Algorithms have a way of nudging everyone toward the same references, purchases, and opinions—so building personal taste becomes an active practice rather than something you “just have.” The guide argues that taste matters even more now because it’s one of the clearest signals that you’re making your own choices, not just accepting whatever a feed serves up.
Practical ways to build your own taste
- Follow your instincts: Drop class-coded ideas of what counts as “good” or “serious” culture. The key test is whether you genuinely like something—and whether you can explain why. Also, choose works that match your real curiosity (finishing something “light” can build more momentum than forcing yourself through a prestige classic you resent).
- Go in blind: Try reading, watching, or listening before checking reviews, discourse, or even gallery wall text. This protects your first reaction from being pre-written by hype, backlash, or someone else’s authority.
- Engage with criticism (as a tool): Critics and curated lists can function as training wheels—helping you notice craft, context, and intention, and giving you a structured route into a new area (film awards shortlists, major book prizes, and so on).
- But don’t parrot it: Being well-read in criticism doesn’t mean outsourcing your opinion. Disagreeing—even with respected writers—is part of forming a viewpoint that’s actually yours.
- Log off to regain clarity: Trend cycles—especially in fashion—move so fast online that they can leave you more uncertain, not more confident. Distance helps you see what you truly miss versus what was just a momentary feed obsession.
- If you use social media, be intentional: Curate who you follow, and keep asking basic questions about incentives (ads, gifts, premieres) and practicality (do you want it in real life, or just on a screen?). The piece also suggests exploring smaller discovery platforms where repetition is less intense.
- Stop worrying about being judged: Taste can be mixed, emotional, and contradictory—high/low combinations are allowed. If something matters to you (because it helped you, moved you, or you simply enjoy it), that’s valid data for your taste, not something to apologize for.
A simple rule to keep
If you ACTUALLY care, it counts—then the interesting work is figuring out why you actually care to express your ideas in the manner you choose. That “why” is what turns random preferences into an actual point of view.
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