Bad Taste: Or the Politics of Ugliness

by Nathalie Olah

TATE BOOK OF THE MONTH 2023

A timely critique of consumer culture which captures this image-obsessed moment in history, perfect for fans of Zadie Smith's Feel Free and Jia Tolentino's Trick Mirror.

This book is not a taste, nor an anti-taste, manual.

This is an interrogation of the importance we place on seemingly objective ideas of taste in a culture that is saturated by imagery, and the dangerous impact this has on our identities, communities and politics. This book is dedicated to understanding the industries of taste. From the food we eat to the way we spend our free time, Olah exposes the shallow waters of 'good' and 'bad' taste and the rigid hierarchies that uphold this age-old dichotomy.

How did minimalism become a virtue, and who can afford to do it justice?

When did blue-collar jackets become a fashion item?

Who stands to gain from the distinction made between beauty, and sex?

Bold, original and provocative, Bad Taste is a revelatory exploration of the intersection between consumerism, class, desire and power, and a rousing call-to-arms to break free from the restrictive ways we see those around us.

'This is a timely book, written in prose that just slips past you, in an informed and conversational manner . . . I enjoyed Bad Taste immensely.' Sheena Patel, The Standard

'Nathalie Olah is one of the sharpest social critics of the post-crash era and Bad Taste doesn't disappoint.' Sarah Jaffe

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Essays, Cultural, Feminism, Fashion, Art

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 9, 2023

Reviews

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and interesting, but it wasn’t so much an exploration of bad taste or “the politics of ugliness” so much as a discussion of how middle classes use cultural capital to keep up appearances, drawing heavily from Pierre Bourdieu and Thorstein Veblen. I picked this book up thinking it would be more about the disavowal of so-called ‘good taste’ by the working classes, which would have been really interesting.

Not a bad book by any means and Nathalie Olah is very engaging and often incisive, but I don’t think it met the expectations created by its opening thesis nor did it, for me at least, add too much to the cultural capital discussion.

[Jay Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a late-middle-aged man and pseudo-intellectual with pretensions to academia, I am genuinely delighted to see a young writer who can wield the works of Veblen, Bourdieu, Hochschild, and Almodovar with precision and acuity, the moreso when that writer is a fellow Brummie, as in the case of Nathalie Olah. I found this book refreshingly insightful, funny, and honest. It's a work of social theory rather than social science, lacking as it does the empirical research of Bourdieu's Distinction or Manuel Castells's Information Age trilogy, but it provides much food for thought nonetheless, and Olah's heart and brain are in the right place. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

4.5 rather than 5 because of the intermittent and uncalled-for jargon but also for the poor editing and proofreading (not Olah's fault) that sprinkled unnecessary commas throughout the text, halting the flow of sentences and forcing me to re-read to reassure myself I'd understood correctly.

[Josiah Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
there are a lot of very interesting points made in this book about “taste” as it applies to a specific subset of wealthy millennials, but the book is not so much about taste as it is about signaling class to one another. since i love bad and good taste, particularly in subcultures, and particularly in music and film, i was a little disappointed. i was also annoyed about a lot of things in here, but almost in a good way. like i’d love to speak to the author and pick her brain about normcore, because it’s an entirely different definition than the one i know. ultimately, this book feels like it’s talking around its subject instead of directly about it, but it’s still a very thought-provoking and interesting read. i almost think it could have used a stronger edit — even things like the word “austere” appearing on every second page, or the lengthy recaps of scenes from novels and movies to make a quick point, all could have been trimmed to make it stronger. all of that said, it’s still a very interesting book about the codes and unspoken signifiers we broadcast to one another. perhaps ironically it also has a really cool cover and will make a great objet on our bookshelf.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels strange to only give this book 3 stars. I felt like Olah delved into the agenda and structure behind cultural capital and there was so much that this book gave me in my understanding of the hierarchies of taste.

However, the main argument of this book is to criticize how upper and middle classes exert their superiority over the lower classes in ways that are subtle and purposedly difficult to understand. Yet Olah's language and style of writing are exactly this! She writes with the presumption that her reader is educated (I had to re-read many sentences and keep a dictionary on hand throughout.) It is heavily academic in its tone, something I have only experienced before when at University. She could have articulated her arguments in a way that was more accessible to a wider readership. It is great to point out the politics of class and taste, but this felt hypocritical.

[Elvira Burchik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book and not sure what the author wanted to say. It often felt like reading nicely written articles where the title carries more meaning than the entire text.

The book is hard to read, with sentences sprawling for eight lines despite having no reason for that. It’s style is complex for the sake of appearance only. Ironic for a book discussing how particular mannerisms are used to elevate one class over another to fall short to the same problem it describes.

[Lotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 maybe *I* have bad taste but this was disappointing

[Konstantina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loveddd this book. First of all i wanna start by saying that it really gave be a better and deeper insight on consumer decisionmaking and had view points that have never ever experienced in my life, which made me rethink and reflect in my own way of living. This book really shifted my perspective and I am happy that I took my time to read this, because there is a lot to unpack here. Even though i would strongly recommend this book to anyone, I have to unfortunately take one star out. This is due to the excessive use of movies and series references throughout the whole book. In the book usually the author starts by presenting a character from a movie or series and continues to comment on their mannerisms, to get her point across. She mostly references media from the 80s-90s and presents the society’s perceptions then and now. Whereas I understood most of the time the point the author wanted to make, from someone that is born in the 2000s and thus has not seen the majority of them, I found it kind of hard to follow and to relate with her remarks. Apart from that it’s a really great book and will have you ,no matter what your taste is (however cool, artsy or even corporate), questioning what drives all your choices and opinions in this capitalistic world.

[OLR]

seriously amazing, i will return to this for years to come, distinctly modern in a way that could potentially make it timeless

i wished there were some slightly more accessible references, to “tackiness” in general, all the references were really interesting but how are u going to have a book with a leopard print cover and never discuss the politics of leopard print!! maybe thats for another book…

there were also some sentence structures/grammar that i stuttered over i really don’t know if that was just me but sadly took me out of the reading experience

still genuinely so interesting and well-researched and considered, will remain on my most readibly accessible shelf for years to come, so interesting to put in conversation with fashion trends and non-trends particularly, incredibly informative on our current moment of history in many many ways

[Emily Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- wasn’t expecting this to take down Jamie Oliver and modern capitalism in one fell swoop but I’m not complaining

[Grace Hillabrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite verbose but learned some fun new words! reads like a collection of essays & was an interesting dissection of class and taste. loved how each chapter focused on a different industry like food, beauty, etc. a reminder there is no ethical consumption under capitalism and rather than being performative online - make sure you take time to enjoy the mundanities of life (without an audience).

[Sara Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

as the author herself writes near the end of the book “this book has detailed the many ways in which the idea of good taste is often informed by the tacit expression of the increasingly precious and rarefied commodity of time.” i found all of it so interesting that it’s hard to sum up everything i loved in a little review. the gamifying of despair part comes to mind - the author writes in a way where she communicates an idea clearly and with tangible examples. i really can’t recommend it enough.

[fer pacheco · Rating 3 out of 5]

arruinado por la traducción cuchisima ā español. creo que esperaba un poco más de explicación y profundidad sobre las tendencias de buen gusto no-gringas. creo que lo un poco más rescatable es el último capítulo.

[aemilia cape🤓 · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK BINGO - A BOOK YOU HEARD ABOUT ONLINE. Unfortunately, I wanted to like this more than I did. Fortunately, I think Olah does start to redeem herself in the second half of the book. My main criticism of this book is that it’s structure and prose is kind of all-over-the-place. It took me a long time to understand what her thesis even was, and whilst it made sense to me when it clicked, I realised that much of the first half of the book went over my head because I didn’t understand what I was searching for. Olah really does pull you in so many directions here, making reference to a myriad of systems, influences, philosophies, and references etc. that I spent a lot of the time feeling lost. I also second that the writing style was unnecessarily over-embellished, which didn’t help my confusion. But, like I said, her arguments do start to take shape later in the book. I particularly enjoyed her chapter on food, which felt the most concise and unique. Above all, I have enjoyed dog-earing some pages that have given me some inspiration for further reading. So, do I think this book was as successful and groundbreaking as it probably thinks it is? No. Did I enjoy it? Mostly. But it does have some interesting ideas and recontextualises some theories that I enjoyed in university for a modern reader, so I will take the win!

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish there was slightly more variety in the insights gained from each chapter/essay - it felt like they were all circling the same bullseye from different angles as opposed to varying explorations of one overarching theme - but this could just be a personal preference on how subject matter is broached.

The editing was quite choppy and I had to reread passages for clarification a lot, not the authors fault but definitely disturbed the flow.

Nonetheless I enjoyed it, but if you're someone who's already quite invested in the intersections of wider current culture and sociology don't expect to have your world rocked.

[Sarah Jaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathalie Olah drops another banger. You want this one, kids.

[Ava Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow, one of my fav books idk if it’s because i’ve never read anything like it or if it’s genuinely good but i loved it so refreshing, so interesting, changed my opinion on so many things, learned so much. really thought provoking. mentions so many other interesting pieces wether it be books movies magazines people events shows or brands it’s like my new bible. only thing is it was kind of a hard read ngl the sentences were super lengthy, complex and the vocabulary was complex but that’s great because i learned so many new words.

[Marni Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love love loved this, so clever and thought provoking, analysing areas of culture through a fine tooth comb from tough mudders to the kardashians and racism. it intellectualises ideas about taste, culture and capitalism in a way i haven’t read before that really made me think, kind of reminds me of jia tolentino’s trick mirror. want to go to the pub with natalie and just ask her a million questions. i did this on audiobook rather than physical as i tend to do with non fic, but i really regret because i want to lend it to all my pals

[avamoore2608 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such an incoherent and rambling book, one that isn’t even about what the title says it is. Ironically classist considering the topic at hand and she completely lost me when she went on a rampage about Jamie Oliver being the spawn of satan for ‘assuming’ that people have a kitchen table. There’s such thing as too woke lol

[LVZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, is the first book of this style that I have read fully. I liked the ideas presented, even if I disagreed with some of them, and some of the examples where quite helpful.

Overall, a good read but I may need to revisit it

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Zhi Zhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary update to Bourdieu’s theory. Incisive writing — very insightful!

[Lucy McNaughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, most of the points raised I was aware of already or had considered already, but Olah articulates and extends the argument further than what I had considered. Some of the points I didn’t agree with necessarily, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book overall.

[Tracey Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and well-written look at class, capitalism and consumerism and how that feeds into matters of "taste".

Informed by Olah's own experiences, this made me recall a lot of my own - spending money I didn't have to adhere to standards I didn't believe in to impress people I didn't actually like - but it's also set in a wider context. It also looks at how these issues have been tackled in art and film, providing some interesting commentary.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bad Taste: Or the Politics of Ugliness" by Nathalie Olah provides a well-researched exploration into the subjective nature of taste and its connection with politics and societal norms. She examines the dynamics of what constitutes "good" or "bad" taste, questioning conventional ideas and highlighting the power structures that influence us.

The book examines the biases intrinsic to the concept of taste, showing how it is used for marginalisation. Through personal examples, Olah demonstrates how class, race, and gender shape our understanding of aesthetics and how taste reflects cultural dominance.

I wanted more from "Bad Taste" though. It teases you with an interesting story and then moves on to the next thing too quickly. For the audiences this book seeks, its writing style is often too dense and academic, which some readers may find inaccessible.

[inés · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4

me ha gustado, es accesible, breve, y el último capítulo sobre el concepto de abundancia en el capitalismo me parece clave.

pero es verdad que me esperaba otra cosa, más que nada por el subtítulo 'the politics of ugliness'. la mayoría de los capítulos no analizan las políticas de fealdad o mal gusto en sí, sino la construcción histórica del concepto de buen gusto, y más recientemente las tendencias de fetichización de la austeridad y 'simplicidad'. esperaba - y quería - haber leído más sobre el mal gusto, lo hortera, lo feo, que es lo que me llevó a comprar el libro.

[Moira Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t finished this book because being quite a few years out of university, it’s hard to get into a text so academically written. She talks a lot about class structures etc but has written this in a very inaccessible way, with never ending sentences and niche references. Definitely some interesting points so far but I’m going to have to take a break from this one.

[georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bad Taste probably works best as an introductory text. For those already familiar with Bourdieu's theory of capital and the relationship between taste and mechanisms of power, this book offers nothing relevatory.

[mia🌙 · Rating 3 out of 5]

made some interesting observations but lacked in coherence. The writing was over staurated with unnecessary words and the sentence structure was a bit wild which made it kind of hard to follow and not that enjoyable to read in some parts.

[Tedmarriott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Stefan Szczelkun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having written a book about taste myself, which is focused on class in the early 20th century, I was interested to see what a sharp young writer would make of taste in the new millennium. It is part auto-ethnography and part contemporary social commentary.

Topics discussed include: Frasier (TV series) which was first aired in 1993 (when the first edition of my book on taste came out), Kinfolk (lifestyle magazine); The Sopranos, normcore (fashion); Under the Skin (film 2013); the hoodie; Princess Diana and Rihanna (clothes); All About My Mother (film 1999); Merle Oberon; ick; spaghetti in 'Blue is the Warmest Colour' (film 2013), Jamie Oliver; bread; The Talented Mr Ripley (film 1999); Burning Man (USA festival); Tough Mudder & Bear Grylls; Anna Sorokin; bucket lists; Wuthering Heights.

The basic premise of the book is that :“fear of judgement is a condition of working class life, created through a necessity survival, and much of a pop psychology regarding confidence fails to acknowledge that being impervious to the judgement of other people is a luxury of knowing that you are not dependent on it for survival.“ p. 29
I’d say that this is acute with middle class people and those aspiring or who have to work in middle class settings.
Her analysis is peppered with theory a la Pierre Bordieu with an occasional pinch of Guy Debord but don't let that put you off! It is accessible written, thought provoking; and it can be prescient.

“For those who felt humiliated by a degrading class system and inequality, not to mention a currency of cultural capital that was reaching a level of cacophony, Trump brazen and unapologetic wealth might have spelt rebellion, resistance and pride.“ p. 59

“In a world of human commodity value, nothing is more dangerous or threatening to a low income persons livelihood than the insinuation that they might be clueless, dumb or devoid of taste...“ p.60

“Veer too far from the pervasive modes of taste dictated by those in power and one can expect to be the subject of suspicion, humiliation and in some cases, attack.“ p. 87.

There is a chapter on beauty which I was particularly interested in as I have written on what I called Glamour. It was interesting and radical - I agreed more than I disagreed.

"The 'natural' implies that there is a state of being that is absolute and definitive. It implies the bodies are static and fixed in a particular condition. But where exactly is this natural state? What is natural, what is not?“ p. 111.

"A societal tendency to over-emphasise the importance of the visual“ p.131

She dares to come to revolutionary conclusions!

"Rather than seeking to remedy our pain by liberalising the beauty standard that currently exists to include a wider scope of body shapes and skin types… What if we were to distrust any notion of physical beauty altogether.“ p. 132.

"Any anti-fascist cause that is only prepared to tackle surface level phenomena, rather than seeking to understand its subliminal presence and thought patterns that each and every one of us is susceptible to having, is one that is fundamentally un serious“ p. 133.

There are a few slow sections - I would encourage you to persist... She begins mild mannered but her outrage grows through the book.

“Working people learned to be unassuming and to repressing their desires and need for self-expression and freedom. Competency in doing so would be praised...“ p. 210

“Good taste,… Finds new ways to justify the inequality that it also quietly promotes, incorporating the language of sustainability, good health and responsibility in ways that often distract us from the corporate forces that play.“ p. 211.

Her conclusion is that “the fixation with taste constitutes a form of violence, and one that we we are maybe all guilty of perpetrating at times as we are encouraged to exert whatever power is available to us.“ p. 217.
My own conclusions were broadly similar. I saw it as part of class oppression. She doesn't use that word but it is implied.