Thank you all for these great notes. I've really enjoyed reading them, and
they've certainly given me a lot to think about.
On the one hand, I'd love to see something 'fringish're-emerge at AoM, but
having had to strongly plead our case to Ken Smith and other AoM board
members, and then to have all that simply squashed with a "You had your
start, now form a special interest group"...well, it was certainly a heavy
slap in the face. Also a wakeup call of sorts. Looking back on those café
events, I see now that we were doing a form of organizational art, using
organizational materials as our medium. The entire setup was very upending
for AoM: the large islands of sofas in the middle of the crowded venues, the
rather nice sound systems, the discussion-rather-than-presentation formats,
the plays, readings, and musical happenings, the bring-your-drinks-along and
wine, dine, and chat till the wee hours. It took everything that was and
remains AoM and did the opposite, all right in its living room. In this, it
was quite different than the more gallerist, display-based Academy Arts that
preceeded and/or accompanied it. It was active/activist art at a very large
scale. That it was so remarkably popular clearly threatened the basic notion
of how AoM is organized and runs, and I suppose it was inevitable that the
plug would be pulled.
Having said this, I would like to see some kind of AAcornAA (aacorn at the
academy; aacorn anonymous?) and/or a SIG established. Some kind of regular
presence. Of course I agree with Steve, Steve, Hans, and David about the
ghetto prospects. But it's also possible that something else could happen
now. I believe that collectively we have learned a great deal about
arts-based approaches in the last ten years, and that what a SIG would/could
do now would be different than when Steve Taylor, Jean Bartunek, Chris
Poulson and others first got the AoM arts-ball rolling. Given our legacy, I
could imagine a SIG that routinely did a number of active art projects at
the organizational level of AoM. There's so much to play with, ranging from
the decisional structures to how keynotes are done, to presentational
setups, to the presidential address. What's interesting for me is how AoM,
BECAUSE of its beastliness, is actually a compelling playing ground for
organizational art. AoM continues to be the world's key spokesperson for all
things managerial and organizational; in this it plays a huge role in how
the entire world of work is conducted, and if one wants to challenge
mainstream thinking, AoM is a highly visible mainstream. The good news is
that whatever activist things that are done there can have very large
repercussions and influence. Few other places have this character. Even the
largest companies that are experimenting with organizational art don't have
the ideational reach or impact that AoM does. Also, AoM by its very nature
is open to new initiatives. The bad news is that it is indeed a huge entity,
and making any visible impact requires tons of thought and action. It
survives by swallowing and containing everything, including the
spiritualist, the critical, the feminist...even the Fringe, which caused
lots of indigestion.
My point is that if you want to give artistic and aesthetic practices in
organizations the same legitimacy as positivist and scientific practices,
they need to have a regular and determined presence in the mainstream.
Ironically, when the Academy of Mgmt. first started, it was the scientists
who were making this same case--arguing that management needed science-based
study to at least complement all the craft-based approaches then in
existence. The arts-and-organization community is gradually getting to this
point now, and we have far far more resources than we did before. We have a
much stronger presence of successful organizational artists, arts-based
consultants, designerly designers, and better educated academics, all of
whom are better positioned to make some clever arts-based interventions.
There now is a growing awareness of what organizational art is and might be.
So although I'm not going to be at AoM this year, I really hope that those
of you who are going will have some fervant and passionate meetings (not to
mention great wining, dining, and wee hours conversations) and that you come
up with some ideas for creating a strong arts-based voice at AoM. D
-----Original Message-----
From: Aesthetics, Creativity, and Organisations Research Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Weir
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 7:13 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Invitation to Caucus on Organization, Art and Aesthetic at AoM
Meetings Anaheim, CA
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
----- End Original Message -----
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