Culture and Authenticity

Authenticity is taken-for-granted as an absolute value in contemporary life. In Culture and Authenticity, Charles Lindholm calls upon anthropological case studies from different cultures, historical material, and comparative philosophy, to explore how notions of authenticity develop, what forms it takes, and how it changes over time. Examines the idea of authenticity and its role in modern culture Explores society’s preoccupation with authenticity and the search for ‘real’ experiences Looks at how the concept of authenticity intersects with questions about religion, ethnicity, and race Investigates authenticity in the context of fields such as dance, cuisine, travel, and the modern marketplace

Introduction. Part I: Individual Authenticity:. 1. Authenticity and Art. 2. Authenticity and Music. 3. Seeking Authenticity in Travel and Adventure. 4. The Commodification of Authenticity. 5. Authenticity and the Self. Part II: Collective Authenticity:. 6. Authentic Cuisine and National Identity. 7. Authentic Dance and National Identity. 8. Modes of Authenticity in the Nation-State. 9. Israel and Authentic Jewish Identity. 10. Authenticity On the Margins. 11. Afterword: The Anthropology of Authenticity. Endnotes. Bibliography