Choose a genre that you have genuine interest in, such as fantasy or romantic fiction. Research the best books of that genre as judged by book enthusiasts, and read them. You may want to look up books in other genres that interest you while you’re at it. If there is a genre you are not sure about, try it, and you might actually enjoy it. After you feel you’ve become reasonably well-read in one genre choose another. Also, read some classic or recommended books. You might understand and enjoy some books of past cultures by reading books of the present culture. Subscribe to magazines that include articles about literature, plays, and music. Read articles from these magazines once a week or twice a month or whenever your schedule will allow. Follow leads presented by the articles you read. Every once in a while you might find articles that will inspire you to pursue a subject. For instance, if you read a great article about Mozart, take the article to a store where you can buy compact discs and ask the counter attendant to direct you to some Mozart CDs that you might like. Buy or borrow a few of them from the library. If you read an article about an artist who sounds interesting, look online to find out which museums feature paintings by this artist. Then plan visits to those museums. Scan your newspaper for local college or high school theatrical productions that you can attend.
Word-of-mouth is the best way to become aware of which contemporary films to watch. You may remember your friends talking about a certain film. Go to the video store and scan the shelves to find names of movies you may recognise. Look up reviews about a film on Wikipedia before you watch it, just to make sure you’re not wasting your time (if you’re pressed for time). However, remember sometimes critics’ opinions are not always right. It is important to do your research. If you don’t understand a certain film, then look it up on Wikipedia or somewhere on the internet. Sometimes an old movie will contain references to other classic films. As a result, you can learn about other works. When you watch these type of films, you will soon be able to appreciate more of them than you could previously. Don’t restrict yourself to English-language films. There are many other films out there worth watching, they are just in different languages.
Look up good TV programs that you think you might enjoy. There are many types, ranging from situation comedies to drama. Wikipedia usually has information on popular TV shows. You can look up ratings or just ask around. Don’t forget to be open-minded. TV shows you thought you might not like might turn out to be your favourite show. It has happened. If you really like a TV show and you think you’d watch it again, then buy the DVDs. Watch TV channels like Discovery andThe History Channel. This is a painless way to get involved in topics such as the origins of impressionist art or the history of English kings.
For example, while it is important for a person to listen and enjoy songs with non-cliché lyrics, it is also important that one is able to enjoy music without lyrics at all, just for the mood it can set, or the story it can tell without of words. The ability to appreciate classical music is not as daunting as it seems. Just listen to some famous musical pieces, and you will most definitely understand why. Be very open-minded. There is a lot of music out there which may not fit into any genre, but you may enjoy it. Don’t reject certain forms of music just because you have never heard them. Listen to albums, not just singles. You might develop an interest in songs that never gained much popularity. Yet, this is not to say you won’t enjoy the memorable ones. Listen to bands. Many bands have been around for a long time, in spite of this fact, some of their music is still fresh. This will give you access to older music, and you’ll be able to hone an appreciation for it. Listen to music from other countries and in other languages. You’ll be surprised. Learn a musical instrument. Once you listen to some good music, it will be natural for you to try to learn an instrument and create your own.
If you don’t like “shooting” games, there are many other types of video games that you may like. Do your research and you’ll find there’s a lot more variety than you originally thought. Role-playing games, RPGs, especially open world RPGs, are good to lose yourself in. However, some people prefer simpler games like platformers. Don’t worry if you actually enjoy video games. That’s a good thing. It doesn’t automatically make you a nerd, it just adds more complexity to your personality. Video-gaming is quite an expensive hobby, so make sure you try them before you buy them.
While you may feel like you already know a lot about the Internet, learn about the history of the Internet, and check out memes and viral videos so that you have a greater understanding of it. Set your homepage to Wikipedia and read an article each day about something which seems “cultured” to you. In a very short time, you will know quite a bit more than you know now.
The only advice that can be given here is to do research and engage in art by going to galleries (which, contrary to popular belief, are free). If there is one art form you particularly like, such as dancing or sculpting, then become practised in it.
World history. This is probably the most important cultural asset for you to acquire, since it provides pathways into other domains of knowledge and contextualizes its discoveries. Geography. Again, a person of culture should not be ignorant of where countries or famous landmarks are. Basic Sciences: Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology. Unless you want to follow a career in the sciences, a refined knowledge in the sciences isn’t completely necessary. Instead, make sure you have a sound understanding of the sciences at a high school level. Economics. This is very relevant in understanding today’s world. Psychology. A note about misconceptions: there is a huge misconception that Psychology is not a science, or that it is bogus. Read up on experimental methodology and actually educate yourself about it before believing those claims. Psychology is of extreme importance in today’s society, becoming increasingly more so as the world becomes more complicated. Art and Architecture Philosophy
Part of becoming cultured is learning about other cultures, not just your own. Try to free yourself from ignorance and media-fed stereotypes you have about other societies/religions. Always try to empathize with all parties while learning. It is very important to challenge your prejudices. No one is inherently good or evil; instead you should aim to understand the motives for actions. Otherwise you will not understand other cultures. Think for yourself. Don’t let others dictate your opinions.
