The game of exemplarity: subjectivity, work and the impossible politics of purity

Abstract

This paper develops and problematises the notion of the ‘exemplary worker’—an idealised worker who is automated, compliant and mechanical. We suggest that the identity of such a worker emerges historically in a range of organisational, social and cultural discourses and provides a norm against which real workers are to be judged. Most recently, this includes the discourse of organisational culture; where worker commitment and managerial control are directed at people’s values and beliefs. Our discussion starts with a review of Herman Melville’s short story Bartleby the Scrivener and uses this story to begin to tease out the logic of exemplarity and non-exemplarity. From there we examine other models for exemplary workers and then relate these insights to more contemporary discussions of knowledge work, empowerment, organisational culture and self-direction. We argue that despite these changes, there is much continuity in terms of worker exemplarity.