A friend sent me a link to University of Texas historian Steven Mintz’s response to the NYT’s new series titled ‘How to Be Cultured.’ There was a part of me who thought he was joking about the Times series, but, sure enough, there it was. No, it not a parody of NYT pomposity. It’s the real deal NYT pomposity, complete with CliffNotes-like suggestions on what you need to know so you too can be cultured, from operas to films to cheeses etc. The Times series even provides a test to see if you’re cultured. (You’ll be surprised to learn: I flunked.) 

… While clicking through the series, I kept thinking of The Talented Mr. Ripley. … I also kept wondering over and over again if this was some sort of NYT joke. But apparently it’s not.