Advertising & Society Quarterly

Abstract:

A group of scholars from diverse backgrounds meet with Michael Serazio to discuss his book The Authenticity Industries: Keeping It "Real" in Media, Culture, and Politics (Stanford University Press, 2023). Combining philosophy, history, sociology, political economy, cultural criticism, and popular culture, the book unpacks the concept of authenticity as it manifests in various mediated contexts, including reality television, social media, pop music, corporate communication, influencer marketing, electoral campaigns, and politics. In addition to sharing how he researched his book, Serazio discusses the following topics with the panelists: what is meant by authenticity and being "real"; how various sectors use media to produce and manufacture authenticity; the link between authenticity and trust; the production of personalities and its impact on identities and inequalities, especially those based on race, gender, and class; the responsibility of social media companies in shaping how individuals in society and culture view realness; the influence of social media algorithms; and the potential ways in which instructors could use the book in classrooms.