[davehtaylor]

>a lack of tastemakers in public society

I would call this a good thing. I despise the idea of someone telling me what I should or shouldn't like, as though I have no mind of my own to decide what I do or don't like, and as though they are somehow superior and have some kind of enlightened outlook on things that I could never hope to achieve.

[busterarm]

You're just exemplifying what I said later where critique is unwelcome.

I don't think media is some egalitarian process where everyone is celebrated just for doing something. There's a lot out there in popular culture that is just outright technically flawed. Or just crap -- trust me, I've listened to more crap music and watched more crap movies than probably anyone (I much prefer to talk about the stuff I love though). We should be celebrating the stuff that's truly outstanding, not just because it's popular. Some really outstanding work isn't comfortable for the viewer/listener either.

Do you even know what you really like anymore? A lot of stuff is just rammed down our throats. Your brain triggers that dopamine hit just for recognizing the pattern regardless. It's good for business, but is it _good_?

I guess it all depends on how you about whether you feel media is artwork or entertainment.

[robryan]

I generally don’t let it influence my opinion on a piece of music but if I find something I like I will almost always go and check what kind of reviews it is getting online.

I like to know if something is widely liked or just appeals to my taste.