The term ‘authenticity’ can be used to describe a thing, including heritage objects, an experience, or a person. In all instances the term conjures up notions of originality, truth and sincerity, or a quality of being real as opposed to being fake. For example, we can speak about ‘an authentic tourist experience’ or about ‘the authentic self’ or ‘an authentic painting’. The notion of ‘authenticity’ has had a long history within the social sciences and humanities and is still commonly used in everyday life. Earlier definitions of authenticity eschewed ideas of commodification, placing greater emphasis on ideas of tradition. An object, for example an artefact in a museum, was deemed authentic if it was made by a traditional artist to serve a traditional function. Objects made for the consumer or tourist were deemed inauthentic. Such definitions have however come under significant criticism in recent years with some critics pointing out the socially-constructed nature of authenticity. Authenticity, in this sense, is negotiable. Such criticisms have led to the development of new ways of thinking about what is authentic, giving rise to terms such as ‘staged authenticity’, used, for example, to describe touristic experiences of particular cultural practices.
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Upcoming events
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- Thinking Faro Forum, 19 April 2024
Thinking Faro Forum is organised by the municipality of Faro in Algarve, and is attended by various stakeholders, university students and citizens. The representative of the INCULTUM pilot on the Campina de Faro will present the results of the activity … Continue reading →
- online, 17th May 2024 h. 14 CET
This webinar in two parts will bring together professionals from the spectrum of Digital Cultural Heritage practice to share their experiences of using and working with paradata seeking to lay down a common understanding of paradata as a first step … Continue reading →