Something is said to be genuine when it is considered to be authentic for some reason. Thus, a product receives this qualifier if it is not an imitation. On the other hand, a popular festival in a locality is valued as genuine if it belongs to that place. If in an advertisement it is stated that an object is genuine, the consumer will think that it is made by an artisan process or a similar idea.
In general, everything that is considered genuine is associated with tradition, the idea of authenticity and the true versus the false or adulterated.
Genuinely american
In all cultures there are aspects of their own and a series of imitations. In American culture, the concept of genuinely American has been coined. This label includes a wide range of elements: fast food or fast food, Thanksgiving, American football, Route 66, college sports or western as a film genre. In this way, an Argentine or Spanish western would never receive the qualification of genuine.
Genuinely Argentine and genuinely Spanish
In Argentine culture there are some cultural manifestations that are exclusively Argentine, such as lunfardo, tango or the way of understanding and living football.
The way of life of the Spanish also has a series of aspects and genuine peculiarities, such as the custom of taking a siesta after eating, the popular festivals, the copla, the bulls or the tapas.
The genuine and the phenomenon of globalization
When we go to a country as tourists we want to know its true cultural reality. However, it is not easy to differentiate between something genuine and what is a substitute. In this sense, the phenomenon of globalization has imposed a general model in all areas: tourism, gastronomy, leisure or work. Somehow, genuine things are only found in places far from conventional circuits.
We will find the true tango in Buenos Aires, the authentic paella in Valencia and American football in the United States.
In the counterfeit market it is intended to sell products with a genuine appearance
Nowadays, many consumer products have a double version: the authentic and genuine and, on the other hand, the imitations. The former tend to be more expensive and of better quality, while the latter have a cheaper price and a poorer quality in their materials and in the manufacturing process.
Photos: Fotolia - Auremar / Ingo Bartussek
