3. The Hoax of Authenticity
• We all want authenticity:
– We want to be real
– We want others to be real
– We want them to be real & honest with us
– No one likes a “poser”
• But, we often ironically fake “real-ness”
4. The Hoax of Authenticity
• HOAX: “an act intended to trick people into believing
something is real when it is not.”
– We put up a guise of authenticity, hoping no one will notice.
– We want to outwardly appear real, but we know we’re faking.
• How does this struggle play out in our music?
– Are music artists real? Do we want them to be?
5. The Hoax of Authenticity
DRAKE
• “Started from the bottom, now we're here”
– Canadian
– He first garnered recognition for his role as Jimmy Brooks
on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.
(Canadian teen drama)
6. The Hoax of Authenticity
2 CHAINS
• 2 Chainz is good friends with Justin Bieber
• 2 Chainz graduated from Alabama State after 4 years
with a 4.0 GPA
7. The Hoax of Authenticity
DAVID BANNER
• He graduated from Provine High School in Jackson in
1992 and then attended Southern University… At
Southern, he served as president of the Student
Government Association and received a bachelor's
degree in business. He attended the University of
Maryland Eastern Shore to pursue a master's degree
in education …
9. KATY PERRY
AND THE STRUGGLE WITH AUTHENTICITY
• Very successful, very quickly
– First single, “I kissed a girl” launched quickly to #1
– 5 #1 singles off of one album
• But, behind her music, has been an ongoing struggle
10. KATY PERRY
AND THE STRUGGLE WITH AUTHENTICITY
• Record Label vs. Katy Perry & Her Audience
– She’s telling them she wants to be the “first Katy Perry”
– There is a struggle between what is REAL & what will SELL
– “Albums in my drawer…”
– She asks the question, “Who am I living for?”
– Does she sacrifice authenticity at the altar of consumerism?
13. THE INAUTHENTIC
KATY PERRY
• This song describes the imaginary world we wish we were a
part of.
• These songs help us escape our depressing reality.
• Most songs today, don’t describe the authentic life of the
song-writer, but a dream. (“Teenage Dream”)
16. KATY PERRY
IN TRANSITION TO AUTHENTICITY
I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sat quietly, agreed politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything (FROM ROAR)
• We’ll return to Katy Perry…
19. DAVID RAMIREZ
LOOKING AUTHENTICITY IN THE FACE
• He is describing beautifully what Katy Perry is feeling
• Entertainment vs. Authenticity
– “We came to mourn you, not to look in the mirror.”
– “We want you to be real, but not in a way that makes us
feel bad”
20. Anxiety & Authenticity
• We think we want authenticity, but it actually scares us
– Not many, if any of us, are actually authentic.
The Anxiety Epidemic
• “The average high school kid today has the same level
of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the
early 1950’s.”
– Dr. Richard Leahy (prominent psychologist & anxiety specialist)
21. Anxiety & Authenticity
• Being fully known, is terrifying.
– It causes debilitating anxiety in most people.
• This is why we are so busy “image-managing.”
– Only the BEST pictures of yourself on Facebook
– We are afraid we will be rejected if we are fully known.
23. “Cropping out all of the sadness”
• We don’t want anyone to know the “unplugged”
version of ourselves
• What happens when you can’t use a filter on
Instagram to make yourself or your life look better?
– Imagine all of life as #nofilter
• Anxiety comes when I can’t control how I’m perceived
by others.
25. JESUS & THE REAL YOU
The scariest news ever…
Jesus has fully exposed us & knows all of our secrets. (Psa. 90:8)
The best news ever…
is that Jesus fully knows you & STILL fully accepts you.
26. JESUS & THE REAL YOU
• He can do this, because on the cross He wore all of your
insecurity, shame, anxiety & sin.
• He didn’t image manage, but purposefully downgraded
Himself.
27. JESUS & THE REAL YOU
• He who knew no sin, became sin… (2 Cor. 5:21)
• He became the curse for us… (Gal. 3:13)
• Jesus knows the real you & has paid for your sin!
– He is now offering you his perfect record!
28. JESUS & THE REAL YOU
• He knows all of your dirt & yet still wants you.
• Don’t try to pretty yourself up for Jesus, come raw.
• “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest.” -- (Matt 11:28)
29. JESUS & THE REAL YOU
• Take off the mask, stop posing & come to Jesus!
– He welcomes us in all of our self-absorption!
• TRUTH:
– Jesus knows me better than I know myself.
– And He loves me more than I love myself.
• This is TRUE LOVE: Fully Known & Fully Accepted.
30. Katy Perry & Unconditional Love
All your insecurities, All the dirty laundry
Never made me blink one time
Unconditional, unconditionally
I will love you unconditionally
There is no fear now, Let go and just be free
I will love you unconditionally
31. Katy Perry & Unconditional Love
Come just as you are to me
Don't need apologies
Know that you are worthy
I'll take your bad days with your good
Walk through the storm I would
I do it all because I love you, I love you
32. APPLICATION & DISCUSSION
• Come to Jesus – He’ll accept you.
• Discuss over flapjacks:
– What would it feel like to be fully known and fully accepted?
