Authenticity is a matter of perception. To label someone or something as authentic is to imply value and some element of truth. Whether this is referring to a song someone creates, or a video that someone has edited and rendered, or even the style and fashions they have chosen to wear. Perhaps someone’s authenticity is not measured in physical traits but is more abstract, such as in the way they choose to speak or act, how they carry themselves, or even how they present their identity or represent their origin. If someone is said to be un-authentic, they are viewed negatively as a whole. They are seen as being cliché, fake, or even disrespectful to those that identify or represent truly authentic values. In the case of artists, authenticity holds much of their career and fate as singers or producers at stake. If they do not present themselves and their creations properly and to the proper audience they risk being shunned from the musical industry. As consumers, we ultimately decide whether or not these artists have succeeded in this endeavor and have the potential to alter society’s view of their works.
This section’s works has been devoted to identifying several of today’s artists and how authenticity as impacted their musical careers. We look at both those that have succeeded in bolstering their image and those that have fallen by the wayside as a result of their antics and the public’s perception. With such emphasis placed on popular culture and celebrity status in today’s culture, we can begin to see the levels of influence the character and authenticity of an individual can have.
Who are you Calling Crazy?
In “Who Are You Calling Crazy?” Nina Quattrochi explains how the word “crazy” has changed in conventional uses and implied meaning. Addressing this shift, Nina shows how its use is more often than not referring to women and the persistence of this stereotype has led to a change in societies perception of its meaning.
Talk Show-Authenticity in Lady Gaga’s Fashion
In continuation of the word crazy, it is a term that is used to describe pop star Lady Gaga. In “Talk Show-Authenticity in Lady Gaga’s Fashion,” Yer Lor talks about Lady Gaga’s authenticity and looks into the personal, cultural, and aesthetic reasoning behind Lady Gaga’s crazy outfits through a fashion talk show feel with interviews and verbal explanations.
Do Disney Child Stars Have a Harder Up-Bringing?
In “Do Disney Stars Have a Harder Up-Bringing,” Keri Pietsch analysis the similarities in celebrities that grew up as child stars in programs such as Disney. Pietsch goes into depth with Christina Aguilera, Brittney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and touches on Hilary Duff and Selena Gomez. She talks about their transition into womanhood and how it usually is seen as a negative transition with adult song topics, public scandals, and shocking performances.
Pop Stars: Boys Are Best and Why That’s Bad
As Pietsch talks about female child Disney stars and their transition into womanhood, Rach Leah broadens the topic of “growing up” in both male and female child stars, such as Miley Cyrus and Justin Timberlake, and explains the inequality in the way the media and public view and portray both genders in her post, “Pop Stars: Boys Are Best and Why That’s Bad.”
Fall Out Boy’s Journey to Authenticity
In “Fall Out Boy’s Journey to Authenticity” Shari discusses how the group, Fall Out Boy has altered their image in an attempt to appear authentic to their audiences. By redefining their music and presentation Shari presents the idea that they have obtained their former popularity and regained respect from many of their fans with their later work.
The Sin of Selling Out: Is It Such a Bad Thing?
In “The Sin of Selling Out: Is It Such a Bad Thing?” Tim Bankes discusses the phenomena referred to as selling out and its negative connotations. Using the example of Linkin Park and the progression of their musical career, the term of selling out is broken down further in an attempt to discover if any validity can be found within it use or if it is an outdated or meaningless expression.
‘Get Your Heart On!’ The Gender Appeal and Artistic Value of Pop Punk
In “‘Get Your Heart On!’ The Gender Appeal and Artistic Value of Pop Punk”, Matthew Mohan-Hickson looks at how Pop punk music as a genre has changed in the past decade and what this has ultimately meant for its audience. With these changes, Matt addresses the shift in its gender appeal and its value to the music industry as a whole.
