Definitions of Authenticity

Definitions of Authenticity Definitions of Authenticity: -Tim Taylor's argument: authenticity is the key concept in debates about globalization of music and culture -Historical Accuracy: -Belonging to one culture? having its origin in a certain place or with certain people or groups > that is why they are accurate -Cultural accuracy: -Indian food is spicy b/c it has chilis -Fidelity: -or a true self i.e writing your own music vs having someone else write it i.e what you do with your intrument i.e. do you lip-sync? Sing live? Problems with Authenticity: -Definitions of authenticity have at their core assumptions about "essentialized" culture -Essence: something we can identify as being an untainted cultural form or belonging originally to one culture -Problem: their is no one "essence" for music... -Cultures have multiple influences, ppl inhabit multiple subject positions Strategic Inauthenticity -Not playing by artificial & arbitrary distinctions such as: *authentic/inauthentic *commercial/anti-commercial *traditional/modern (anti-commercial is usually associated with traditional vice versa) -but claiming a place for cultural hybridity as authenticity -being a subject of global modernity but not its object Youssou N'Dour Case Study: -he is a pop star from Senegal -Uses stories of modernization, colonialism, Senegalese nationalism, pa-Africanism in his music i.e. Xale (Our Young People) Dem (Leaving) Angelique Kidjo Case Study: -pop star from Benin -Self-proclaimed "Africa funk diva of world music" -uses music as political tool...