Taste is a Privilege
Here's the raw truth:
Saying "everyone should develop taste" in an AI-driven world misses a really important point. Taste isn't just about trying hard. It's shaped by access, exposure, and honestly.. time to care.
Taste grows when you've got space to explore, mess up, and try again. But most people don't get that luxury when the focus is on paying rent, not curating vibes.
If you grew up middle class or broke, your decisions were probably more about making things last, not making things look good. You pick what's affordable, not what's beautiful. You go for safe, not stylish. It's not because you lack taste, it's because you didn't have room to build it.
You're not hanging out at art galleries or buying boutique coffee when you're stressed about bills. Taste comes from the books you stumble upon, the places you get to see, and having enough breathing room to care about "aesthetic." It's not magic. It's built over time, with access.
Scarcity doesn't kill creativity. But it does limit your options. Privilege is what lets you experiment and fail without consequences. It's what lets you figure out what you actually like.
So before you judge someone's "bad taste," ask:
Did they even get the chance?
Taste isn't just a preference.
It's a privilege.
Building Taste Without The Needless Hopium
Realistic steps to start building taste even if you're broke:
- Pick one thing: Music, fashion, design, whatever. Go deep on it. Get curious.
- Mix it up: Follow people with different tastes, backgrounds, and styles. Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit. Anywhere.
- Note what hits: Screenshot stuff you like. Save posts. Notice patterns in what excites you.
- Use what's free: Libraries, playlists, public art, free courses. There's more out there than you think.
- Find your people: DM someone with cool taste. Join Communities. Be the person who's learning out loud.
- Build Reps: You're not going to get it right away. Not the first time, not the nth time. Some folks are born into it. Doesn't mean you can't grow into it. Do your time, build the reps
It takes time. But you don't need money to start. Just a bit of curiosity and consistency.