Many people wish they were more cultured. They wish they were better versed in literature, movies, art, etc. The list goes on. What most people do not realize is that becoming cultured does not have to cost hundreds of dollars in tickets to the opera. Becoming more cultured is about making the effort to expand your horizons and educate yourself. There are a myriad of ways to culture yourself. Here are a few of them.
1. Read a classic novel.
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Most people are more likely to pick a book from a recent bestseller list than they are to pick a book revered as a classic of literature. Classics are classics for a reason! They are truly timeless parables that have endured the test of time and an ever-changing world. Remember that "classic" does not necessarily mean Charles Dickens or Leo Tolstoy; there are plenty of books written in the last century in more modern language, hailed as classics for the beauty of their writing and the complexity of the stories they tell. Try an author or a sub-genre of literature you have never read before — you may find a new favorite!
2. Watch a classic movie.
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(So you know all about Citizen Kane: rosebud, some guy with a mustache, something about a snow globe, and you've probably seen this GIF a million times)
Basically, "Citizen Kane" is the greatest movie in the world that no one has actually seen. See what all the hype is about. You may hate the movie, but having an authentic opinion about it beyond, "it's the best movie ever" will allow you to engage in upper-level discussion about it — very cultured indeed! Remember, classic does not necessarily mean black and white. I recently saw "Pulp Fiction" for the first time, and I am so glad I watched it. Experiencing critically acclaimed works of art is great because it allows you to form your own opinions about movies and literature, expanding your mind and enabling you to analytically think about the things you see.
3. Collect quotes.
This is one of my favorites. I recently started keeping a journal of quotes where I write down passages and phrases from books that I find particularly moving and beautiful. I started doing it over winter break with the books I was reading for fun, but since the start of the new semester, I have been jotting down my favorite passages from the books for my classes (as a politics and English double major, I have a lot of reading). Some time ago, I began keeping my favorite literary quotes in a note on my iPhone, but I think it's nice to have a journal dedicated solely to passages I find inspiring — a little culture notebook, if you will. It's nice to open it up and see all those beautiful words written down. What I love the most about collecting quotes is that I do not choose these quotes to impress someone in everyday conversation; rather, they are just for me, because I enjoy them. It's important to keep in mind that becoming more cultured is not simply for the sake of appearing or being explicitly more cultured. Rather, becoming cultured should be for yourself, so you can be more happy, fulfilled and inspired in your life.
4. Try something new.
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We all have something that we've always wanted to try. Why not bite the bullet and go for it? Whether it's acting, painting, kickboxing or badminton, trying something new will help you acquire a new skill set and an appreciation for something you've never experienced before. You'll have fun doing it, and you'll expand your horizons in the process. Get outside your comfort zone and make it happen!
5. Talk with other people.
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Don't just talk to other people; talk with them. Engage in conversation with other people. It's easy to forget that every single person on this earth leads a life that is equally as interesting and complex as yours. By conversing with other people, you will be introduced to new perspectives, new worldviews, new facts and new opinions. Discuss a book you've read, a movie you've seen, a favorite quote, or a new activity you've started. By reciprocating conversation with other people, you will become enriched with the thoughts and feelings of others. You can transcend the boundaries of your own life experience by learning about another person's unique life experience — something that, unlike a trip to a foreign country, you cannot put a price on.
