How does urban space shape individual’s self-presentation during city walk: a new interpretation from dramaturgical theory

As an emerging tourism and leisure practice increasingly favoured by youth, city walk uniquely facilitates self-presentation through urban engagement. While substantial knowledge has been accumulated regarding the experiences and behaviours of city walkers, the key mechanism of how they perform and express their identities remains unresolved. Drawing on Goffman’s dramaturgical framework, this study focuses on urban space and reinstates its often-overlooked agency to investigate how urban space shapes individual’s self-presentation during city walk. Selecting Chongqing city in China as the case, this study reveals that urban spatial elements structure the performative stages. Walkers negotiate identities through tactical impression management by adhering to spatial scripts in frontstage zones while pursuing existential authenticity in backstage contexts. This research advances the interpretation of dramaturgical theory by emphasizing the agency of urban space, and further deepens the theorization of city walk as an urban leisure practice through a performative lens.