This feature is part of a series called Turning Points, in which writers explore what critical moments from this year might mean for the year ahead. You can read more by visiting the Turning Points series page.
When we say that something is underrated, we think it deserves more credit or attention. Perhaps not enough of the world recognizes its full value beyond a small group of fans. Or maybe we come to appreciate something that has, for too long, been flying under the radar.
It doesn’t have to be tangible: a practice that’s fallen out of fashion because of changing social norms; a ritual that’s part of our daily lives but overlooked because it’s mundane; a way of doing things that falls to the wayside as society evolves.
In this article, we explore aspects of our culture that deserve more attention or are underappreciated — elements of our everyday lives that not enough people are thinking about, listening to or doing. These aren’t necessarily our favorite things, but we believe that they tell us something important about our world and make it more interesting.
We asked a group of thought leaders to answer a (seemingly underrated) question: What is underrated?
Their responses have been edited and condensed. — Augusta Greenbaum
Alain Ducasse: ‘We Tend to Forget the Power of Dreams’
When I was 12, I made the most critical decision of my life: I decided to become a chef. To be honest, I never fully understood the reason behind my choice. I was living on a farm in the southwest of France with my family. We lived modestly, and I had never eaten at a restaurant. Despite this, becoming a chef was definitely what I wanted to do and what I actually did. I made my dream come true.
In a society organized around instant results, rationality and technology, we tend to forget the power of dreams. In some ways, dreams don’t fit with the rest of our lives. They need time and they aren’t rational or based on technology. They result from unclear and unpredictable associations of ideas that pop up by chance in our minds.
I still value dreams in my professional life. What my team of young executives call “projects” are dreams for me. When I open a restaurant — which happens very frequently — I start by dreaming about it. Where will it be located, what type of people will it attract and what kind of food will it offer? I let my mind wander freely with many unorganized thoughts. Piece by piece, an idea emerges from this chaos. The next step is simple: I transfer my ideas into the real world.
There is no better way to lead your life than by listening to your dreams. At École Ducasse, my vocational school for culinary arts, we’ve welcomed many students who decided to change the course of their lives after the Covid-19 pandemic. Our students come from very different business sectors, but they opt to work in hospitality to follow their cherished dreams. When I see how motivated they are, I know that they will succeed. The type of success here is not just professional; it’s something much more valuable. What’s at stake is personal success, which makes you happy and gives your life harmony.
Dreaming can be seen as a luxury since it requires time, the rarest resource. Dreaming can be seen as ineffective since it deliberately ignores constraints and logic. But don’t underestimate its potency. I believe dreams make the world go ’round.
Anitta: ‘Funk Carioca Mirrors the Reality of Many Brazilians’
I was born and raised in a Rio de Janeiro favela. I experienced the spirit of funk carioca, also known as Brazilian funk, firsthand. While this music is extremely popular in Brazil and in parts of Latin America, the genre is underrated globally despite its unique, lively blend of sounds. In addition to the sound, funk carioca mirrors the reality of many Brazilians and is a way to tell their stories, mine included.
Musically, the genre fuses hip-hop subgenres, electronic dance music, freestyle and pop — all while featuring its own Brazilian flair. This high-energy mix creates an electric vibe with drumbeats, samples of popular melodies and rhythms, plus raw vocals. My song “Joga pra Lua” — which in English translates to “Twerk for the Moon” — embodies this sound.
Funk carioca came to life in Brazil’s favelas in the 1980s. The vibrant music remains the beating heart of areas like my hometown, which are working-class neighborhoods on the outskirts of Rio.
Like hip-hop in America, funk carioca is a genuine expression of the social issues burdening the people of Rio. The Brazilian government once considered criminalizing funk for its lyricism that reflects everyday problems in favelas. But the funk scene in the favelas is where my career as a singer began, and where many young Brazilians find ways to express themselves.
While the music reflects reality, the favela parties, often called “baile funk,” bring the music to another level. These parties offer an escape from the hardships detailed in the songs. The resilience and spirit of the gatherings have been integral in making Brazilian funk a phenomenon, and essential in inspiring women and celebrating sexual freedom. They’ve also contributed to a significant part of Rio’s economy and continue to support countless families in regions like the one where I grew up.
My shows reflect the soul of these Brazilian funk parties. Dance circles often break out in the crowd while I perform. I witness the community that funk carioca music can create as I’m transported back to the feelings I experienced at my hometown parties. All of this reminds me of the unifying power of Brazilian funk.
Sara Jane Ho: ‘Etiquette Is Not a Static Concept’
People often balk at the notion of “etiquette.” Many think it’s an upper-class relic of a bygone era that’s concerned with remembering which fork to use at the dinner table. The word might feel repressive, like it seeks to control and limit who we are, but etiquette is not a static concept.
Instead, etiquette is a contextual and creative practice that aims to illuminate the best possible versions of ourselves. It also has the power to adapt to fit the needs of our changing times. There’s no need to adhere to the conventions of the past just for the sake of following etiquette rules, but learning why key traditions existed helps explain the reasons behind our behavior.
The ancient origin of the handshake was to prove to others that you were not armed. Likewise, the custom of toasting developed so hosts could outwardly show that they weren’t poisoning their guests: You clink glasses so that alcohol splashes into the other person’s cup. Many precepts of etiquette shared across cultures have deep roots in our distrust of our neighbors. It’s not news that this distrust is deepening, and our social fabric is fraying. Every day brings a fresh story of epic rudeness and, sometimes, even violence.
Etiquette has been effective for centuries at smoothing the rough edges of social disparities. Today, it can neutralize toxic polarization and allow us to live in peace with our neighbors, even — and especially — when we disagree.
Respectful communication, active listening and conflict resolution skills are examples of how we can use etiquette to get along with others during a time of geopolitical instability. Partisanship might be dividing our world, but when the goal of the parties is to achieve the same ends, debate can be constructive if both sides keep etiquette in mind.
Our current moment calls for restoring civility to civil society. The seriously underrated principles of etiquette can help us achieve this by reminding us of our shared humanity.
Jillian Turecki: ‘A Relationship Should Feel Good’
I spend a lot of time learning about love — what makes it work, what makes it last and how to help people find it. It’s both my career and my passion. Understanding this deeply human thing, the desire for partnership and to make a life with someone, has given me so much purpose. Yet throughout my career as a relationship coach, I’ve found that we often forget the vastly underrated and somewhat radical idea that a relationship, although it may take work, should also feel good.
In my journey of discovery, I’ve seen how unprepared many of us are to love. Sex education rarely teaches the relational skills we need to make relationships last. Without comprehensive education, too many of us fall for platitudes about love or narratives that lock us into relationships that don’t work.
Consider the refrain, “Relationships are work.” Well, sure. Of course, there’s work required for a lasting partnership. We work to heal the wounds we bring into the relationship. We must learn skills to repair after conflict to communicate our needs. We have to work to bolster our partnership against the outside world — those external forces that can weigh on a relationship. Certainly, all of this is work. But a partnership shouldn’t feel like constant labor. It should be easy on our nervous systems instead of spiking our cortisol or draining our energy. A relationship should feel good.
It’s just as easy to ignore the necessity of feeling good when we think about other relationship-related conversations. Relationships should be passionate, right? Yes. But I’ve seen how simple it is to conflate passion with chaos and to chase the nervous system spikes and dips. The reality is that passion should also feel good. It should feel good in our bodies and not wreak havoc. The goal of partnership is to feel good and safe with each other, where feeling safe becomes a springboard for excitement, passion and growth.
The more I learn about love, the more I become certain: Our bodies know what’s right, and we should listen to what they tell us.
Paavo Järvi: ‘An Orchestra Is a Microcosm of an Ideal Society’
In our modern world, where attention spans are fleeting and popular culture favors easily digestible content, the symphony orchestra is a profoundly underappreciated gem. It is not merely a bastion of elite art; it represents an ideal society where harmony and cooperation prevail. Regardless of background, race or personal preferences, each member of an orchestra knows their role, listens to others and works toward the shared goal of creating the best possible performance.
An orchestra is a microcosm of an ideal society. It consists of highly accomplished section leaders and musicians who collaborate and compromise, despite having their own opinions. Decision-making in an orchestra is democratic, yet it respects a hierarchy; musicians trust and follow the conductor’s vision while maintaining a degree of independence and personal expression. This delicate balance mirrors a well-functioning society where individuals work together while respecting leadership.
Today, orchestras are marginalized in a cultural climate that often dismisses intellectual pursuits and deep artistic engagement. They are wrongly perceived as symbols of elitism when, in reality, they embody the opposite.
Classical music is more than just entertainment — it aims to provoke thought and reflection. However, its perceived complexity and declining exposure among diverse communities mean many view it as inaccessible or irrelevant. This is a grave misconception, as classical music is a chronicle of human civilization. It captures the emotional and intellectual depths of our collective journey, written in the language of music.
With its rich and intricate repertoire composed by geniuses like Beethoven, Mozart, Mahler and Stravinsky, the symphony orchestra deserves greater recognition and protection. It is a pinnacle of human cultural expression, reflecting the complexities and subtleties of our shared heritage. The symphony orchestra should be safeguarded by UNESCO, ensuring its preservation and appreciation for future generations. Recognizing the orchestra’s invaluable contribution to our cultural fabric is essential in maintaining the richness and diversity of our artistic achievement.
Alicia Malone: ‘Expert Curation Is Full of Incongruity and Pure Human Instinct’
As someone who watches movies for a living, you’d think I’d never be stumped about what to watch. But like so many of us, I’ve lost countless hours to fruitless scrolling. Wading through the endless apps and channels can be overwhelming. There’s no hierarchy of content. Since everything is jumbled together, it makes me feel like there is simultaneously too much to see and nothing good to watch.
The movie recommendation algorithms are not the answer; I’ve never understood why they offer ideas for movies just like the ones you’ve already seen. Surely, the true joy of watching movies lies in discovery: finding a film you’ve never heard of that becomes a new favorite; getting drawn into a story that makes you consider a subject in a different light; seeing a movie that is not your taste, but gives you a topic to debate with friends. I’ll never forget the moment I first caught “Leave Her to Heaven” on television and how entranced I was by Gene Tierney’s face as she committed dark deeds in bright Technicolor. I hadn’t realized that film noir could be colorful, and like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” I felt like my own world was switching from black and white to color, expanding with every new film discovery.
In deciding what to watch, I’ve always relied on the advice of experts to help push myself out of my comfort zone. As a teenager at my local video store in Canberra, Australia, I’d clutch my dog-eared copy of “Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide” while also taking the recommended staff picks into consideration. But today’s technology has led to a dwindling reliance on human recommendations.
Among the clutter of multiple streaming services offering seemingly limitless content, the cable channel Turner Classic Movies — where I work as a host — is among just a small handful of channels where humans still have control. The Criterion Channel, a streaming service, is another. Both are run by film experts with years of amassed knowledge, who handpick movies and place them within programming themes. Since these channels are easy to navigate, they encourage discovery for film buffs and newcomers alike. Even after working for TCM for six years, I still encounter movies playing on the channel that I’ve never before watched.
As self-checkouts become the norm and artificial intelligence takes over, I hope we never lose the skill of film programming. Expert curation is full of incongruity and pure human instinct; it can’t be replicated by technology.
The post The Big Question: What Is Underrated? appeared first on New York Times.
