A1 Journal article (refereed)
Interactional means of teaming up : enacting the features of contemporary working life in a theater performance (2021)

Nissi, R., & Stevanovic, M. (2021). Interactional means of teaming up : enacting the features of contemporary working life in a theater performance. Multimodal Communication, 10(2), 175-191. https://doi.org/10.1515/mc-2020-0004

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Nissi, Riikka; Stevanovic, Melisa

Journal or series: Multimodal Communication

ISSN: 2230-6579

eISSN: 2230-6587

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 19/04/2021

Volume: 10

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 175-191

Publisher: De Gruyter

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mc-2020-0004

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: Channel is not openly available

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84425

Abstract

The article examines how the aspects of the social world are enacted in a theater play. The data come from a videotaped performance of a professional theater, portraying a story about a workplace organization going through a personnel training program. The aim of the study is to show how the core theme of the play–the teaming up of the personnel–is constructed in the live performance through a range of interactional means. By focusing on four core episodes of the play, the study on the one hand points out to the multiple changes taking place both within and between the different episodes of the play. On the other hand, the episodes of collective action involving the semiotic resources of singing and dancing are shown to represent the ideals of teamwork in distinct ways. The study contributes to the understanding of socially and politically oriented theater as a distinct, pre-rehearsed social setting and the means and practices that it deploys when enacting the aspects of the contemporary societal issues.

Keywords: working life; labour market relationships; collective action; teamwork; multimodality; representation (mental objects); theatre (art forms); plays

Free keywords: collective action; enacting; multimodality; teamwork; theater

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1