The Curse

“We are in a time where everyone feels pressure to tell their story and who they are, but not everyone is a storyteller. Not everyone is a filmmaker, not everyone is a writer. So, the people that aren’t the most skilled at doing this stuff, how do they do it? What is the real version if they can’t execute it well? Is that a fake version of them, or is that honest?” (source: Nathan Fielder, The Curse, Indie Wire)

Recently, I've been tuning in to "The Curse" with Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder, and Benny Safdie. Initially, the show struck me as a bit slow and awkward, eventually turning into a somewhat laborious watch. Surprisingly, though, it grew on me, and now I'm absolutely hooked. What captivates me is the way it exposes intimate, moral, and social issues that most people prefer to keep hidden. The houses the characters inhabit, constructed with mirrors, reveal the interiors rather than projecting a polished, filtered illusion. In this world, there's no room for hiding or pretending without being identified as a fake. As viewers, we can critically assess the characters based on their true selves, not just their projected images.

The Curse is co-creator Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie’s twisted reflection of the American dream. The “genre-bending” series follows newlywed couple Asher and Whitney Siegel as they embark on shooting an HGTV show set in Encinas, New Mexico. Whitney’s dream is to create a green community of homes (mirrored houses) which have absolutely no carbon footprint on the environment. The irony is that members of the mostly Latinx and Indigenous community have to be displaced in order for these ostentatious houses to be built (source: Decider)

The word "authentic" was declared the word of the year in 2023 by Merriam-Webster - reflecting its prominence in discussions around media, celebrity culture, identity, and social media. The Curse" fixates on the concept of authenticity — what's genuinely true? Do we weigh intentions, the substance of actions and behaviors, or should our focus be on outcomes?

Over the past year, I've grappled with these concepts of authenticity, sincerity, reality, and commerciality in both corporate entities and the world at large.  I find the more words are used to communicate an idea, often the less significance they have, and their meaning becomes diluted.   How many companies in the last year have proudly declared their dedication to authentic culture and community? 

With the rise of artificial intelligence, virtual content, and digital media, we are living in a world with shifting boundaries, expectations and understanding. Tools like ChatGPT, MidJourney, or DALL-E, combined with social and augmented filters, enable all of us to augment our appearances and expressions in countless new ways.

In this increasingly synthetic and artificially constructed world, how do we ensure people and companies are authentic in how they use their words, communications and actions?

With disinformation, cybercrimes, and deepfakes on the rise, our ability to evaluate, assess, and hold individuals and practices accountable is becoming increasingly insufficient. We need fresh standards, language, and mechanisms to guarantee genuine authenticity in various aspects of our business and personal world.

In my next post, I will explore some ways we can start making progress.