TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

PROMO     6/13/2010 "Authenticity"
*There's no question   we crave authenticity.  You want "real"
Chinese or Mexican food?  Then make sure you find a restaurant
that makes food the way it's made in the old country.  Music
lovers are also obsessed with authenticity - from folk and blues
to rap...just consider the mantra of hip hop - "keeping it real." 
In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll explore this
cult of authenticity President.

PROGRAM RUNDOWN:"Authenticity" *** Language Advisory *** See
Segment 1

0:00 - 25:40   SEGMENT 1: (25:41)
     Cultural Critic Richard Todd looked at modern life and saw
     others telling what is and isn't real. He wrote a book
     called "The Thing Itself: On the Search for Authenticity."
     He tells Anne Strainchamps that authenticity is less a
     condition in itself than a desire.  Sherman Alexie is a
     celebrated fiction writer who is also Spokane and strong
     opinions about what it means to be a real Indian.  Steve
     Paulson asked him to read an excerpt from his story "The
     Search Engine." And, music critic Yuval Taylor tells Steve
     Paulson that authenticity in music is a complicated
     business. Taylor is the co-author (with Hugh Barker) of
     "Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music."
     And we hear examples, from Leadbelly to Punk.
     
*** Language Advisory ***
When Taylor is describing how Jimmie Rodgers got started in the
music business, he says Jimmie sang a "blue yodel" and the
Nashville record producer remarked "that's nigger music!".  The
offending language occurs at 7:28 into the Taylor interview.

     Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio International."

25:41 - 26:10  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

26:11 - 41:04  SEGMENT 2: (14:55)
     Vikram Chandra touched off a bidding war among New York
     publishers for his new novel, "Sacred Games."  But he writes
     in English, the language of the colonizer, and faces
     accusations that he's not really an Indian writer.  Chandra
     talks with Jim Fleming about his personal history and sense
     of identity as a writer. And don't look for authenticity on
     your plate, either! That's the message of Barry Glassner's
     book, "The Gospel of Food."  He talks with Steve Paulson
     about so-called "authentic" Chinese and Mexican food.  
          
     Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio International."

41:05 - 41:34  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

41:35 - 53:00  SEGMENT 3: (11:25)
     Alan Doyle, Bob Hallet and Sean McCann are the founding
     members of the band Great Big Sea.  Their music has its
     roots in Newfoundland traditional folk music, but it rocks! 
     They tells Jim Fleming why they combine folk and rock and
     how they approach their music.  And we hear lots of it.  The
     band's new album is called "The Hard and the Easy."
          
     Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program
number 6-13-A.

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