I’m no stranger to good literature. I’ve read my share of Austen, Shakespeare and Flaubert, and I even liked some of it (though I’ll give Faulkner a hard pass). Despite this, if you happen to seek me out on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, there’s a good chance I’ll be reading a Buzzfeed article (“17 Ways to Live Healthier in 2016!”) as I lay in bed eating Skinny Pop or watching "Scream Queens." If you haven’t heard of "Scream Queens," I strongly recommend you log into a social media account because you’re clearly off the grid or grab some unwitting friends, a calorific snack and check out the adventures of a group of super-rich sorority girls being targeted by the anonymous “Red Devil” serial killer. If the premise of this TV show sounds stupid, it’s because it absolutely is. But I’ll still watch it. I like to consider myself a smart and cultured person, but I will absolutely watch crappy TV shows and indulge in Buzzfeed and maybe even get my news from the Huffington Post.

Unfortunately, not everyone shares this sentiment. Perhaps it’s because I find myself on a university campus, surrounded by the “academic elite.” Maybe other people genuinely don’t share my preferences. Regardless of why, there’s a culture of snobbery surrounding pop culture; that someone chooses to watch a trashy TV show or a read low-brow book every now and again is grounds for invalidating their intelligence.

This in and of itself isn’t a big deal; after all, this article isn’t meant to claim my obsession with Buzzfeed as esoteric and admirable (today I took a quiz that told me I’d meet my soulmate through online dating, so I guess I should get a Tinder). Rather, this attitude becomes problematic when it manifests as elitism. No matter where you go to school, there’s a certain degree of competition inherent in the classroom.

This isn’t necessary a bad thing, and it’s only natural that it will infiltrate other aspects of life. But why do we feel the need to legitimize ourselves through what TV shows we like, or what music we listen to? Ad hominem has become pervasive throughout the academic community, as if my pop culture proclivities inform my intelligence. I may be pretty bad at math, but it’s not because I listen to Taylor Swift. Likewise, my preferences for both Jane Austen and "Legally Blonde" are not dichotomous. Instead of being so preoccupied with maintaining a veneer of intellectual superiority, we could learn a lot from abandoning the need to be constantly validated. If you take the time to dissect the painfully one-dimensional characters, "Scream Queens" is imbued with salient messages about race, class, and Millennial culture. Similarly, Buzzfeed offers poignant essays, where people from all over share their perspectives.

Okay, I’m not going to spend too much time defending "Scream Queens," and maybe you shouldn’t get your news from listicles. Overall, sure, it’s pretty low-brow. But my point remains. Dropping the façade of intellectual sophistication and diversifying what we consume can be beneficial.

Of course, the title is misleading. Don’t stop reading the classics. Reuters and The New York Times are great places to get news, I diversify my TV show repertoire with "House of Cards," and I’ll pick up a piece of classic literature as well. But don’t be afraid to indulge, and don’t look down on others for doing so. Sometimes, the most relevant messages can be hidden under the appearance of a clichéd pop culture troupe. In fact, dissecting and analyzing our cultural motifs can reveal striking truths about our society and generation. Beyond that, it’s healthy and normal to just want to relax and do so with "The Bachelor." Take a break from reading about international conflicts and the economic implications of the presidential candidate’s policies. Your intelligence is not determined by how you choose to indulge yourself, and snobbery doesn’t benefit anyone.

To conclude, if you’re looking for a way to spend your weekend, maybe check out "Scream Queens," or "Jane the Virgin." I won’t judge, and neither should anyone else.