place (someone or something) (up) on a pedestal
To believe or behave as if someone or something is perfect, extraordinarily wonderful, or better than others. I know it's easy to be smitten with a romantic partner, but I don't think it's healthy for one to place the other up on a pedestal. Stephen has been placing classic literature on a pedestal ever since college, so he gets really judgmental of other genres he deems to be inferior.