The Fictional Archetypes of AI: For a Qualitative-Quantitative Analysis of Representations in Films

Mickael Peiro; Pierre Loup; Jeremy Aroles

doi:10.37725/mgmt.2024.9763

Mickael Peiro Laboratoire de gestion et des transitions organisationnelles (LGTO), IUT Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
Pierre Loup Montpellier recherche en management (MRM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
Jeremy Aroles School for Business and Society, University of York, York, England https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3328-214X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37725/mgmt.2024.9763

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Computational text analysis, Methods, Movies, Representations

Abstract

MOS research on films has tended to focus on individual cases or series. In this article, we are proposing an approach that mobilizes background analysis, computational text analysis, and hermeneutics in order to provide a systematic, critically inclined analysis of a large corpus. We illustrate this approach by exploring the political and symbolical representations of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film industry. Using the Internet Movie Database, we identified all the films dealing with AI (113 in total), compiled their synopses, and recorded 11 characteristics for each. Highlighting the spatial, temporal, and gendered polarization of films depicting AI, our article proposes four representations of AI and critically reflects upon the role of these representations and their influence in shaping societal perceptions of AI. Our article makes two main contributions to the literature. First, it demonstrates the potential of combining quantitative-based, lexical forms of analysis with hermeneutic interpretations in the study of cultural representations. Second, it develops a nuanced, in-depth, and critical analysis of the symbolical and political representations of AI in cinematic productions, thus enhancing our understanding of this industry.

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Author Biographies

Mickael Peiro , Laboratoire de gestion et des transitions organisationnelles (LGTO), IUT Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France

Mickael Peiro is assistant professor in organization studies at IUT Paul Sabatier. His research analyses the capacity of individuals to produce alternative organisations based on values. At the same time, his work focuses on the production of the dominant ideology through cultural mechanisms such as cinema.

Pierre Loup, Montpellier recherche en management (MRM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

Pierre Loup is assistant professor in human resources management at the University of Montpellier. He holds a double doctorate in statistics and management science. His research focuses mainly on the influence of technology on health at work and the organizational transformations. His research has been published in Information Systems Journals and Human Resources Management.

Jeremy Aroles, School for Business and Society, University of York, York, England

Jeremy Aroles is associate professor in organization studies at the University of York, United Kingdom. Before joining the University of York, he worked at Durham University and at the University of Manchester, where he obtained his PhD in 2016. His research has notably been published in Organization Science, Organization Studies, Journal of Management Studies, Work, Employment and Society and Organization.

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