Vernacular mourning and corporate memorialization in framing the death of Steve Jobs

Emma Bell, Scott Taylor

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    18 Citations (Scopus)
    426 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    This article explores the role of vernacular mourning in framing the death of Apple co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs. Using the concept of heterotopia to explore the spatio-temporal power relations of contemporary organizational memorialization, we show how the construction of temporary shrines and visual imagery rendered spaces and objects temporarily sacred and maintained Jobs as an ongoing presence in the lives of consumer-believers. Our analysis of these mourning practices identifies three themes: the construction of shrines as temporary organizational memorials in vernacular mourning; the distribution of photographs as memento mori; and the role of official corporate memorialization in disciplining mourners into letting go, severing their connection with Jobs so that the organization could continue without his physical presence. This highlights the importance of organizations in attempting to control mourning through official corporate memorialization and reveals the power relations entailed in determining who and what is mourned in organizational life, and how the dead are remembered.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)114-132
    Number of pages19
    JournalOrganization
    Volume23
    Issue number1
    Early online date22 Dec 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jan 2016

    Keywords

    • Apple
    • death
    • heterotopia
    • memorialization
    • mourning
    • Steve Jobs
    • visual images

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