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Identity work as a response to tensions: A re-narration in opera rehearsals

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  • Beech, Nic
  • Gilmore, Charlotte
  • Cochrane, Eilidh
  • Greig, Gail

Abstract

This paper explores identity work in the creative setting of an opera company. We focus on how people account for who they are and what they do as they go through the process of preparing to perform an opera. Identity work can occur as a response to internal tensions and we inquire into the kinds of tension that occur for our research participants. We go on to analyse a dramatic event as a form of re-narration and we consider how the re-narration can occur. As a result we seek to make two related contributions to the literature on identity work in the creative industries. First, we elucidate three kinds of internal tension that can elicit on-going identity work by people in creative organisations. Second, we explicate re-narration as an aspect of the process of identity work. In re-narration, the characters of others become reformed so as to fit with a narrative that holds sway in the social context, and as a result the relationship between self and other is affected.

Suggested Citation

  • Beech, Nic & Gilmore, Charlotte & Cochrane, Eilidh & Greig, Gail, 2012. "Identity work as a response to tensions: A re-narration in opera rehearsals," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 39-47.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:scaman:v:28:y:2012:i:1:p:39-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2011.12.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Van Laer, Koen & Janssens, Maddy, 2014. "Between the devil and the deep blue sea: Exploring the hybrid identity narratives of ethnic minority professionals," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 186-196.
    5. Ybema, Sierk & Vroemisse, Marlous & van Marrewijk, Alfons, 2012. "Constructing identity by deconstructing differences: Building partnerships across cultural and hierarchical divides," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 48-59.
    6. Wåhlin-Jacobsen, Christian Dyrlund, 2019. "The terms of “becoming empowered”: How ascriptions and negotiations of employee identities shape the outcomes of workplace voice activities," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    7. Kourti, Isidora, 2017. "Why should we collaborate? Exploring partners’ interactions in the psychosocial spaces of an inter-organisational collaboration," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 93-101.
    8. Fortin, Israël & Oliver, David, 2016. "To imitate or differentiate: Cross-level identity work in an innovation network," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 197-208.
    9. Manzoni, Beatrice & Volker, Leentje, 2017. "Paradoxes and management approaches of competing for work in creative professional service firms," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 23-35.
    10. Hoyer, Patrizia, 2016. "Making space for ambiguity: Rethinking organizational identification from a career perspective," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 166-177.
    11. Sébastien Mainhagu & Renaud Defiebre-Muller, 2018. "Entanglement between self-doubt and self-certainty in identity dynamics: From the mundane to the surprising," Post-Print hal-01868878, HAL.
    12. Appleby, Kaitlin & Bullinger, Bernadette & Schneider, Anna, 2018. "STEM selves: Women’s identity projects and their assessment of future employers in technical fields," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 311-325.
    13. Josefsson, Iva & Blomberg, Annika, 2020. "Turning to the dark side: Challenging the hegemonic positivity of the creativity discourse," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(1).
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    15. McInnes, Peter & Corlett, Sandra, 2012. "Conversational identity work in everyday interaction," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 27-38.
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