The Marketplace of Existential Authenticity
研究挑战传统真实性观念，基于存在主义和新自由主义意识形态，通过分析社交媒体网红如何通过公开自我创造和脆弱性来建立真实性，揭示了一种存在主义真实性的市场及其治理机制。
Abstract Traditionally, being authentic is regarded as something one is, in which an entity is judged to possess the appropriate “authenticity” attributes independently acquired outside of marketplace pressures. We consider two factors that challenge this traditional view to arrive at an alternative view of authenticity. First, we draw on existentialism that describes authenticity as a process of self-creation that occurs in interaction with others. Second, we consider neoliberal ideology whereby consumers are regarded as fully immersed market actors. By examining social media influencers (SMIs) who foster authenticity with overt marketization efforts, we identify a marketplace of existential authenticity in which public performances of self-creation by an SMI are accompanied by resolute vulnerability that is valorized as work, thus warranting monetization. This cultural space of existentialism, in which authenticity is something one does (vs. something one is), is governed by a “reflexive synopticon”: a form of governmentality that shapes the actions of participants (SMIs, audience members, and the social media platform) through their mutual reflection on each other. Our work articulates how neoliberal horizontal governmentality structures operate, which includes the enabling (vs. antagonistic) role of the market. Moreover, our findings emphasize the culturally bound nature of different types of authenticities.