Authenticity and Replicas
Replicas and their original representation can been seen as fake or real depending on the viewer. Good replicas take a lot of education related to understanding all the processes and history that goes behind the culture and the original creation. To create a good and authentic replica of an object there is to be a skilled artisan or “forger” to create the same authentic experience that the original object provides.Goff, Kent J.. "Reproductions of Original Artifacts in Museum Programming and Exhibits". http://www.mvep.org/MCMgmtpaper.htm. Retrieved 21 March 2012. This process takes time and lots of money to be done correctly for museum standards.
Authenticity or real feeling presented by an object can be “described as the experience of an ‘aura’ of an original”. An aura of an object is what an object represents through its previous history and experience.
Replicas work well in museum settings because they have the ability to look so real and accurate that people can feel the authentic feelings that they are supposed to get from the originals. Through the context and experience that a replica can provide in a museum setting people can be fooled into seeing it as ‘original’.
The authenticity of a replica is important for the impression it gives off to tourists or observers. “According to Trilling, the original use of authenticity in tourism was in museums where experts wanted to determine 'whether objects of art are what they appear to be or are claimed to be, and therefore worth the price that is asked for them or…. worth the admiration they are being given'.”
These reproductions and the values of authenticity presented to the public through artifacts in museums provide “truth”. However, authenticity has away of also being represented in what the public expects in a predictable manner or based on stereotypes within museums. This idea of authenticity also relates to cultural artifacts like food, cultural activities, festivals, housing, and dress that helps to homogenize the cultures that are being represented and make them seem static.
For luxury goods the same authentic feel has to be present for consumers to want to buy a “fake” designer bag or watch that provides them with the same feelings and desired experiences, but as well achieve the look of higher class.
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