Event Power by Chris Rojek

Event Power by Chris Rojek

A critical and controversial exploration of global events. Looking at examples such as the Olympic games and Live Aid, acclaimed sociologist Chris Rojek suggests that these kind of events are really about power, manipulation and social control.

How do global events capture our imagination? Rojek gives us some compelling answers to questions we have yet to formulateA fascinating and truly path-breaking study.
Frank Furedi
Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Kent

Event Power should be compulsory reading for all students studying public relations, public communication and event management. Rojek skilfully weaves together a compelling argument illustrated by many international cases and examples as he explores the way in which emotional and relational capital is generated by transcendent events designed as strategic communication. His critical account explores issues of performativity, impression management, authenticity, altruism, professionalisation, spirituality and power, in addition to addressing topics such as management gurus. An additional valuable feature of the book is the inclusion of three case-studies, of which two focus specifically on events managed by public relations consultancies. Overall, this is a terrific and persuasive account that blends a range of theoretical insights with empirical evidence.
Jacquie L′Etang
Professor of Public Relations and Applied Communication, Queen Margaret University, Scotland

Rojek’s argument is a psychological one, although his message is political: global events build on people’s needs to feel empowered and jointly engaged in the pursuit of a higher purpose; they allow a break from daily routines, provide an illusion of intimacy and social membership, and create a sense of self-validation and personal gratification. In short, participation in such events makes us feel good. At the same time, the real effect of global events seems to be the maintenance of global inequality and social injustice, as well as huge profits for the organizations involved in planning, commercializing and securing these happenings. In sketching out this palliative function of global events from the perspective of people’s needs on the one hand, and unveiling their puppet masters backstage on the other, Rojek’s book presents a compelling account of the role of organized events in modern society. -- Organization Studies

Chris Rojek is Professor of Sociology and Culture at Brunel University, West London. He is a prolific and influential author in the field of Celebrity, Leisure Studies and Popular Culture. In 2003 he was awarded the Allen V. Sapora prize for outstanding achievement in the field of Leisure and Tourism Studies. Besides lecturing in the UK he has given lectures on leisure in Australia, Canada, the USA and the Netherlands. In 2009 he was Hood Fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He also writes on celebrity culture, neat capitalism and myths and realities of national identity. His current research is on popular music and popular culture and the meaning of the celetoid in Reality TV.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780857025173
ISBN 10	0857025171
Title	Event Power
Author	Chris Rojek
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Sage Publications Ltd
Year published	2013-02-21
Number of pages	216
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.