I told you once…
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My problem would be that I don’t know what’s really authentic Sichuan cuisine, and I’m not sure who does. Let me explain. Two of the attorneys on my team were from Sichuan province and not too far apart in age. When the company was doing well, I had budget to take out my entire team to lunches about 6 times a year. Sometimes we’d hit up this or that Sichuan joint. These two would argue about whether or not it was “really” real Sichuan food.
I’d have the same problem when eating out with Indian workmates and Indian food. (*)
So if they can’t agree…
But I am not arguing about whether the word has utility when it comes to food. I think it does, pretty much for the reason you mention. In my case, it’s what I think is authentic based on experience or (more often) have been told by someone more knowledgeable that it is authentic food of XYZ type.
(*) Edit - but the case for the Indians is different because unlike my Chinese friends, they weren’t originally from the same area.
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The answer to this puzzler is simple: there is no such thing as an authentic Sichuan restaurant outside of the Province. Just as there is probably no authentic French restaurant in the US. And do not go looking for great BBQ in Paris, even though there are places that offer it.
What you can hope for, though, is to get a recommendation for specific items in which the flavor is spot on.
I have long said there is something called Pride of Place. Ultimately, you really have to go there. That is why people travel to Italy, Spain, and all those other places for food. It can’t exactly be replicated elsewhere; you mostly don’t have the clientele to support such an endeavor.
So you will not find a whole carp in your shwei ju yu! However, the flavor can be almost exactly the same as to be authentic.
And there is the universal trueism that the more familiar you are with a subject, the less likely you will be satisfied with weak iterations.
It’s not just food: You favorite war movie ever that made you applaud wildly and cry might get guffaws from a veteran.
As it should be.
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The internet never ceases to surprise me.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
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I have said before that, when asked, I do not give out blanket recommendations. This can hardly be a surprise.
LoL - I was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC when the first Rambo movie came out, and watching at a base theatre, that had him firing a LAW from inside a helicopter. Everyone was screaming “YOU CAN’T DO THAT”.
Now that is funny!
I remember when The Hurt Locker came out. Although they consulted with experts, a lot of Iraq War vets jeered at the movie.
And don’t get WWII buffs started on The Longest Day.
This is true for any movie theme. Whether it be war, law, finance, cops, etc. A movie is a story heavily embellished. Anyone who mistakes a movie for reality will be disappointed. Authenticity is a liability for a movie. A movie is about escape. Don’t you love the “inspired by real events”?
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So what constitutes an “authentic” film? Any examples?
Well, that’s easy.
I was gonna say something about how Arrival couldn’t be “authentic” because it’s in black & white. Which reminded me that a college-age acquaintance told me that she had asked her grandmother what it was like before the world was in color. She thought old movies were accurately depicting what things looked like at the time.
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Ted Turner at one point had the idea to colorize all B&W films he could get his hands on. “I see in color!” he proclaimed.
Then someone pointed out that any day now, he talked as if he was going to colorize the first reel of The Wizard of Oz.
The world did not accept colorized movies. There was something instinctive in people that told them it wasn’t right.
B&W continues to be an artistic choice.
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Well, so is color. And sound (or the lack thereof).
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As I have never fought in a war, I can’t tell you which fictional films (even those based on historic events) are realistic.
I thought that as well, the B&W before color thing. I was a child, however.
Since color is the norm and what people expect, I assume it is also a commercial choice.
Although Superman/Clark Kent lived in Metropolis, they have yet to make one with a Fritz Lang aesthetic.
Yes, so was this person. She was reminiscing - I think a discussion of The Wizard of Oz prompted it. I may have mentioned that I used to believe the flying monkeys were played by real monkeys.
THEY ARE NOT? WUTTTT 
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Whoops! Sorry.
The Bruce Timm-led 90’s versions of Batman: The Animated Series and The Adventures of Superman both have a heavy art deco design influence, and will probably be as close as you’ll get. The design cues become less obvious in the subsequent Justice League series…
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