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Lessons in Ecstatic Truth : Learning about Visual Organizational Ethnography from Werner Herzog
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2015-08-10
Author(s)
Abstract
Organizational ethnography has a long tradition within management and organization studies. While being established, ethnographic research constantly challenges us to find novel and creative ways to capture the complexities of everyday life. Reflexivity and performativity are notions an ethnographer is supposed to embrace in order to write a good ethnography. The routines and practices of social scientific writing, however, do not make it an easy task to live up to these ideals of good ethnographic work. According to some ethnographers, visual methods have become one promising avenue to create richer ethnographic accounts. Using this discussion as a springboard, this conceptual paper introduces the work of filmmaker Werner Herzog into the context of organizational ethnography. Not only can he act as an aesthetic inspiration for visual ethnographers, but his distinct understanding of the role of documentary films can also provide theoretical stimulation, helping us to rethink the possibility of how to conduct, create and share our research. Like the artist Herzog undermines traditional understandings of film, a Herzogian research approach would end up challenging our common research practices. We hope that an engagement with the work of Werner Herzog will encourage more daring organizational ethnographies and it is our belief that this ultimately will lead to more moving and more relevant research.
Language
English
Keywords
Reflexive research
organizational ethnography
visual ethnography
performativity
Werner Herzog
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SHSS - Kulturen, Institutionen, Maerkte (KIM)
Refereed
Yes
Book title
Qualitative Approaches: Mixed Methods, QCA, Data Access, Etnography
Publisher
Academy of Management (AOM)
Event Title
75th Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM) 2015 "Opening Governance"
Event Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Event Date
07.-11.08.2015
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
243309