Authenticity As Authentication Essay

1141 Words3 Pages

Authenticity within the culture of popular music is an issue that has been discussed for many years as it can be a huge selling point, it can cause society to either loathe or love a performing artist on how 'authentic' their persona and music is. Moore (2002) brings forward this idea in the article ‘Authenticity as Authentication’: "...ask what (piece of music, or activity) is being authenticated, in this article I ask who”.
What he means by this is that we do not base our opinions on music being authentic but rather if the person behind it is authentic in the eyes of the public. Society wants to be able to relate to an artist as another ordinary human and because of this, authenticity can be a marketable trait that can be paramount in the success of a performer. This idea is also echoed throughout ‘Living underground is tough’ Solomon (2005) and ‘Reality Goes Pop!’ Holmes (2004). This review will compare and contrast between the articles, analysing the methodology behind each and …show more content…

this concept is also echoed by Fairchild (2007) that we perceive artists as “authentic celebrities” when we can familiarise with them as part of the same social caste. The construction of authenticity within these shows showcases the manufactured ideals that Pop music has been criticised for throughout the years which Rock music uses as a marketable trait that the musicians within the genre are authentic and are real to themselves. Also, Holmes examines the pre-live show stage where cameras pan through the waiting room of contestants displaying them as normal people not yet above the general public. Unlike Solomon; Moore and Holmes do not take any ethnographic form of research into account which in the case of their arguments (that we, the general public are the deciders of authenticity) would be deemed important to form a convincing

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Cecile Mclorin Salvant's Performance

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music is magical: it soothes you when you are upset and cheers you up when you are down. To me, it is a communication with souls. I listen to different genres of music. When appreciating each form of music, with its unique rhythm and melody, I expect to differentiate each other by the feelings and emotions that it brings to me. However, I would definitely never call myself “a fan of jazz” until I witnessed Cécile McLorin Salvant’s performance last Friday at Mondavi Center. Through the interpretations and illustrations from Cécile’s performance, I realized that the cultural significance and individual identity are the building blocks of jazz music that create its unique musical features and support its development.

    Read More

  • African American Stereotypes Reality Television

    1543 Words  | 4 Pages

    Reality based television has a broad landscape ranging from competitive game-like shows to programs following the daily lives of a group of people. Every major network now has some form of reality programming because the genre’s shows are high in viewership and require low costs for production. The genre is appealing to viewers because it provides them with a first-hand look into the lives of everyday people, which allows them to observe social behavior that helps them determine what is appropriate or not (Tyree, 2011, p. 397). Since the majority of modern reality stars start out as unknowns, frequent viewers of reality programming believed that fame is obtainable if they appear on a popular show (Mendible, 2004). According to Mendible’s evaluation of the genre in the article Humiliation, Subjectivity, and Reality TV, people enjoy reality programs beca...

    Read More

  • Why Is Nineties Alternative Rock the Best Music Ever?

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...he essence of a grief-stricken generation, exhibited an unyielding emphasis on the importance of piercing passion over musical intricacy, and introduced the world to a vast array of gifted musicians who did not deem music as a tool to achieve recognition or financial stability. In turn, the decades that followed the rise of alternative rock have been inundated with so-called musicians whose main goal has been to get their faces plastered on magazine covers and achieve maximum public exposure, rather than devoting themselves to their craft. Consequently, the world has been left with nothing but an endless parade of shocking behavior, skimpy outfits, and mediocre music. Unfortunately, if the current state of affairs is any hint of what the future holds for music audiences, the magic generated by the nineties alternative rock will not be matched in years to come.

    Read More

  • Authenticity In The Tourist

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    The words “authenticity” and “mystification” are two that are not often combined, as one describes something genuine and true, and the other is used in more perplexing and blurry situations. At first glance, it may seem that MacCannell is yet again describing authenticity, except it in this case, it is transforming into its opposite: mystification. When this is dissected further, however, the point that he is making is clear. The fakeness that has become a part of our societal structure is becoming more and more defined as reality, which as a result takes us further away from the presence of “authenticity.” If we are constantly seeing set up “stages” that are created to meet our expectations, how do we tell the difference between what is truly authentic and what is being produced to create an image of

    Read More

  • Country Music

    2119 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ue. Consumers shouldn’t have to settle with music instead they should be enjoying it. In order to get the authenticity back within commercialized music it will only happen if people begin to realize the power that they hold. Once people start to realize that then the music that is produced, and sung will have a more significant affect on its listeners; music then can continue to be inspiring. Quality music is and will always be cherished more than mass-produced commercialized cacophony.

    Read More

  • Impact Of Michael Jackson On Pop Music

    1856 Words  | 4 Pages

    There have always been pioneers in every field one can think of, no matter what. These people had a great mentality and also a taste for innovation and creativity, so they happened to make a great influence on what they were doing. This is why now; they are called ‘pioneers’. Music-wise, no one can ignore the impact of Michael Jackson’s music on the mainstream music in totality and particularly on the pop-culture. He started as one of the singers of a boy band and ended up becoming the greatest entertainer of all time (according to Guinness records). To give just a preview of the topics that will be discussed, in this paper I will provide a short biography of Michael Jackson, the onset

    Read More

  • Sociology: Sexual Objectification of Women in Music Videos Today

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a 1, p. 66-87. Sommers-Flanagan, R., Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Davis, B. (1993) The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. What’s happening on music television: A gender-roled content analysis.

    Read More

  • The Vanity of Celebrity Fame: "Sunset Boulevard" and Celebrity Reality Shows

    2358 Words  | 5 Pages

    A celebrity is not a person known for his/her talent or achievement, but an individual recognized for his/her reputation created by the media. The phase of stardom is slippery, and media may choose to represent celebrities varying from exaggerated admiration to mockery. The three texts chosen, movie "Sunset Boulevard", feature article "Over the Hilton" and television show "Celebrity Uncensored Six" are texts presenting different perception of celebrities than their usual images - either corrupted by the encircling media, overloads oneself with self-indulgence, or just mocks celebrity in a broad spectrum. Such media items empower and impresses the audience by perceiving celebrities as people who pay the price of privacy to gain well knowness, signifying the vanity of stardom from the commonly accepted images.

    Read More

  • Using the Model of Framing in Reality Television to Effectively Promote Projects

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    January 6, 1973, famous anthropologist Margaret Mead published an essay in TV Guide in which she addressed her view of PBS’s series “An American Family.” This series was groundbreaking during that time because is followed the Loud’s, a California family who were neither actors nor public figures just average middle-class family, which was unheard of at the time. The Louds were filmed for seven months and the product was twelve one-hour episodes which showed everything from the monotony of their everyday life to the corrosion of Bill and Pat Loud’s marriage. Meade called this series “a new kind of art form” and marveled at the shows ability to show the drama and entertainment value of the average human condition. Forty years later, as Meade had predicted, reality based television and films have become more understood, respected and prevalent in our modern culture. Extreme success stories of documentaries such as Justin Bieber’s 2011 “Never Say Never” and countless reality shows indicates that a celebrity’s presence , musicians particularly, on reality media channels can change audience’s perceptions, promote new material and help them to stay relevant in the public eye. These “reality” documentaries and TV shows present the audience with carefully edited material that conveys only a fraction of that individual’s personality and character yet has profound effects audience perception and acceptance. The British boy band One Direction is a prime example of how using the model of framing in reality television shows and documentaries effectively promotes projects, molds the opinions of audiences, allows artist to appear more open and relatable and leads to extreme monetary success.

    Read More

  • Music Genre Analysis

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    The title “Performing Rites: On The value of Popular Music – Genre Rules” is itself, an interesting concept by Firth. It’s suggesting Performance is a religious act and popular music should be viewed with caution as to it’s worth in being listed as popular. Firth S. (1996) classifies how genre is created as a result of historical and social circumstances met inevitably through industrialization. Circumstances include making, selling and consuming; that in turn get categorized in order for consumption. This to me sheds light on how the problem is that market success corresponds to popularity therefore it deems cultural importance falling heavily in terms of countering critical judgement.

    Read More

  • Censorship of Music

    1642 Words  | 4 Pages

    Music has always been a basic form of expression. From Antonin Dvorak, to Eminem, to even ancient, tribal music, it has been a medium through which individuals convey their thoughts and expressions. Today this medium is under attack. Everywhere we turn, everything we do and say is being scrutinized. We are being told what to say. We are being spoon-fed our emotions. No longer are we allowed to think freely, openly. All the censors out there are on the prowl for another piece to rip to shreds because it doesn't fit their description of what is decent and moral. What they fail to realize is that we don't make the music for them... We do it for release.

    Read More

  • The Influences of the Gossip Industry

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    The celebrity gossip industry has affected our assumptions about entertainment. Usually, we assume that entertainment is just for fun, entertainment is only a reflection of our culture, and entertainment is a personal choice. Nowadays, entertainment is not just for fun. Celebrities entertain us in many ways, but sometimes we do not enjoy what they do yet we still watch them. For instance, many teen idols have had meltdowns. Although it is not fun to...

    Read More

  • The Cultural Expression of Music

    1628 Words  | 4 Pages

    Due to the marketing of popular music, music has an immense effect on the way people view things within society creating an effect on our thoughts and perspectives. Popular music guides music artists to produce what is in high demand, which results in pseudo-individualization and standardization (Allen, 2005). It consists of a variety of themes that are presented by different music artists on a regular basis. One of the well-known themes is exploiting sexuality and gender in order to be successful. Social constructions versus essentialism are highlighted components that are constantly expressed in today’s popular music culture. Today’s popular music consists of a variety of sexual references to attract consumers. Whether it i...

    Read More

  • Pop Music Characteristics

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    The genre of pop rock has taken the music industry by storm, giving record companies enormous amounts of power and endless financial success along with a way to reproduce it. Owing its popularity to the “light” nature and simplistic, yet catchy melodies, pop music is one of the broadest genres. There’s no way of clearly defining parameters as to what distinguishes a pop music song from other genres. This is largely due to the genre's’ reliance on popularity. Pop music has taken many forms over the decades, keeping characteristics through each generation it passes through.

    Read More

  • A Brief Note On Stardom

    1195 Words  | 3 Pages

    Movie stars. They are celebrated. They are perfect. They are larger than life. The ideas that we have formed in our minds centered on the stars that we idolize make these people seem inhuman. We know everything about them and we know nothing about them; it is this conflicting concept that leaves audiences thirsty for a drink of insight into the lifestyles of the icons that dominate movie theater screens across the nation. This fascination and desire for connection with celebrities whom we have never met stems from a concept elaborated on by Richard Dyer. He speculates about stardom in terms of appearances; those that are representations of reality, and those that are manufactured constructs. Stardom is a result of these appearances—we actually know nothing about them beyond what we see and hear from the information presented to us. The media’s construction of stars encourages us to question these appearances in terms of “really”—what is that actor really like (Dyer, 2)? This enduring query is what keeps audiences coming back for more, in an attempt to decipher which construction of a star is “real”. Is it the character he played in his most recent film? Is it the version of him that graced the latest tabloid cover? Is it a hidden self that we do not know about? Each of these varied and fluctuating presentations of stars that we are forced to analyze create different meanings and effects that frame audience’s opinions about a star and ignite cultural conversations.

    Read More

More about Authenticity As Authentication Essay

Open Document