Abstract
Purpose: The notion of ventriloquism (Cooren, 2012) has advanced within the communication constructs organisation (CCO) literature, yet the ‘double-edged sword’ (Collinson, 1988) of the role of standardised humour in ventriloquism practices remains overlooked. This conceptual paper uses ventriloquism as a lens to understand how humour is used in CSR communications.
Design: This is currently a conceptual paper. Our main research question is what is the role of humour in CSR communication?
Findings: We elaborate on how humour is used: (1) as a coping mechanism to encourage social cohesion and alleviate the anxiety surrounding environmental and social injustice; and (2) as a form of resistance to challenge established social meanings.
Research implications: We offer conceptual insight into the performative role of humour in CSR communication, contributing to current CCO studies (Schoeneborn and Trittin, 2013). Our research also offers implications for practitioner audiences by illuminating the effect of rhetorical communication strategies on contemporary understanding of CSR.
Originality/Value: This paper attempts to build ventriloquism theory through offering insights garnered from humour studies within the management literature, in the context of CSR communication. This is a novel endeavour as currently there is limited research on the performative character of humour within studies of ventriloquism, and indeed, in CCO research in a CSR context.
Design: This is currently a conceptual paper. Our main research question is what is the role of humour in CSR communication?
Findings: We elaborate on how humour is used: (1) as a coping mechanism to encourage social cohesion and alleviate the anxiety surrounding environmental and social injustice; and (2) as a form of resistance to challenge established social meanings.
Research implications: We offer conceptual insight into the performative role of humour in CSR communication, contributing to current CCO studies (Schoeneborn and Trittin, 2013). Our research also offers implications for practitioner audiences by illuminating the effect of rhetorical communication strategies on contemporary understanding of CSR.
Originality/Value: This paper attempts to build ventriloquism theory through offering insights garnered from humour studies within the management literature, in the context of CSR communication. This is a novel endeavour as currently there is limited research on the performative character of humour within studies of ventriloquism, and indeed, in CCO research in a CSR context.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Unpublished - 30 Apr 2017 |
| Event | 4th International CSR Communications Conference - Vienna, Austria Duration: 12 Sept 2017 → … |
Conference
| Conference | 4th International CSR Communications Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Vienna |
| Period | 12/09/17 → … |
