Cultural Talent is an individual whose function is to shape direction within culture by assigning meaning that others orient around, independent of visibility, scale, or role. Its distinguishing characteristic is not output or reach, but the capacity to influence how taste, attention, and interpretation organize over time.

This term does not include popularity, technical proficiency, professional status, category leadership, or consistent output. It does not describe people who primarily execute within existing frameworks, amplify prevailing signals, or succeed through distribution advantage alone. It is not synonymous with influence as exposure, nor with expertise as credential.

The most common misread is treating Cultural Talent as a higher tier of recognition or success. It is neither. The distinction is functional, not hierarchical: some individuals participate in culture, while others determine its direction.

Cultural Talent names the latter, regardless of where or how that function appears.