Becoming Cultured in the Digital Age
Everyone is talking about needing more culture or being more cultured. But what does that actually mean?
Culture is the broad representation of a group of people.
This group can be as small as a household or as large as planet Earth.
Ok, so what? Why is culture important?
Culture is influential because it’s not just a representation of a group but a mirror that shows us who we are as individuals. Art, in its various forms like music, fashion, images, film, and literature, is a powerful medium through which culture is expressed. We, as individuals, are drawn to and form communities around these artistic expressions that resonate with us.
Think about fan clubs for different movies or how ravenous fans of particular musicians get. Culture is just an extension of community, which humans strive for and need.
Nowadays, culture has been diluted and reduced to whatever you see online. From a viral video to the next meme, culture has become less about artistic expression and more about fleeting trends.
That’s why it is essential to reinvigorate society with some authentic culture.
Instead of TikToks and Instagram reels, how about everyone refer to literature and famous works of art.
A cultured society is not just about being 'smart '. It’s about being thoughtful, empathetic, and understanding. It's about fostering a community of intelligent people who can think critically and contribute meaningfully. That’s what we need now more than ever—smart people who can think beyond the surface.
It's essential to strike a balance. Many individuals today are so deeply immersed in their fields that they view the world solely through that lens. Conversely, some have spent their lives in academia, disconnected from real-world experiences and lacking common sense. A cultured society appreciates a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
While it may seem unlikely that you'll become the next great author, poet, actor, musician, or painter, it's a worthwhile exercise to imagine that you could. This journey involves creating some form of art, whether it's doodling, writing songs, or taking an improv class once a week. This creative process can open up your mind in ways you never thought possible.
The other part of being a great artist is consuming art. This doesn’t mean following art accounts on Instagram or listening to a podcast about literature. It means stepping out into the world and experiencing it. Attend more concerts, read more books, visit an art museum occasionally, and reflect on how these experiences make you feel. This active engagement with authentic culture can lead to personal growth and enrichment.
If everyone prioritized real-life experiences over virtual ones, the culture issue wouldn’t exist. The world needs a culture that values authentic art appreciation, not social media trends.
Your social media interactions do not make you cultured. You cannot consume culture via the internet; you must get it in the real world. There are many ways to consume culture, not just via art, but the objective should be to get out and live life and get off your phone.