IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/jobman/v31y2024i2d10.1057_s41262-023-00320-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The activist brand and the transformational power of resistance: towards a narrative conceptual framework

Author

Listed:
  • Sophie Esmann Andersen

    (Aarhus University)

  • Trine Susanne Johansen

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

Brand activism has become a popular term for describing how brands are becoming involved with controversial sociopolitical issues. The activist brand is thus characterised by its engagement with controversy and understood in and through macro-level cultural oppositions which it continuously orbits and positions itself against. The purpose of this paper is to contribute with a conceptual gaze at the activist brand's inherent controversy that enables an understanding of the online micro-level dynamics and processes that transform the online activist brand. Drawing on a narrative approach, the paper develops an ante- and counternarrative framework to explain how these complex micro-level dynamics and processes of resistance transform the brand. The framework allows us to approach the activist brand as the result of a complex network of antenarratives and counternarratives, which the brand flows in and out of, retells, supports, and resists.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Esmann Andersen & Trine Susanne Johansen, 2024. "The activist brand and the transformational power of resistance: towards a narrative conceptual framework," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(2), pages 140-152, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jobman:v:31:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1057_s41262-023-00320-1
    DOI: 10.1057/s41262-023-00320-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41262-023-00320-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41262-023-00320-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jennifer Rowley & Sonya Hanna, 2020. "Branding destinations: symbolic and narrative representations and co-branding," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 27(3), pages 328-338, May.
    2. Fournier, Susan, 1998. "Consumers and Their Brands: Developing Relationship Theory in Consumer Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 24(4), pages 343-373, March.
    3. Kari Lukka & Eija Vinnari, 2014. "Domain theory and method theory in management accounting research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(8), pages 1308-1338, October.
    4. Chaohua Huang & Rui Guo, 2021. "The effect of a green brand story on perceived brand authenticity and brand trust: the role of narrative rhetoric," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(1), pages 60-76, January.
    5. Christian H. Koch, 2020. "Brands as activists: The Oatly case," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 27(5), pages 593-606, September.
    6. Andersen, Sophie Esmann & Johansen, Trine Susanne, 2021. "Corporate citizenship: Challenging the corporate centricity in corporate marketing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 686-699.
    7. Kozinets, Robert V, 2002. "Can Consumers Escape the Market? Emancipatory Illuminations from Burning Man," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 29(1), pages 20-38, June.
    8. Kristine de Valck & Roberts V. Kozinets & Andrea C. Wojnicki & Sarah J.S. Wilner, 2010. "Networked Narratives: Understanding Word-of-Mouth Marketing in Online Communities," Post-Print hal-00458424, HAL.
    9. Christian Fuchs & Wolfgang Hofkirchner & Matthias Schafranek & Celina Raffl & Marisol Sandoval & Robert Bichler, 2010. "Theoretical Foundations of the Web: Cognition, Communication, and Co-Operation. Towards an Understanding of Web 1.0, 2.0, 3.0," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-19, February.
    10. Mukherjee, Sourjo & Althuizen, Niek, 2020. "Brand activism: Does courting controversy help or hurt a brand?," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 772-788.
    11. Sourjo Mukherjee & Niek Althuizen, 2020. "Brand Activism: Does Courting Controversy Help or Hurt a Brand?," Post-Print hal-03095886, HAL.
    12. Schouten, John W & McAlexander, James H, 1995. "Subcultures of Consumptions: An Ethnography of the New Bikers," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 22(1), pages 43-61, June.
    13. Holt, Douglas B, 2002. "Why Do Brands Cause Trouble? A Dialectical Theory of Consumer Culture and Branding," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 29(1), pages 70-90, June.
    14. Elina Jaakkola, 2020. "Designing conceptual articles: four approaches," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 10(1), pages 18-26, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Klement Podnar & Urša Golob, 2024. "Brands and activism: ecosystem and paradoxes," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(2), pages 95-107, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aya Aboelenien & Chau Minh Nguyen, 2024. "From Dr. Seuss to Barbie’s cancellation: brand’s institutional work in response to changed market logics," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(2), pages 108-125, March.
    2. Bulmer, Sandy & Buchanan-Oliver, Margo, 2010. "Experiences of brands and national identity," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 199-205.
    3. Amélie Guèvremont & Bianca Grohmann, 2018. "Does brand authenticity alleviate the effect of brand scandals?," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(4), pages 322-336, July.
    4. Vikas Arya & Hemraj Verma & Deepa Sethi & Rajat Agarwal, 2019. "Brand Authenticity and Brand Attachment: How Online Communities Built on Social Networking Vehicles Moderate the Consumers’ Brand Attachment," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 8(2), pages 87-103, July.
    5. Michel, Géraldine & Stathopoulou, Anastasia & Valette-Florence, Pierre, 2022. "Luxury is still alive and well: A spotlight on its multifaceted components," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 276-284.
    6. Ahmad, Fayez & Guzmán, Francisco & Al-Emran, Md, 2024. "Brand activism and the consequence of woke washing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    7. Steven Chen, 2023. "A counterinsurgent (COIN) framework to defend against consumer activists," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 30(4), pages 275-301, July.
    8. Roger B Mason, 2013. "The ‘Chav’ Subculture: Branded Clothing as an Extension of the Self," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 5(3), pages 173-184.
    9. Lee, Zoe & Faridah Syed Alwi, Sharifah & Gambetti, Rossella, 2024. "The thousand faces of beauty: How credible storytelling unlocks disability representation in inclusive luxury fashion branding," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    10. Federico Mangiò & Giuseppe Pedeliento & Daniela Andreini & Lia Zarantonello, 2024. "How persuasive is woke brand communication on social media? Evidence from a consumer engagement analysis on Facebook," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(4), pages 345-381, July.
    11. Sergio Rivaroli & Roberta Spadoni & Ilenia Bregoli, 2022. "What Grounds Our Loyalty towards “Authentic Brand Activism” of a Sustainable Food Brand?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-12, June.
    12. Boyaval, Marine & Herbert, Maud, 2018. "One for all and all for one? The bliss and torment in communal entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 412-422.
    13. Pedeliento, Giuseppe & Bettinelli, Cristina & Andreini, Daniela & Bergamaschi, Mara, 2018. "Consumer entrepreneurship and cultural innovation: The case of GinO12," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 431-442.
    14. Hollenbeck, Candice R. & Kaikati, Andrew M., 2012. "Consumers' use of brands to reflect their actual and ideal selves on Facebook," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 395-405.
    15. Füller, Johann & Schroll, Roland & von Hippel, Eric, 2013. "User generated brands and their contribution to the diffusion of user innovations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 1197-1209.
    16. Mirzaei, Abas & Wilkie, Dean C. & Siuki, Helen, 2022. "Woke brand activism authenticity or the lack of it," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1-12.
    17. Villagra, Nuria & Monfort, Abel & Méndez-Suárez, Mariano, 2021. "Firm value impact of corporate activism: Facebook and the stop hate for profit campaign," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 319-326.
    18. Stefanie Wannow & Martin Haupt & Martin Ohlwein, 2024. "Is brand activism an emotional affair? The role of moral emotions in consumer responses to brand activism," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(2), pages 168-192, March.
    19. Lunardo, Renaud & Alemany Oliver, Mathieu & Shepherd, Steven, 2023. "How believing in brand conspiracies shapes relationships with brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    20. Carolin Becker-Leifhold & Anja-Lisa Hirscher, 2019. "Fashion Libraries as a Means for Sustainability Education—An Exploratory Case Study of Adolescents’ Consumer Culture," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 13(2), pages 129-151, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:jobman:v:31:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1057_s41262-023-00320-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.