Abstract

This thesis explores the reason why four Montreal based Internet web designers, who form part of what is considered "Generation X," would reject the notion of working for a corporation. Two of the designers studied owned the company in question, while the other two were employees. It is based on fieldwork conducted over a three-month period, between February 2002 and May 2002. This thesis is based on information gathered through one on-line questionnaire, 16 formal interviews, and observations of day to day activities as well as 11 production meetings. It is framed on the theoretical perspective of self-identity proposed by Anthony Giddens. In chapter one, a history of the anthropology of work is presented, pointing to a gap in studies on the Canadian self-employed workers. In chapter two, multidisciplinary literature on the corporate worker, situating the reader on the Taylorist working conditions is discussed. In chapter three I answer the question "Why become self-employed?" using academic literature on self-employment in Canada, as well as explain how the two business owners studied also answered and acted upon this question. In chapter four I again explore academic literature focusing on creativity. The four web designers studied considered creativity important, and I also explain why. In the final chapter I foresee the future of the Internet company studied, based on my fieldwork and theoretical perspective used in this thesis