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Commodified Authenticity and Ethnic Resistance in Nahnatchka Khan's 'Always Be My Maybe'

'Authenticity' is an ideological construct that should be questioned and critiqued, as Nahnatchka Khan has done so well in her film, Always Be My Maybe.

Film

'When I Get Home', 'Astroworld', and the Problem with Place-Based Authenticity

Lucky for you, philistine listener and reader, we critics are here to make your listening experience truly authentic by bringing you into the "back to their roots" covenant of artistic judgment.

Music

Reactionary Rockism: The Dangerous Obsession with "Authenticity" in Indie Rock

We should take seriously indie rock trends driven by nostalgia— the revival of white rock forms, the whitewashing of disco and yacht rock, and the rise of normcore—as what they are: conservative gestures flying under the radar in a climate of poptimist reappraisal.

Music

Bruce Springsteen, 'The Ties That Bind', the Working Class, and Authenticity

As we use the term today, authenticity allows no truth from art, only from artists. It visits art the way one visits a subway station or an airport: to get to somewhere else.

Music

“Footsteps in Movies” and Other Strange Notions about the Authenticity of Media

Footsteps in movies never sound real. They shouldn't. after all, they're footsteps in movies.

Games

Gold Teeth, White Teeth, and Lorde's 'Pure Heroine'

On her debut album, Pure Heroine, Lorde explores adolescence in the modern digital age by singing about her life, her friends, and... teeth. Lorde uses types of teeth to signify differences in class and social circles as well as a demarcation of authenticity.

Music

Reconsidering the Revival of Cassette Tape Culture

At best, the cassette revival is merely a vacuous fad of no genuine value; but at worst, it's a confused, regressive cultural misstep more dangerous than most would care to admit.

Calum Marsh

Music

Pop Ten

The 25 Best Classic Progressive Rock Albums

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 1: 100 - 81

Jackie Chan's 10 Best Films

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 5: 20 - 1

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 2: 80 - 61

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 3: 60 - 41

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 4: 40 - 21

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '90s - Part 1 (100 - 81)

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Mixed Media

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PM Picks

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Commodified Authenticity and Ethnic Resistance in Nahnatchka Khan's 'Always Be My Maybe'

'Authenticity' is an ideological construct that should be questioned and critiqued, as Nahnatchka Khan has done so well in her film, Always Be My Maybe.

'When I Get Home', 'Astroworld', and the Problem with Place-Based Authenticity

Lucky for you, philistine listener and reader, we critics are here to make your listening experience truly authentic by bringing you into the "back to their roots" covenant of artistic judgment.

Reactionary Rockism: The Dangerous Obsession with "Authenticity" in Indie Rock

We should take seriously indie rock trends driven by nostalgia— the revival of white rock forms, the whitewashing of disco and yacht rock, and the rise of normcore—as what they are: conservative gestures flying under the radar in a climate of poptimist reappraisal.

Bruce Springsteen, 'The Ties That Bind', the Working Class, and Authenticity

As we use the term today, authenticity allows no truth from art, only from artists. It visits art the way one visits a subway station or an airport: to get to somewhere else.

Dog of War: Doggy Representation and 'Metal Gear Solid V'

DD is a good dog. I mean, like, a really good dog.

“Footsteps in Movies” and Other Strange Notions about the Authenticity of Media

Footsteps in movies never sound real. They shouldn't. after all, they're footsteps in movies.

Gold Teeth, White Teeth, and Lorde's 'Pure Heroine'

On her debut album, Pure Heroine, Lorde explores adolescence in the modern digital age by singing about her life, her friends, and... teeth. Lorde uses types of teeth to signify differences in class and social circles as well as a demarcation of authenticity.

Reconsidering the Revival of Cassette Tape Culture

At best, the cassette revival is merely a vacuous fad of no genuine value; but at worst, it's a confused, regressive cultural misstep more dangerous than most would care to admit.

Brother Hawk Bring Southern Rock Into the Next Century With "Like Water" (premiere)

Kae Astra Celebrates Letting Go With "Grow" (premiere)

Punk Rock's V98 Channel Their Fury Stunningly on "Conversation Killer" (premiere)

Americana's Midnight North Take the "Long View" with New Single (premiere)

Rachel Mazer's "Is It So Wrong" Is a Celebration of Love (premiere)

"She's Older Now" Is a Previously Unreleased Tune From Roger C. Reale and Rue Morgue, Featuring Mick Ronson (premiere)

Pinto Bennett Dishes the Lonely Blues on "I Like Singin' the Blues in a Honky Tonk Song" (premiere)

Deep Tan Amplify the Groove on New Single "Shimmer" (premiere)