This study is twofold: In the first part I set out to build a theoretical toolbox for discussing authentic bodies in digital photography by combining ideas of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler. The second part is a case study of a cover of Intelligent Life featuring Cate Blanchett. The cover made a point of not being digitally manipulated and I apply the theory formulated in the first part of the study to discuss this from the point of view of performed authenticity.

Control over definitions and uses of authentic is central theme of the study. Foucault and Butlers agree on the idea that authentic is composed of acts and in this study authenticity is viewed as a combination of acts that perform authenticity. The study suggests that blurring the line between authentic and unauthentic is the threat digital image and digital image manipulation pose to authentic.

The Cate Blanchett cover of Intelligent Life performs authenticity by presenting carefully regulated and select imperfections. The most recognized use of digital manipulation would be hiding imperfections and from that point of view the most explicit way to perform not being digitally manipulated is to have some imperfections – wrinkles for example - visible.

The study suggests that the rebellion to which the cover places itself in is masquerading the actually normative body as repressed to gain access to the advantageous discourse of rebellion. It is also concluded that natural and authentic in this context are attributes of normative control and that authentic body is defined in opposition to a non normative other of wrong bodies.