Performing Action

He defines the concept of behavior as artistic performance in the introductory chapter. Part 1, "Rhetoric", analyzes routine and classic social research reports as literary performances in qualitative and quantitative terms. Gusfield uses concepts drawn from dramatic criticism to examine diverse aspects of social behavior. He treats athletic competition as one form of narrative. Part 2, "Reflexivity", includes chapters on social movements and public actions, pointing out how objects and events are products of the interpretation and reflection of individuals. Gusfield also considers how and why the character of social movements changed from the early to the late twentieth century. He explores how movements affect social life by their very occurrence and impact on participants and observers. Subsequent chapters discuss the reflexive character of recent social movements and the content of the "traditional" in three different societies. Part 4, "Symbolism", draws upon literary and artisticconventions to deal with issues of representation and meaning. The first chapter reviews symbolism in modern life generally, while the remaining three analyze symbolism in particular areas.

The book's first and last chapters provide a conceptual summary, examining the relation between sociology as science and art to argue that sociological methods are neither, but partake of both. Following the philosopher Paul Ricouer, Gusfield shows how human behavior is capable of being read as a text, always telling the participant or observer "something about something". Performing Action will be of interest to sociologists, psychologists, and students of aesthetics and critical theory.