Professional blinders? The novel as an eye-opener in organizational analysis

ABSTRACT

Scholarly textbooks often follow a logic where suitable empirical cases are selected to illustrate the theoretical and analytical points that we as scholars want to make. But what would happen if we would do the opposite: build a textbook on a novel written by a novelist for such purpose and let the theories explain the actions and emotions of fictional characters? In this article, we share and reflect upon our experiences of co-authoring a textbook in organization theory together with a professional novelist. We argue that the novel can function as an eye-opener in organizational analysis, forcing us to look beyond more static and rationalistic perspectives on organizations as well as the stereotypes of such. We build and relate our experiences to the growing literature about using fiction in scholarly work and discuss the potential of such genre-bending work when we bring in flesh and blood into the analyses.     

Comprehensive neighbourhood mapping: developing a powerful tool for child protection

This paper proposes ‘comprehensive neighbourhood mapping’ as a schema for gathering and interpreting information within a given geographical area which is informed by imaginative thinking about the safety of children and young people from sexual crime. It would build upon current forms of profiling by local authorities, health authorities and central Government. CNM would actively involve local people, in partnership with agencies, in ‘mapping’ danger points and support points. Eight components are discussed, including environmental issues, locations of sex offenders, sites where teenagers meet and share information, supportive individuals and organizations. Some issues for pilot projects are discussed, including the need to set up planning and implementation groups and to integrate CNM into wider child protection and community safety strategies. CNM is grounded in an ecological perspective which sees partnership approaches as essential and believes an overarching view of neighbourhood needs, based on detailed local information and understanding of how different forms of harm interconnect, is crucial in developing child protection strategies. At times of acute official anxiety about community ‘lynch‐mob’ reactions to known paedophiles, CNM aims to build communities which instead are informed and thoughtful about child protection. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

全球化语境与文学的民族性

全球化与文学的民族性 ,从根本上说是一个历史问题在当前新的历史语境下的重新言说。它既表现出作为历史问题的滥觞所提供和积累的经验性意义 ,又由于历史境遇的深刻变化而必然呈示出“新质” ,并由此构成对世界现实秩序的挑战。我们既要坚持以“国家和民族”的范式参与“世界文学”的对话 ,又应积极地把握“全球化”态势以激活民族的文学     

社会性别与深层道德结构--择偶、性的道德模式

在男权文化占主导地位的社会环境中,男女在择偶和性的道德模式上存在着完全不对等的规范,男女占有不同的社会资源,这些被长久地视为自然而然、合情合理的现象。文章试图从社会性别视角来探究隐藏在择偶和性风俗习惯背后的不平等的道德模式。     

游于艺:徐渭的艺术精神

徐渭虽然是明代文坛的边缘人 ,但却代表着明代文学的一种新精神 ,就是以“玩文学”的方式消解“诗言志”、“文载道”的传统。他的诗文创作既非源自某种使命感或道义精神 ,也非社会的写照或干预生活的武器 ,而是一种游戏人生自得其乐的生存方式。他拒绝崇高拒绝深刻 ,化神圣为笑谈 ,化正经为滑稽 ,在明代文学特定的语境中横空出世 ,开启了晚明“独抒性灵”的诗风与文风     

走向西方的日本近代文学的起点——进化论与坪内逍遥的小说改良

由于明治以来的日本文化始终处于东西方文化交融的前哨 ,研究日本近代文学也必须从东西文化交融这一点切入。明治文学的起点是坪内逍遥的小说改良 ,其小说改良的理论基础是进化论。但对于进化论如何影响日本近代文学的确立这一问题若明若暗 ,如今 ,在日本文学界成为反思的一个焦点 ;同样 ,对这一问题的探讨也有助于对我国现当代文学的理论研究     

出走“娜拉”的尴尬——现代爱情喜剧的性别透视

“娜拉”出走后的沉浮遭际,构成了中国现代爱情喜剧的主要题材特色。文章在归纳了中国现代爱情喜剧的发展线索之后,从社会性别角度,透视了出走“娜拉”的诸多尴尬与无奈。     

文学意义的消解与重建

在商品化和信息化的时代大潮冲击下 ,文学面临着意义的流失与消解。文学的这种现状是与整个人类文化的困境紧密相关的 ,是人类发展特殊阶段上的必然产物。中国当代文学应致力于意义的探寻与重建 ,这表现为在对现实的清醒认识的基础上对理想的重新肯定 ,对现实中的物欲的批判性把握 ,以及对人类生存意义的重新认识。     

张家山汉简所见“妻悍”“妻殴夫”等事论说

江陵张家山汉简中有关于“妻悍”、“妻殴夫”简文,可以体现当时社会的性别关系。有 关法律,在后代有所变化。讨论有关现象,对于认识汉代文化的特征,有积极的意义。     

珍珠遗产历久弥新--2005中国镇江赛珍珠学术研讨会综述

在纪念中国抗日战争、世界反法西斯战争胜利60周年前夕,历史文化名城镇江第三次举行赛珍珠学术研讨会,纪念中国人民的朋友、美国女作家赛珍珠诞辰113周年.来自海内外逾百位专家学者研究和探讨了这位1938年诺贝尔文学奖得主的文学创作的题材特性、主题意蕴及艺术构成;考察和评估了她当年反映我国抗日斗争的文学作品、支持中国人民抗日的政论言论以及大量卓有成效的援华抗日活动的功绩;思考和展望了她所留给我们的遗产,在今天全球化和本土化趋势并存发展的语境下,其跨文化的独特经历及对文化多元共存、互相尊重的认识所具有的特殊价值和深远意义.