This article considers the conceptual framework of Agnes Heller's theoretical writings on the dynamics and concepts of Western culture. In particular, it identifies some of the tensions inhering in her notion of cultural conversation. By means of a critical exegesis, it further suggests that this signal contribution to the theorization of cultural modernity obfuscates two distinct modalities of discourse: dialectics and dialogue. Distinguishing the differentia specific of Heller's concept of cultural discourse is dependent upon recognizing these dissimilar modalities, but, in doing so, one is further warranted to suggest re-aligning dialectical discourse with the practices apposite to the value-marked conceptualization of high/low culture. The residual denotation of dialogical discourse is thereby questioned in terms of its sui generis cultural-and not merely existential-salience.