A matter of taste

A Latin phrase states “De gustibus non est disputandum.” This translates to: “There’s no accounting for taste.” A more figurative example is expressed in the saying, “Another man’s meat is another man’s poison.”\nThis is a pretty minimal statement. It implies that everyone has his or her own tastes in everything and that these tastes can’t be forced. Therefore, one should not be judged based on their likes and dislikes. Taste buds simply cannot be compromised. \nWhen it comes to our ever-expanding American culture, however, it seems that we have lost touch with our taste buds. So many Americans repress what they actually like for what they think they should like. This issue is ultimately a case of what society defines as levels of normalcy, of low to high culture. In a world where we are what we love, many are contrived in presenting their image.\nOur personal preferences, our innermost taste buds are usually inherent in our genetic makeup or a byproduct of our influences. Of course, sometimes these two components counteract. \nLet’s take an example of Rudy Giuliani. He’s been pretty open in stating that his all-time favorite movie is “The Godfather,” and the former New York mayor has often quoted it, even impersonating the famous Don Corleone rasp. All irony aside, his favorite movie is a classic in modern cinema. It possesses all the key elements of a sophisticated and refined film.\nBut let’s say, hypothetically, that Rudy finds “The Godfather” a tad bit too long and has never stayed awake through the whole film. He might prefer “Analyze This” – which has Robert De Niro and the mob mentality – because it greater accommodates his short attention span.\nNow, “Analyze This” and its sequel, “Analyze That,” are no masterpieces. If Rudy says it’s his favorite movie, his peers and potential voters might not think he’s as sophisticated as he might seem. If he were caught with a special-edition box set called “Analyze This and That,” he could quickly retort by saying, “Oh, just a guilty pleasure of mine.” The term “guilty pleasure” is a paradox, because no one should feel guilty for something they truly love.\nThen there’s another equally dangerous case. Sometimes, you might be confronted with someone who has no qualms with revealing that “Analyze This” is his favorite film and that “The Godfather” is boring. Great, you can admit it! But then this poor guy is claiming that the first film is far more sophisticated and brilliant than the other.\nNow, while I do believe that there should be no account for an individual’s taste, I also believe there are a few limitations on levels of culture. It’s OK to love a low-culture movie and hate a high-culture film as long as you can acknowledge each’s level.\nIt’s kind of like enjoying Boone’s Farm out of the bottle more than Merlot in a glass. But just remember: If it tastes so right, it probably shouldn’t feel so wrong.