TATE BOOK OF THE MONTH 2023

A timely critique of consumer culture that captures this image-obsessed era in history, ideal for fans of Zadie Smith and Jia Tolentino's works.

This book is not a guide to tastes nor anti-tastes. It is an exploration of the significance we attach to seemingly objective ideas of taste in an image-saturated culture and the dangerous impact this has on our identities, communities, and politics.

The book is dedicated to understanding the industries of taste. From the food we consume to how we spend our leisure time, Olah reveals the shallow waters of 'good' and 'bad' tastes and the rigid hierarchies that support this old dichotomy.

How did minimalism become a virtue, and who can rightfully claim it? When did blue college jackets become fashionable? Who stands to gain from the separation between beauty and sex?

'Bad Taste' is an insightful exploration of the intersection of consumerism, class, desire, and power, as well as a warm exhortation to liberate ourselves from the restrictive ways we view those around us.

Pages: 240, Year of Publication: 2021, Dimensions: 12.6x12.6cm