Mirrors of the Self: Sartre, Goffman, and the Performance of Essence

Authenticity, once a beacon of genuine self-expression, now often feels like a carefully curated performance. This essay delves into the paradox of "being yourself" in the modern age, exploring how the pursuit of authenticity has ironically become another arena for social maneuvering, self-commodification, and the pervasive influence of external validation. We will examine the evolution of this concept through the lenses of existentialist philosophy and sociological perspectives, uncovering the complexities of self-presentation in a world saturated with performative expectations.