Experience and prospects for frame analysis in religious studies

• Published in: Vestnik Rossijskogo universiteta družby narodov. Seriâ Sociologiâ Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 136 - 152
• Main Author: M. R. Gibadullina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) 01.04.2025
• Subjects: erving goffman; frame; frame analysis; frame of religion; religion; religious daily life; religious frame
• ISSN: 2313-2272; 2408-8897
• DOI: 10.22363/2313-2272-2025-25-1-136-152

The concept of frames by I. Goffman is actively used in studies of religion and religiosity in foreign sociology and social-­cultural anthropology. Particularly numerous are studies of media frames assimilated by society and influencing the adoption of management decisions at the state level. A small part of studies concerns religious everyday life and the image of religion in the mass consciousness. Researchers not only use Goffman’s concept of frame but also the methodological principles of his other works (the concepts of stigma, everyday interaction, presentation of oneself to others), which proves the heuristic potential of Goffman’s intellectual heritage provided its comprehensive perception. Russian researchers also refer to Goffman’s frame analysis, but such works of Russian authors are not numerous or diverse. These are mainly projects in the field of social policy and linguistics, while studies in sociology of religion and religious studies based on frame analysis are quite rare in the Russian scientific discourse. Most of them are theoretical in nature and, as a rule, use the terminological apparatus of the frame concept rather than its methodology. The author’s analysis of theoretical and empirical works using the ideas of frame analysis shows the possibilities of the concept of frames in religious studies. The feature of the research based on this scientific category is the need for a detailed elaboration of the methodological part of each specific study to adequately reflect the specifics of the chosen disciplinary/subject field.