Sample Illustration 3 - Face-Negotiation Theory

Another piece from "Brothers & Sisters" to illustrate Face-Negotiation Theory, provided by a former Com 103 student.

Brothers & Sisters - McCallister & Co



The Face-Negotiation Theory is illustrated in this clip from the ABC series “Brothers and Sisters.” Nora Walker (Sally Field), and her family were publicly criticized on a political radio show, and once the radio host started to pass judgment on her family, and what kind of mother-in-law Nora would be, Nora had face concern, or interest in maintaining her face and the faces of her children. The radio host said, “you will not believe the family freak show a McCallister Presidency would hoist on an unsuspecting nation. Let’s start with the mother-in-law; I have a stack of letters to the editor this woman has written, all strident and incomprehensible.” She wanted her family to be seen in a positive face, or she wanted to be liked and admired by others.

As a result, Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) calls into the radio station and attempts to save her own face, and the faces of the rest of her family. At first, she engages in face-saving, which is an attempt to avoid embarrassment, however instead of saving her face, she further embarrasses herself and her family. She calls into the radio show and says, “you should do your homework, my mom, who you equated with a terrorist happens to be a Gold-Star mother.” Kitty’s husband Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) is running for President, and he calls her after the radio incident asking how she was planning on fixing the damage she had just done.

This conversation between Kitty and Robert eludes to plans for face restoration of Kitty and her family, and of Robert’s presidential campaign. Face restoration is a strategy used to preserve autonomy and avoid loss of face. This restoration occurs after the loss of face has happened, and offers excuses or resolutions. What is not shown in the clip is how Kitty tries to rectify the situation and save the faces of Robert and her family; she goes onto the radio show and explains her family, and solidifies Robert’s positions in his presidential campaign.