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SUMMARY:The triumph of emptiness. Grandiosity and zero-sum games in contem
 porary organizations and society - Prof. Mats Alvesson\, Lund University\,
  Sweden\, and\, part-time\, University of Queensland\, Australia\, Cass Bu
 siness School\, London.
DTSTART:20151202T140000Z
DTEND:20151202T153000Z
UID:TALK62736@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Rene Wiedner
DESCRIPTION:In the West\, and increasingly globally\, there are moves into
  the age of grandiosity. The mundane and trivial are\, whenever possible\,
  being transformed into something much more aesthetic and appealing. Value
  is seemingly increased or enhanced with minimal cost – just through add
 ing a more desirable label or image. There is a boosting of claims of prog
 ress\, achievements and extraordinary qualities of individuals\, occupatio
 ns\, organizations and societies. This has frequently less to do with subs
 tance – ’real’ improvements or practices/material reality living up 
 to fantastic claims are rare. Contemporary grandiosity is not like older f
 orms\, intended to celebrate elite superiority and easily identified as sy
 mbolism enhancing\, but is more subtle and is intended to conceal through 
 claims to illuminate the truth. There is a symbolic pollution of the world
  through the extensive production and distribution of images loosely conne
 cted to\, or contradicted by\, material reality – a reality becoming mor
 e and more ambiguous.\nThe advanced contemporary economy can be seen as an
  economy of persuasion. Firms and other institutions are increasingly focu
 sing on rhetoric\, image\, branding\, reputation\, visibility. In wealthy 
 countries and for elite groups\, the production of goods and services beco
 mes less of a crucial issue compared to the management of demands and expe
 ctations. A steadily increasing amount of talent\, energy and resources ar
 e devoted to persuasion. More and more people become 'imagologists'.\nGran
 diosity produces experiences of a pedagogical\, aesthetic and uplifting wo
 rld\, but the costs are high: behind the pink and gold\, the grey and some
 times black flourishes. Imperfect reality reminds us about the superficial
 ity of inflated titles\, CV's\, higher education\, branding investments an
 d other forms of image management. Organizations and other institutions an
 d those supposed to benefit from them suffer when window dressing take upp
 er hand over substance. People’s experiences - increasingly fluctuate be
 tween grandiosity and emptiness - something that reinforce narcissism.\n\n
 The talk is based on Alvesson: “The triumph of emptiness. Consumption\, 
 higher education and work organization” (2013)\, Oxford University Press
 . The book was selected as a ‘book of the year’ by Joanna Williams\, f
 rom the University of Kent\, in the Times Higher Education  Dec- 2013.
LOCATION:Judge Business School\, Keynes House\, KH107
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