Friend of a Friend: The Authenticity Paradox in Representations of Kurt Cobain

Abstract

Kurt Cobain – ‘the voice of Generation X’ – has been a cultural icon since the early 1990s. This thesis aims to provide insight into how Cobain has been represented in media and what role notions of authenticity play in those representations. Theoretical research has been used to establish a theoretical framework regarding the function of cultural icons in contemporary society and the effects of their relationship with the general public on how they are represented and interpreted. This framework has subsequently been applied to recent representations of Kurt Cobain. The 2015 documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck and several fan-made YouTube videos have been analyzed in terms of overall narrative and conflicting elements of myth and reality. The results indicate a multitude of narratives across the chosen texts that all simultaneously demonstrate a high propensity for fantasy and myth and a profound desire for authenticity and revealing the true Kurt Cobain.