Question

Where can we find the roots of our problematic ideas about "cultural authenticity"?

Answer 1

A cultural system creates a unique world that is experienced as "reality" by its members. The people of a certain culture come to accept the "realities" which form its culture.

However, when groups of different cultures come together, their "realities" become confronted. Creating a clash of cultures. The outcome of this clash is decided by the material power of each of this groups. The group with the most material will emerge victoriously and end up influencing the other group with its cultural system. Therefore, individuals from the influenced culture will end up learning a new "reality" by force. On the other hand, individuals of the influencing culture tend to see the others as "objects of study".  

Clashes of cultures have been occurring throughout time, affecting the cultural authenticity of groups. Due to the constant blend of cultures, it is nowadays, very difficult to consider that a certain cultural group is "truly authentic".