Problems with the Authentic Self

The modern notion of identity we have is that it should be built by us alone. That how we see ourselves is supposed to come from who we are when no one is looking. The challenge then is to shed any feelings we may have of imposed roles and have our authentic self illuminate our day to day. We are the creators and others can take it or leave it. 

But why does everyone's sincere expression of authenticity seem to look so much like everyone else they hang around? And when it comes to being part of a culture (especially a subculture), the authentic person, having the same clothes, piercings, tattoos, etc., looks like they're wearing a uniform. Perhaps the ubiquity of style and choice is just a coincidence, or maybe identity doesn't stem from a pure inner sensibility.

And if we look at our preferred way of interaction in todays world we are increasingly circumventing the need for the authentic individual. Our online presence is a curation that is copied across the globe. It allows us to shine the better aspects of ourselves, whether physical or ideological, into the eyes of others. The web gives us opinions and suggestions we contrast ourselves against without the need for firsthand observation. This depersonalized dynamic only undermines the primacy of our authentic singularity. We don't matter as much as knowing how we're seen by others does.  

None of this means there is no subjective expression involved in our identity, or that our inner person is meaningless. The idea of the authentic self may be a dated concept when trying to understand what we are though.

This is just a thought as I’m starting to read You And Your Profile by Hans-Georg Moeller and Paul J. D’Ambrosio.