noun. / ˌôTHenˈtisədē /
1). In the art market, authenticity is everything. You have to trust that you’re buying the real thing, so it is important to keep “certificates of authenticity” and other documents that prove a work of art is genuine. Some people train their whole lives to understand an artist’s market. These “connoisseurs” can help you determine the authenticity of a work of art.
2). Everywhere else, authenticity is a myth. Museums present certain objects as “authentic” representations of culture. But in reality, culture is more complicated than that. It resists being labeled “authentic” or “inauthentic.”