Hi colleagues;
I concur with Steve's analysis.
Even in formal sessions there was enthusiasm for the poetic endeavour.
The interest for example in David Whyte's really quite formal session at Seattle showed there was a real buzz around these themes and contrasted with the dead hand of economic formalism and bland assumptions that characterised many other sessions.
Why did the hierarchs want to stomp on that enthusiasm?
More pertinently do we still need the Academy?
Why push on a door that is locked quite deliberately from the inside?
There are other doors...
But good luck for the attempt.
Best
David
----- Start Original Message -----
Sent: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:17:32 -0400
From: Bill Ferris <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Invitation to Caucus on Organization, Art and Aesthetic at AoM Meetings Anaheim, CA
>
> Steve, you are absolutely right that interest did not wane on this
important topic, and that the Academy actively suppressed it. I think you
are partially right on why, too, but there must have been more to it. The
powers on the Board avidly stamped on it and tried to pull out the roots.
As one who was involved in putting on plays and writing poems as well as
attending many Fringe Cafe events, I was disgusted.
Best,
Bill
William P. Ferris, Ph.D.
Professor of Management
School of Business
Western New England College
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Tel: 413-782-1629
Fax: 413-796-2068
Steve Linstead wrote:
Dear Paul
I'm sorry I can't be at the Academy this year. I think any initiative
that seeks to advance the cause of aesthetic understanding in the
Academy is to be welcomed. But a couple of points you might wish to
consider:
1) The Academy Arts caucus and the Fringe cafe did not slip away from
lack of interest. They were received with some hostility by some of
the academy representatives and eventually were actively killed off.
I know a lot of people were disillusioned and many were quite bitter.
2) Your point about "emerging interest" might well bring a wry smile
to the lips of those who have been developing this area over the past
20 years - most if not all of whom I think are in AACORN. I think in
particular the continued existence of SCOS, whose members have played
a major part in developing the area since 1984 is a strong indicator
that there is broad sustainability in this interest, and the
continued success of the Art of Management and Organization
conference which Ian King, Ceri Watkins and myself started in Essex
in 2002 has provided a specific and international (this year's
conference is in North America) focus for organizational aesthetics
that clearly demonstrates its currency. Basically you will have
probably guessed that I think that the interest is not so much
emerging as suppressed where the Academy is concerned.
3) One reason for this antipathy might be that, although your email
stresses the positive and performative aspects of aesthetics,
aesthetic practice on the whole inevitably raises more critical
aspects of organizing and management - it helps to build
understanding, warts and all, rather than just making organizations
more creative and better managed. For Adorno, aesthetic practice HAD
to be critical or else it was kitsch - and responsible for
reproducing the commodified sensual passivity that allowed capitalism
to continue to dominate and exploit smoothly and effectively whilst
glossing its contradictions. Where religion was the opiate of the
masses for Marx, for Adorno it was jazz. Given the proximity of the
AoM conference centre to Disneyland, there may be some resonances
here.
Anyway, best of luck and I look forward to seeing the outcome.
Steve
On Jul 10 2008, Paul Shrivastava wrote:
AACORN & AoM friends
Please join the Caucus on Organization, Art and Aesthetic on
August 11, 2008, Monday 8.30-10.20 AM Ventura Room, Hilton
Anaheim.
For nearly a hundred years, Management scholars and teachers have
been chasing scientific paradigms in search of management truths.
In this single minded pursuit they have ignored "managing as an
art and the art of managing". "Art" is used here not as a
metaphor, but as representation of a substantive aesthetic.
Organizations are suffused with art and aesthetic. In recent
years this has become an important area of study. Many management
academics are seeking managing skills and insights from
performing, visual, media and other arts. There is much to be
gained by this kind of inquiry. Art is a key to human emotions.
Aesthetic study of organizations can open up the poorly
understood emotional aspects of organizations.
There is no Division of the Academy of Management that focuses on
the art and aesthetics of managing and organizing. At the 2006
AoM meetings there was an all academy symposium on this topic
which was well attended. And in a prior years there was a caucus
and the Fringe Caf, which brought together people with these
interests. So I believe there is emerging interest in this topic.
The purpose of this caucus is to share artistic and aesthetic
organizational inquiry and teaching approaches, and to explore
interest among Academy members of establishing an Interest Group
representing this area. We invite scholars and teachers who study
or use artful methods, or any aspect of the arts in their
scholarship or teaching to join us. Come and sing your management
song, do the organizational dance, show us your stand-up act,
share your organizational paintings, photos, films, videos, give
a dramatic performance.
The coffee table will be set up near Santa Barbara/Ventura room
which is around the corner from Balboa B/C.
Looking forward to seeing you in Anaheim!
Paul
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