The Complexity of Workplace Humour Laughter, Jokers and the Dark Sid
This book discusses boundaries for organizational humour as well as the jokers and jesters that enliven modern workplaces. It has long been accepted that humour and tragedy can occupy the same space and that is eloquently demonstrated in this book. Using
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The Complexity of Workplace Humour Laughter, Jokers and the Dark Side of Humour
The Complexity of Workplace Humour
Barbara Plester
The Complexity of Workplace Humour Laughter, Jokers and the Dark Side of Humour
Barbara Plester Management & International Business University of Auckland Business School Auckland, New Zealand
ISBN 978-3-319-24667-3 ISBN 978-3-319-24669-7 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-24669-7
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015953439 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www. springer.com)
For Paul – thanks for sharing a lifetime of laughter with me.
Foreword: Defying Gravity
One of the ways in which we, smarty pants in the Global North, distinguish high culture from low culture, that we decide what matters matter, is on the basis of whether something is ‘serious’. This is a word with several related meanings, but all imply earnestness of purpose or gravity. To be serious suggests a certain depth, an attention to the profound conditions of human nature, a kind of style which guarantees truth or a systematic procedure which promises rigour. So when we suggest that something is a ‘serious’ book or film, we mean that it has consequences for how we might live our lives. It might be hard, but careful study will be rewarded by those who have been trained how to study carefully. I suppose the opposite here might be ‘trivial’ or ‘popular’, a piece of work or action which diverts attention for a little while but that we really shouldn’t bother to remember the next morning. Like a song from a musical (‘I’m through with playing by the rules, of someone else’s game’) it drifts away as the work day begins in earnest. A related meaning of the word ‘serious’ is another opposition, but this time it addresses one of the features of
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