AM or FM?

A Culture Quiz for the Restless

I have never cared much for conversations that begin with cholesterol numbers or end in campaign slogans. At a certain age, one longs for something lighter — and sharper.

When I was a boy, AM radio carried the chatter of the day. FM was where you found Bach, Coltrane, late-night jazz, and the occasional unexpected marvel. You had to turn the dial carefully. The signal wasn’t always strong, but when it came in, it felt like discovery.

What follows is a small game for social occasions — a way to tune the air.

There are no right answers. Only frequencies.

Choose quickly. Overthinking spoils the sport.

I. Music & Cities

Jazz or Pop?
Coltrane or Coldplay?
Vinyl or Algorithm?
Live performance or curated playlist?
Silence or background noise?

San Francisco or New York?
Paris or Las Vegas?
Highway 1 or Interstate 95?

II. Food & Civilisation

Red or White?

Tartare or well cooked?

Anchovy or Pineapple?
(Answers may require gentle explanation.)

Butter or Margarine?
Olive oil or Ranch dressing?
Oyster or Chicken Nugget?
Black coffee or caramel foam?
Tap water or bottled identity?

III. Film as Confession

Apocalypse Now or Good Morning, Vietnam?
Escape from New York or Used Cars?
Road to Perdition or Forrest Gump?
Drowning Mona or On Golden Pond?
The Big Lebowski or Mission: Impossible?
Chinatown or the Marvel Universe?
The Godfather or Fast & Furious?
Barbie or Self-Immolation?

IV. Literature & Mind

Didion or Instagram captions?
Dog-eared paperback or Kindle highlight?
First edition or book club edition?
Margin notes or pristine pages?

V. Costume (Footwear as Destiny)

Weejuns or Crocs?
Levis or Chinos?

VI. Temperament

Wit or volume?
Irony or outrage?
Campfire or conference room?
Map or GPS voice?
E-bike or pushbike?