"Accounting for Taste"

Hey All

I'm trying to catch up on my reading and recently read an article called "Accounting for Taste" in a Psychology Today Mag from the writer Eric Gardner.  Psychology to Photography???  I know I know where is the transition, right?  My major in University was Psychology but the transition makes sense...maybe I'll explain one day.  

Anyway...Eric went on to write a brilliant article about our choices in art and music and what that says about our personality. 

I've took the liberty to paraphrase the article but keep in mind there are opposite sides to each of these styles that have both positive and negative attributes.  I chose to just elaborate on the positive but you can read the article for more details.

The Taste Hunters, enjoy discovering new artistic material and influencing the taste of others.  Their openness correlates to a great range of taste.  And are constantly sampling new music, scouring movies and visiting art museums.

The Thrill Seekers, are extroverts that are lively, active and social people that crave sensory excitement in their art.  They maybe attracted to abstract or surreal art from such artists like Jackson Pollock.  They also enjoy music with vocals as they are drawn to human voice. 

The Self-Medicators, feeds off raw emotional songs and gravitate to emotionally turbulent art.  They utilize inspirational message as self affirmation and self medication and often focus on content rather than structure.  Art can regulate their moods from melancholic or uplifting music, books, movies or pictures.  

While I don't like to assing myself into any one style, but it begs the question "what style best  describes me"???  Based on my own perception of my self I think I would be a "Taste Hunter". But if you ask my wife I would probably be a "Self Medicator"  All said and done I think I would like other to see me as a "Thrill Seeker" but I'm not sure why.  

You tell me.  Based on my favourite pics of 2008, what style do you think fits me better?  The Taste Hunter, the Thrill Seeker or the Self Medicator.  Then let me know what style fits you and why. And even try to list some of the styles of your favourite photographers like the photographers I've listed on the side of the blog.  Who knows maybe they'll offer their opinion of their style as well. 

My Favourite Pics of 2008