Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Treat, Shaun Robert
Author's Email Address	streat@lsu.edu
URN	etd-01272004-085638
Title	The Myth of Charismatic Leadership and Rhetoric of Crypto-Charismatic Membership
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department	Communication Studies
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Andrew King Committee Chair Christine DiStefano Committee Member Joshua Gunn Committee Member Laura Sells Committee Member Michael Bowman Committee Member
Keywords	fantasy theme analysis management myth charismatic leadership rhetoric communication
Date of Defense	2003-10-24
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study will analyze the relationship between myth and the fantasy rhetoric of charismatic leadership by employing Fantasy Theme Analysis to examine the pervasive discourses invoking this enduring folk belief. Fantasies of the Charismatic Superhero are explored within the popular leadership treatises of successful “management gurus” and in our popular culture entertainments. The rhetorical visions of Stephen Covey’s “Principle-Centered Leadership,” Jim Collins’ “Level 5 Leadership,” and Manz and Sims' “SuperLeadership” are examined for their displacement of charismatic leadership in favor of the empowered crypto-charisma of self-leading memberships. Findings suggest “empowerment” rhetorics, like the rhetorical visions championed by many populist “gurus,” bear striking similarities to the fantasy script of charisma and tacitly champion mythic culturetypes that are variations on known routinizations of charismatic leadership: the Ubermensch Prophet, the Messianic Prince, the Servant Superhero, or Technocratic Superteams.
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