Confessional: I Don't Like Short Fiction

If you're an intelligent, humanities-type person, I would wager that there are a certain number of cultural categories that you feel almost obligated to like, or at least grudgingly commit yourself to keeping up-to-date with.

You know what I'm talking about. The "this proves I'm smart" list. It includes things like:

• "Important" movies
• Semi-obscure scientific discoveries
• The vaguely defined world of art
• Philosophies
• Capitalized Literature
• lower-case bands
• World events
• Obscure cheeses
• Classic cocktails
• A genteel smattering of classical music, dance, and the theater

And, in certain circles,

• A mostly-smirking appreciation of current "pop" culture