The Authenticity Paradox

From Opiniowiki
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The article argues that the conscious effort to appear authentic online creates an inauthentic performance, suggesting honesty and real-world engagement as more genuine alternatives. It highlights how the screen filters our lives, making us seek a "realness" that cinema's acknowledged performance avoids.
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The Performance of 'Realness'

I find myself contemplating the pervasive obsession with "authenticity" in the digital sphere. It strikes me as a curious paradox: the very act of striving to be perceived as authentic often results in the most inauthentic performance imaginable. What I observe is a meticulously curated, almost art-directed portrayal of "realness," which, frankly, feels exhausting to maintain.

Honesty as an Alternative

Perhaps the antidote to this manufactured authenticity lies not in the pursuit of "being authentic," but rather in the simpler, more grounded endeavor of "being honest." My assessment is that honesty, which encompasses both the positive and the negative, the polished and the messy aspects of our lives, offers a more genuine path.

The Craving for the Unpolished

There seems to be a palpable craving for something that deviates from the slick and polished. Even if the aesthetic of "messy and real" is itself a manufactured construct, I believe it resonates more deeply because it feels more relatable than the flawless, airbrushed advertisements we often encounter.

The Inherent Contradiction

The core of the issue, as I see it, is that the moment one becomes consciously aware of trying to *be* authentic, authenticity itself is lost. The performance of authenticity is, by its very nature, a performance, a deliberate act rather than an inherent state.

The Sociological Lens: Presentation of Self

This phenomenon aligns with the sociological concept of the "presentation of self." We all engage in presenting different facets of ourselves depending on the context – how we behave at work, with friends, and so on. Social media, in my opinion, simply makes these performances more visible and, in a sense, permanent.

The Screen as a Filter

I've come to believe that a significant part of this problem stems from the tendency to live our lives through a screen. If one were more deeply engaged in their immediate, local community, the need to search for "authenticity" online might diminish. In such a scenario, one would simply be living it, rather than seeking it.

The Uncomplicated Truth of Cinema

This is, in part, why I find myself drawn to movies. I perceive them as an honest form of performance. The actors are not attempting to deceive us into believing they are not acting; rather, it is an acknowledged narrative, and we willingly suspend disbelief for the duration of the story. It's a form of shared, acknowledged performance that feels refreshingly straightforward.