The Authentic Organization

[slug]Van Gogh[/slug]

In a sense, this entire book will be a kind of definition of the term “Authentic Organization”. But it would be good to map out some of the centers and boundaries of the term “Authenticity” as a way to lay some groundwork for our exploration.

In its simplest form, authenticity just means genuineness. How much does something seems to be what it actually is? If a painting looks like a Van Gogh and in fact it actually is a Van Gogh, then we would say it is authentic. If a painting looks like a Van Gogh but was actually produced by me in Corel Painter, then we would say it was inauthentic. Simple, yes?

But what if the point of my painting is to be a very good fake, perhaps in order to demonstrate my artistic talents (of which I have none, I should point out) or to amuse my friends? Then the painting is precisely what it sets out to be. Does the authenticity therefore somehow turn on the question of intent?

And what if the context were to change? Say one of my friends (soon to be ex-friend) is more than amused and impressed by my talent. Say that she were to use her underworld contacts (right, I have lots of friends like that) to pass it off as a real Van Gogh. Is the painting now, once more, inauthentic?