In the current cultural landscape heavily shaped by artificial intelligence-generated content and widely criticized mediocre television, a question emerges: should cultural snobbery make a comeback? The Guardian explores this provocative idea amid growing concerns that quality and critical standards in art and entertainment are deteriorating.
The article highlights a prevailing cultural shift where lowbrow content dominates popular media, from AI-produced music and images to formulaic TV shows that flood streaming platforms. This saturation of “slop” challenges audiences and critics alike to discern lasting artistic value, prompting some to argue for a renewed embrace of cultural elitism to restore discernment and appreciation of higher artistic standards.
Critics complain that artificial intelligence, while a powerful tool, often produces works lacking depth or nuance. AI’s capacity to quickly generate vast volumes of content risks normalizing mediocrity by lowering the threshold for what is considered acceptable or engaging. Similarly, television, once a bastion for innovation and quality storytelling, is increasingly dominated by mid-tier programming that prioritizes quantity over quality.
Advocates for a return to cultural snobbery argue this would revive a critical framework where audiences and creators strive for excellence and complexity rather than settling for the lowest common denominator. It could also reaffirm the role of cultural gatekeepers—critics, scholars, and curators—who champion works of genuine merit and longevity.
However, the debate is nuanced. Opponents warn that snobbery can marginalize diverse voices and experiences, reinforcing exclusionary hierarchies in culture. They argue that accessibility and broad appeal are valid artistic goals and that dismissing popular culture wholesale risks ignoring genuine innovation and emotional connection found within it.
Amid these tensions, some cultural commentators suggest a balance is necessary: fostering open-minded appreciation while maintaining rigorous standards that challenge creators and audiences alike. The conversation around AI’s impact on artistic culture and television programming quality invites ongoing reflection about what we value in art and entertainment and how we define excellence in an era of unprecedented content abundance.
This debate resonates widely in the creative industries, influencing how future works are created, marketed, and critiqued. As digital technologies evolve and cultural consumption habits shift, the question of whether cultural snobbery should be revived is less about returning to old elitism and more about cultivating informed, thoughtful engagement with the arts in all its forms.