{"id":1836409,"date":"2026-03-20T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1836409"},"modified":"2026-03-20T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T05:00:00","slug":"how-to-cultivate-your-own-taste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1836409","title":{"rendered":"How to cultivate your own taste"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/319-0-1626-1084\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/2\/1442030.jpeg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/life-culture\/article\/69942\/1\/how-to-cultivate-your-own-taste-books-film-fashion-taste-tiktok-culture\" data-article-id=\"69942\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img no-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"2.4\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"1*STjXczVDRHPAcenwWt3zLg\" class=\"img\" height=\"1084\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1400\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/2\/1442030.jpeg\" width=\"2600\"><\/span><\/span><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-20T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"20 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"20\">20,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - life-culture\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/guide\">Guide<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\">Life &amp; Culture<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/guide\">Guide<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>How to cultivate your <span class=\"nowrap\">own taste<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>In an era dominated by algorithm-induced homogeneity, many of us are keen to develop our own personal taste \u2013 here, we share our best tips for figuring out your preferences across books, film, fashion, <span class=\"nowrap\">and more<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-20T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"20 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"20\">20,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-20T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"20 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"20\">20,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/SerenaSmith\">Serena Smith<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>In recent years, as algorithms <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/61986\/1\/go-viral-or-die-how-the-algorithm-took-over-filterworld-kyle-chayka\"><span>have \u2018flattened\u2019 culture in favour of mass appeal<\/span><\/a><span>, many of us have been attempting to fight back against the rising tide of homogeneity by cultivating our own personal taste. As Dazed\u2019s senior writer Thom Waite puts it: \u201cIn a world where AI is automating vast swathes of human activity, and churning out endless rivers of capital-C Content in the process, taste feels like all we have left.\u201d But sussing out your taste is easier said than done, especially when most of us remain locked into platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which push the same, safe content onto everyone\u2019s feeds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>We\u2019ve all been there: buying a coat or novel or tickets to a film just because someone on social media said it was cool, only to feel empty and unsatisfied afterwards. But, thankfully, it\u2019s possible to break out of the online echo chamber, develop your critical thinking skills, and get a clearer handle on your likes and dislikes. If you\u2019re keen to cultivate your personal taste, read on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>It sounds obvious, but many of us aren\u2019t in touch with what we actually like. This is partly because algorithms fill up our feeds with the same shit, but also a result of the moneyed upper classes dictating what is \u2018tasteful\u2019 and what is not since time immemorial. Even in 2026, the idea that \u2018high brow\u2019 culture (think: ballet, opera, the theatre) is <\/span><em><span>inherently<\/span><\/em><span> superior to \u2018low brow\u2019 culture (reality TV shows, romantasy fiction) prevails. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69881\/1\/in-defence-of-dead-or-dying-art-forms-timothee-chalamet-ballet-opera\"><span>Just look at the backlash Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet recently faced for saying that ballet and opera were dying art forms!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>But to get a handle on what we <\/span><em><span>actually<\/span><\/em><span> like, we need to let go of fusty, classist preconceptions about what makes culture \u2018good\u2019 or not. \u201cWhen it comes to personal taste, none of that really matters.,\u201d says Waite. \u201cThe only real measure of taste is whether you can answer two basic questions: do I really <em>like <\/em>what I like? And why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Plus, if you\u2019re struggling to focus on something (be it a book, film, album, or otherwise) because your attention span is so fried from doomscrolling on TikTok, at least give yourself a chance by choosing a piece of work that you\u2019re <em>actually<\/em> interested in. It\u2019s better to read the entirety of a pulpy beach read than attempt to slog through <em>War and Peace <\/em>and give up two pages in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7610382066252877078\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<h1><strong>GO IN BLIND<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>Often, it can be tempting to lean on others\u2019 opinions before forming an opinion of your own, as no one wants to get caught looking \u2018stupid\u2019. But that\u2019s the beauty of engaging with the arts: unlike maths or science, there\u2019s no right or wrong, and so it\u2019s technically impossible to look stupid. With this in mind, it can sometimes be helpful to \u2018go in blind\u2019 and engage with a piece of work <\/span><em><span>before<\/span><\/em><span> hearing anyone else\u2019s take on it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Waite doesn\u2019t read the wall labels before looking at a piece of art, and similarly avoids reading reviews for books, films, or TV shows before he\u2019s had a chance to read or watch them first. \u201cThen you\u2019re forced to figure it out for yourself,\u201d he says. \u201cThen when you <\/span><em><span>do <\/span><\/em><span>tune into the discourse afterwards, you\u2019ll have unique and original opinions that everyone will admire, and they\u2019ll all be forced to admit how smart you are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong><em>ENGAGE<\/em> WITH CRITICISM&#8230;<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>None of this is to say criticism is redundant: hearing different opinions can be an immensely helpful way to shape your own views, especially when many critics have poured considerable time and energy into becoming experts in their given fields, which often lends their thoughts an interesting edge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Plus, if you want to develop your taste but don\u2019t know where to start, it can sometimes be helpful to turn to critics to help you find a starting point. For example, if you want to get into film, you could watch all the shortlisted films for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Similarly, if you want to keep abreast of contemporary fiction, you could work your way through the novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize. You don\u2019t have to turn to \u2018traditional\u2019 critics, either \u2013 if you want something a little less mainstream, we often platform <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/film\"><span>cool, lesser-known films to watch<\/span><\/a><span> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/books\"><span>books to read on Dazed<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>\u2026BUT DON\u2019T PARROT IT<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>But it\u2019s better to use criticism as a means of <\/span><em><span>shaping <\/span><\/em><span>or <\/span><em><span>informing <\/span><\/em><span>your taste, rather than seeing it as a stream of ready-made opinions for you to parrot to your friends. Plus, it\u2019s always worth keeping in mind that just because someone works at a big magazine or has written a book or has a massive TikTok following, it doesn\u2019t mean their opinions are gospel. \u201cEngaging with criticism can be useful, but it\u2019s silly to think you have to agree with everything a critic says,\u201d says Waite.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It\u2019s important to get comfortable with disagreeing with critics \u2013 even, and arguably especially, with those you really admire. \u201cI regularly disagree with some of my favourite critics and writers \u2013 they\u2019re my favourites because of <\/span><em><span>how <\/span><\/em><span>they express their opinions, or how those opinions fit into their broader cultural worldview, not because they reaffirm my own opinions at every turn,\u201d says Waite.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>In a world where AI is automating vast swathes of human activity, and churning out endless rivers of capital-C Content in the process, taste feels like all we have left<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<h1><strong>LOG OFF<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>Limiting your cultural consumption to whatever the algorithm wants to shill you will make it harder, not easier, to figure out what you truly enjoy. This is especially true when it comes to fashion \u2013 thanks to the rise of TikTok, the trend cycle has sped up, leading to the proliferation of fleeting \u2018microtrends\u2019 (see: \u2018Carolyn Bessette Kennedy\u2019, \u2018whimsigoth\u2019, \u2018cottagecore\u2019). But, as many of us have doubtless realised firsthand by now, attempting to replicate these trends is often unfulfilling and leaves us feeling even more uncertain of what our preferences are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>BE INTENTIONAL IF YOU DO USE SOCIAL MEDIA\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>If you must use social media, use it mindfully. I concede that, sometimes, the algorithm will introduce you to an exciting new author or stylish fashion influencer or cool cult director you\u2019d never heard of before. And by all means, follow your favourite critics, publications, sartorialists, thinkers, and writers on platforms like TikTok. But think critically about what they\u2019re posting. Is it possible that they\u2019ve been paid to promote that book? Are they gushing about that film because they got a free ticket to the premiere? Will you actually enjoy wearing those shoes, or do they just look cool on your phone screen? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It can also be worth checking out more underground social media platforms like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69298\/1\/5-social-media-platforms-actually-social-perfectly-imperfect-cosmos\"><span>Are.na and Perfectly Imperfect<\/span><\/a><span>, where you\u2019re much more likely to be introduced to genuinely new and interesting stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>This is easier said than done, granted. But ask yourself why you clicked on this article in the first place: are you genuinely curious about how to become more confident in your opinions and reconnect with your interests? Or do you just like the sound of being a \u2018disgustingly educated girlie\u2019 and want people to think of you as someone with \u2018good taste\u2019?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>If it\u2019s the latter, try to disengage with the potential judgments people might make about your preferences. First of all, it\u2019s likely nobody is paying attention to what you\u2019re reading, watching, wearing, or listening to anyway. And secondly, in my experience, intelligent people are much more likely to understand that taste is subjective, fluid, and incoherent. Anyone who thinks the fact that you enjoy watching <\/span><em><span>Married at First Sight <\/span><\/em><span>or reading <\/span><em><span>A Court of Thorns and Roses <\/span><\/em><span>means you have \u2018bad\u2019 taste is likely very dumb indeed, and you shouldn\u2019t worry about what they think of you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Dazed\u2019s culture editor Halima Jibril is a prime example of how dynamic taste can be. While she regularly reads the work of James Baldwin, Andrea Dworkin and bell hooks, she\u2019s also a fan of Taylor Swift and cites <\/span><em><span>evermore<\/span><\/em><span> and <\/span><em><span>folkmore<\/span><\/em><span> as two of her favourite albums. \u201cThose albums<\/span><span> got me through a really tough time during Covid. I wrote my whole undergraduate dissertation while listening to them. Nobody can take that away from me,\u201d she says. \u201c<\/span><span>I don\u2019t really care if it\u2019s seen as uncool. All that stuff doesn\u2019t matter. Her music makes me feel good. I like it. And that\u2019s it.\u201d This is a wonderfully simple ethos for anyone looking to hone their taste to keep in mind: if you like it? That\u2019s it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! 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src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-2000-1330\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/1\/1441335.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Here\u2019s how you can help displaced people in Lebanon<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69881\/1\/in-defence-of-dead-or-dying-art-forms-timothee-chalamet-ballet-opera\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Black Swan\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/239-0-642-427\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/1\/1441320.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Ballet and opera are dead, and that\u2019s OK<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69874\/1\/divest-instagram-politics-iran-cuba-venezuela-war-social-media\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"instagram tiktok iran\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/103-0-1624-1080\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/1\/1441244.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">It\u2019s time to divest from Instagram politics <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69859\/1\/how-ai-is-changing-the-face-of-grief-death-artificial-intelligence-chatbot\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"1270\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/45-0-1082-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/1\/1441167.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">How AI is changing the face of grief<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>In recent years, as algorithms <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/61986\/1\/go-viral-or-die-how-the-algorithm-took-over-filterworld-kyle-chayka\"><span>have \u2018flattened\u2019 culture in favour of mass appeal<\/span><\/a><span>, many of us have been attempting to fight back against the rising tide of homogeneity by cultivating our own personal taste. As Dazed\u2019s senior writer Thom Waite puts it: \u201cIn a world where AI is automating vast swathes of human activity, and churning out endless rivers of capital-C Content in the process, taste feels like all we have left.\u201d But sussing out your taste is easier said than done, especially when most of us remain locked into platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which push the same, safe content onto everyone\u2019s feeds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>We\u2019ve all been there: buying a coat or novel or tickets to a film just because someone on social media said it was cool, only to feel empty and unsatisfied afterwards. But, thankfully, it\u2019s possible to break out of the online echo chamber, develop your critical thinking skills, and get a clearer handle on your likes and dislikes. If you\u2019re keen to cultivate your personal taste, read on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>It sounds obvious, but many of us aren\u2019t in touch with what we actually like. This is partly because algorithms fill up our feeds with the same shit, but also a result of the moneyed upper classes dictating what is \u2018tasteful\u2019 and what is not since time immemorial. Even in 2026, the idea that \u2018high brow\u2019 culture (think: ballet, opera, the theatre) is <\/span><em><span>inherently<\/span><\/em><span> superior to \u2018low brow\u2019 culture (reality TV shows, romantasy fiction) prevails. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69881\/1\/in-defence-of-dead-or-dying-art-forms-timothee-chalamet-ballet-opera\"><span>Just look at the backlash Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet recently faced for saying that ballet and opera were dying art forms!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span>But to get a handle on what we <\/span><em><span>actually<\/span><\/em><span> like, we need to let go of fusty, classist preconceptions about what makes culture \u2018good\u2019 or not. \u201cWhen it comes to personal taste, none of that really matters.,\u201d says Waite. \u201cThe only real measure of taste is whether you can answer two basic questions: do I really <em>like <\/em>what I like? And why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Plus, if you\u2019re struggling to focus on something (be it a book, film, album, or otherwise) because your attention span is so fried from doomscrolling on TikTok, at least give yourself a chance by choosing a piece of work that you\u2019re <em>actually<\/em> interested in. It\u2019s better to read the entirety of a pulpy beach read than attempt to slog through <em>War and Peace <\/em>and give up two pages in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7610382066252877078\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<h1><strong>GO IN BLIND<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>Often, it can be tempting to lean on others\u2019 opinions before forming an opinion of your own, as no one wants to get caught looking \u2018stupid\u2019. But that\u2019s the beauty of engaging with the arts: unlike maths or science, there\u2019s no right or wrong, and so it\u2019s technically impossible to look stupid. With this in mind, it can sometimes be helpful to \u2018go in blind\u2019 and engage with a piece of work <\/span><em><span>before<\/span><\/em><span> hearing anyone else\u2019s take on it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Waite doesn\u2019t read the wall labels before looking at a piece of art, and similarly avoids reading reviews for books, films, or TV shows before he\u2019s had a chance to read or watch them first. \u201cThen you\u2019re forced to figure it out for yourself,\u201d he says. \u201cThen when you <\/span><em><span>do <\/span><\/em><span>tune into the discourse afterwards, you\u2019ll have unique and original opinions that everyone will admire, and they\u2019ll all be forced to admit how smart you are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong><em>ENGAGE<\/em> WITH CRITICISM&#8230;<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>None of this is to say criticism is redundant: hearing different opinions can be an immensely helpful way to shape your own views, especially when many critics have poured considerable time and energy into becoming experts in their given fields, which often lends their thoughts an interesting edge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Plus, if you want to develop your taste but don\u2019t know where to start, it can sometimes be helpful to turn to critics to help you find a starting point. For example, if you want to get into film, you could watch all the shortlisted films for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Similarly, if you want to keep abreast of contemporary fiction, you could work your way through the novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize. You don\u2019t have to turn to \u2018traditional\u2019 critics, either \u2013 if you want something a little less mainstream, we often platform <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/film\"><span>cool, lesser-known films to watch<\/span><\/a><span> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/books\"><span>books to read on Dazed<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>\u2026BUT DON\u2019T PARROT IT<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>But it\u2019s better to use criticism as a means of <\/span><em><span>shaping <\/span><\/em><span>or <\/span><em><span>informing <\/span><\/em><span>your taste, rather than seeing it as a stream of ready-made opinions for you to parrot to your friends. Plus, it\u2019s always worth keeping in mind that just because someone works at a big magazine or has written a book or has a massive TikTok following, it doesn\u2019t mean their opinions are gospel. \u201cEngaging with criticism can be useful, but it\u2019s silly to think you have to agree with everything a critic says,\u201d says Waite.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It\u2019s important to get comfortable with disagreeing with critics \u2013 even, and arguably especially, with those you really admire. \u201cI regularly disagree with some of my favourite critics and writers \u2013 they\u2019re my favourites because of <\/span><em><span>how <\/span><\/em><span>they express their opinions, or how those opinions fit into their broader cultural worldview, not because they reaffirm my own opinions at every turn,\u201d says Waite.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<blockquote>\n<p><span>In a world where AI is automating vast swathes of human activity, and churning out endless rivers of capital-C Content in the process, taste feels like all we have left<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<h1><strong>LOG OFF<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>Limiting your cultural consumption to whatever the algorithm wants to shill you will make it harder, not easier, to figure out what you truly enjoy. This is especially true when it comes to fashion \u2013 thanks to the rise of TikTok, the trend cycle has sped up, leading to the proliferation of fleeting \u2018microtrends\u2019 (see: \u2018Carolyn Bessette Kennedy\u2019, \u2018whimsigoth\u2019, \u2018cottagecore\u2019). But, as many of us have doubtless realised firsthand by now, attempting to replicate these trends is often unfulfilling and leaves us feeling even more uncertain of what our preferences are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>BE INTENTIONAL IF YOU DO USE SOCIAL MEDIA\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>If you must use social media, use it mindfully. I concede that, sometimes, the algorithm will introduce you to an exciting new author or stylish fashion influencer or cool cult director you\u2019d never heard of before. And by all means, follow your favourite critics, publications, sartorialists, thinkers, and writers on platforms like TikTok. But think critically about what they\u2019re posting. Is it possible that they\u2019ve been paid to promote that book? Are they gushing about that film because they got a free ticket to the premiere? Will you actually enjoy wearing those shoes, or do they just look cool on your phone screen? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It can also be worth checking out more underground social media platforms like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69298\/1\/5-social-media-platforms-actually-social-perfectly-imperfect-cosmos\"><span>Are.na and Perfectly Imperfect<\/span><\/a><span>, where you\u2019re much more likely to be introduced to genuinely new and interesting stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><strong>STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><span>This is easier said than done, granted. But ask yourself why you clicked on this article in the first place: are you genuinely curious about how to become more confident in your opinions and reconnect with your interests? Or do you just like the sound of being a \u2018disgustingly educated girlie\u2019 and want people to think of you as someone with \u2018good taste\u2019?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>If it\u2019s the latter, try to disengage with the potential judgments people might make about your preferences. First of all, it\u2019s likely nobody is paying attention to what you\u2019re reading, watching, wearing, or listening to anyway. And secondly, in my experience, intelligent people are much more likely to understand that taste is subjective, fluid, and incoherent. Anyone who thinks the fact that you enjoy watching <\/span><em><span>Married at First Sight <\/span><\/em><span>or reading <\/span><em><span>A Court of Thorns and Roses <\/span><\/em><span>means you have \u2018bad\u2019 taste is likely very dumb indeed, and you shouldn\u2019t worry about what they think of you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Dazed\u2019s culture editor Halima Jibril is a prime example of how dynamic taste can be. While she regularly reads the work of James Baldwin, Andrea Dworkin and bell hooks, she\u2019s also a fan of Taylor Swift and cites <\/span><em><span>evermore<\/span><\/em><span> and <\/span><em><span>folkmore<\/span><\/em><span> as two of her favourite albums. \u201cThose albums<\/span><span> got me through a really tough time during Covid. I wrote my whole undergraduate dissertation while listening to them. Nobody can take that away from me,\u201d she says. \u201c<\/span><span>I don\u2019t really care if it\u2019s seen as uncool. All that stuff doesn\u2019t matter. Her music makes me feel good. I like it. And that\u2019s it.\u201d This is a wonderfully simple ethos for anyone looking to hone their taste to keep in mind: if you like it? That\u2019s it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/life-culture\/article\/69942\/1\/how-to-cultivate-your-own-taste-books-film-fashion-taste-tiktok-culture&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/319-0-1626-1084\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/2\/1442030.jpeg&#8221;] March\u00a0 20,\u00a0 2026 Life &amp; Culture \/ Guide Life &amp; Culture \/ Guide How to cultivate your own taste In an era dominated by algorithm-induced homogeneity, many of us are keen to develop our own personal taste \u2013 here, we share our best tips for figuring out your preferences across books, film, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1836409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1836409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1836409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1836409\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1836409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1836409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1836409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}