes, and
the different characteristics that make them up can
either be used for positive or negatives purposes

4.  Erving Goffman's character
theory suggests that there
are four main types of
broad character in a media
text or production;
 The protagonist (leading
character)
 The deuterogamist (secondar
y character)
 The bit player (minor
character whose specific
background the audience is
not aware of)
 The fool (a character that
uses humor to convey
messages)

5.  Now I am going to quote an example of an
animated movie on which the theory of
Goffman can be applied.
 Finding nemo is a movie directed by Andrew
Stanton.

6. THE PROTAGONIST
(LEADING CHARACTER)
THE DEUTEROGAMIST
(SECONDARY CHARACTER
 The leading character
which is the Protagonist
in this movie is Nemo.
 The secondary character
which is the
deuterogamist in the
movie is his father
(Marlin and he is a
clownfish)

7.  There’s is no bit player in this movie. I couldn’t
find any bit player.
 The fool in this movie is the blue fish who’s
name is Dory.

8. Minal Neel