These days the culture we consume – movies, books, songs – is determined by platforms aggregating everyone else’s reviews and ratings. So, what does it mean when you say you like something in the age of quantification? And is there a way to beat the algorithm?

Our guest, writer and critic Lauren Oyler, is the author of No Judgment, a recently published collection of essays. She’s a contributing editor at Harper’s, and her divisive, often viral essays on books and culture appear regularly in The New Yorker, The New York Times and the London Review of Books. Oyler talks about how to cultivate good taste organically, the difference between professional criticism and the comments section and what it feels like to be called an “ice queen” online.

Also, Vass and Katrina take turns not laughing at each other’s jokes.

This is Lately. Every week, we take a deep dive into the big, defining trends in business and tech that are reshaping our every day.

Our executive producer is Katrina Onstad. The show is produced by Andrea Varsany. Our sound designer is Cameron McIver.

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Find the transcript of today’s episode here.

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