Genuine Fakes How Phony Things Teach Us about Real Stuff

Is the distinction between what is deemed "real" and "fake" truly black and white? In Genuine Fakes, historian Lydia Pyne delves into the world of objects that defy easy categorization - the "genuine fakes." From Andy Warhol paintings not painted by Warhol to lab-filmed nature documentaries and synthetic Jelly Belly flavors, these objects challenge our notions of authenticity. Pyne examines eight unique examples of genuine fakes, including art forgeries, fake fossils, museum exhibits, and Paleolithic replicas, revealing how their authenticity depends on a combination of history, science, and culture. Through vivid stories drawn from historical archives, interviews, and science fiction, Pyne brings these objects to life and prompts readers to reconsider their assumptions about what is real and why we react to these objects as we do. Genuine Fakes prompts readers to ponder questions such as: can a diamond grown in a lab be considered a fake? And what happens when a forged painting or manuscript becomes more valuable than the original?