So I think taste is very important (and you only get good taste by tasting lots of things).
But let’s explore refinement.
For me (as someone from a non-elite background moving in elite spaces), refinement is used to exclude people. “Oh, you’re not really sure what all the different cutlery is for, maybe you don’t belong here”.
And highly refined foods are generally not good for us. Refinement is a process of removal. And the rough stuff can be good for us.
Many thanks for reading Matt! That's an interesting take, and I agree with you about taste. But I think what we perceive is what we project. Refinement has snobby connotations, but it's a way of having and holding high standards. It can also be inclusive. Take, for example, the architecture of some buildings. Older buildings are usually incredible to look at because they were carefully crafted and refined for the occupier/visitor, the aethestics and details were important. The architect wanted people to feel awed by its beauty, refinement and craftmanship. Less refined things are good for us -- I agree with you on that, and the contrasts give us a different and good experience. But my core argument is that it's tipping too far the other way to the extent that the refined version risks not being used as a reference point or standard at all. I love the occasional junk food meal just as much as I do a Michelin star meal. But if junk food was the general standard across all meals I would be missing out on the refinement, awe and experience of refinement of a Michelin star restaurant.
Refinement requires standards and these, generally, are in decline. While some just don't care about quality, others that do are slightly misguided, improving without refining. Without standards, or with loosened standards, arts, conduct, behavior, etc. long cherished are disappearing and the young, born in this era, don't have a reference point as to what things and conduct used to be when refinement was a key aspiration.
100% with you on this Patrick! Especially the idea of people born in this era not having a reference point to understand the difference. Thank you for your thoughtful insight.
So I think taste is very important (and you only get good taste by tasting lots of things).
But let’s explore refinement.
For me (as someone from a non-elite background moving in elite spaces), refinement is used to exclude people. “Oh, you’re not really sure what all the different cutlery is for, maybe you don’t belong here”.
And highly refined foods are generally not good for us. Refinement is a process of removal. And the rough stuff can be good for us.
Many thanks for reading Matt! That's an interesting take, and I agree with you about taste. But I think what we perceive is what we project. Refinement has snobby connotations, but it's a way of having and holding high standards. It can also be inclusive. Take, for example, the architecture of some buildings. Older buildings are usually incredible to look at because they were carefully crafted and refined for the occupier/visitor, the aethestics and details were important. The architect wanted people to feel awed by its beauty, refinement and craftmanship. Less refined things are good for us -- I agree with you on that, and the contrasts give us a different and good experience. But my core argument is that it's tipping too far the other way to the extent that the refined version risks not being used as a reference point or standard at all. I love the occasional junk food meal just as much as I do a Michelin star meal. But if junk food was the general standard across all meals I would be missing out on the refinement, awe and experience of refinement of a Michelin star restaurant.
Refinement requires standards and these, generally, are in decline. While some just don't care about quality, others that do are slightly misguided, improving without refining. Without standards, or with loosened standards, arts, conduct, behavior, etc. long cherished are disappearing and the young, born in this era, don't have a reference point as to what things and conduct used to be when refinement was a key aspiration.
100% with you on this Patrick! Especially the idea of people born in this era not having a reference point to understand the difference. Thank you for your thoughtful insight.