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Humour and Happiness in an NPM World : Do They Speak in Jest?

Hellström, Caroline LU and Lapsley, Irvine LU (2016) In Critical Perspectives on Accounting 37. p.51-64
Abstract
This study examines perceptions of humour and happiness in a world where NPM ideas have a profound influence on many aspects of everyday living. The researchers interviewed comedians and their circle of co-workers at comedy festivals. Comedians seek to make us laugh, but this paper examines whether they have a serious message, too. This research reveals comedians as critical thinkers, as edge-workers who challenge convention with a particularly powerful critique of the primacy accorded to managerialism in public services and in contemporary society.
Abstract (Swedish)
This study examines perceptions of humour and happiness in a world where NPM ideas have a profound influence on many aspects of everyday living. The researchers interviewed comedians and their circle of co-workers at comedy festivals. Comedians seek to make us laugh, but this paper examines whether they have a serious message, too. This research reveals comedians as critical thinkers, as edge-workers who challenge convention with a particularly powerful critique of the primacy accorded to managerialism in public services and in contemporary society.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
comedy, NPM, humour, happiness, edgework
in
Critical Perspectives on Accounting
volume
37
article number
YCPAC1925
pages
14 pages
publisher
Academic Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000378447300005
  • scopus:84951031832
ISSN
1045-2354
DOI
10.1016/j.cpa.2015.04.010
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
df85ac0f-1e6f-4e57-a7af-b69c08cf75b5
date added to LUP
2016-12-06 10:57:12
date last changed
2025-10-14 10:13:11
@article{df85ac0f-1e6f-4e57-a7af-b69c08cf75b5,
  abstract     = {{This study examines perceptions of humour and happiness in a world where NPM ideas have a profound influence on many aspects of everyday living. The researchers interviewed comedians and their circle of co-workers at comedy festivals. Comedians seek to make us laugh, but this paper examines whether they have a serious message, too. This research reveals comedians as critical thinkers, as edge-workers who challenge convention with a particularly powerful critique of the primacy accorded to managerialism in public services and in contemporary society.}},
  author       = {{Hellström, Caroline and Lapsley, Irvine}},
  issn         = {{1045-2354}},
  keywords     = {{comedy; NPM; humour; happiness; edgework}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{51--64}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Press}},
  series       = {{Critical Perspectives on Accounting}},
  title        = {{Humour and Happiness in an NPM World : Do They Speak in Jest?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2015.04.010}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.cpa.2015.04.010}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}