Critical Frame Flashcards
When did Critical theory emerge?
1837-1901
Age of Queen Victoria
Why did critical theory emerge?
How is it that few people have a lot of power?
How did we get there?
Does it have to be that way?
To whom do we trace critical theory to?
Karl Marx. Wrote several books critiqued American captialism
What are the tenets of critical theory? MARX
Socially constructed BUT
-Made to seem objective by those in power (functionalism and reification) knows it simply isn’t imbued by the universe but by those in power, and they can manipulate it so that we don’t do anything but accept it
- Made to seem external to the individual (nothing we can do about it even though it doesnt benefit us)
- Serves to alienate an individual from institutional order.(Makes individuals say “what difference can I make” liek voting)
- Marx saw the capitalist system as- exploitary of labor of workers. benefits those in control SHARE ISNT EQUAL TO COST
What was the initial focus of critical theory?
The Explicit abuse of labor (sweatshops nike)
What is reification?
Making something tangible or concrete that isn’t ..Money..comm practices
What was the second focus of critical theory?
Abuse of power-how can we change the structure? shoes give people money, what does me wearing them do?
What is the third focus of critical theory in organizations?
Overt and covert use of power (Covert- control through cultural practices and ideology, overt: what you can see/talking in meeting
What assumption do critical theorists have about organizations?
That they are not neutral sites, but a site of domination.
They are places where management dominates workers (universalization of sectional interests- interests of management)
Interests of management over “workers and community” -walmart high cost of low price
What do critical theorists seek to do in organizations?
Uncover manufactured consent where employees willingly and unknowingly adopt and endorse the power of the dominant class. (Also known as hegemony)
What role does communication serve in critical theory?
Communication serves to (re)produce power structures, how do norms and values that communicate serve to recreate power.
What is used in communication to produce power structures? And what do they do
-Myths, metaphors, and stories. As people talk they interactionally create power structures
(family metaphor, talking about it makes it stronger).
-Carry cultural values (management college classroom)
-Can define appropriate behavior(how to act or not to act)
-can also suspend critical thinking
How would a critical theorist approach org culture?
Yes, socially constructed, but lets figure out how they serve to oppress themselves to locate oppression.
