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A Pair of Sneakers. In the style of Van Gogh. AI image Introduction The modern obsession with verifying authenticity—whether through passports, biometric scans, blockchain tokens, or signed certificates—echoes a paradox Jacques Derrida identified decades ago. In Signature Event Context (1972/1988), Derrida argued that a signature only functions if it can be repeated: “A written sign carries with it a force that breaks with its context, that is, with the collectivity of presences organizing the moment of its inscription” (p. 9). In other words, the very possibility of recognition depends on iterability—the capacity of a mark to be reproduced elsewhere, detached from its origin. This principle undermines the notion of pure originality. In a time of AI-generated art, deepfakes, and digital collectibles, Derrida’s insight feels uncannily prescient. Marks and Identity Identity has always been tied to external marks. To prove who I am, I produce documents bearing signatures, photograp...