“The aesthetic experience is a simple beholding of the object . . . you experience a radiance. You are held in aesthetic arrest.” - Joseph Campbell
Aesthetic Arrest is our weekly dip into the Epicurean pleasures we’ve been enjoying lately. Cheers to that!
Our Cocktail Recommendations for the week:
A Manhattan (recommended by Del Mar, who said: “Manhattan Cocktail, with a single grain Rye whiskey, sometimes Maker's Mark, bitters and Carpano Antica red vermouth from Italy- which by itself, is a drink! stirred, not shaken, straight up.”)
A Manhattan [Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons]
A Dark ‘N’ Stormy (recommended by Andrea Engstrom, who said: “Dark rum and ginger beer served over ice and garnished with lime.”)
Ryan Wildstar’s Recommendations:
Reading: The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition by Ursula K. Le Guin (author) & Charles Vess (illustrator) [Recommended by Adam Bryson!]
Listening: The Music of Elizabeth Fraser [Recommended by Christina!]
Looking: The Art & Design of Erté (1892-1990) [Recommended by kde!]
Viewing: Dead Ringers — starring Rachel Weisz and . . . Rachel Weisz! (Miniseries developed by Alice Birch, based on the 1988 film of the same name directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeremy Irons, itself adapted from the 1977 novel Twins by Bari Wood & Jack Geasland! [Recommended by Katie Kleinhesselink!]
Tasting: Searching for Tiramisu! [Recommended by Christina!] Part 1 - The Rooms Restaurant in Tirana, Albania
Ryan Elston’s Recommendations:
Reading: The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich [Recommended by kde!]
Listening: The Music of Ivalas Quartet [Recommended by Chris!]
Looking: The Art & Design of Erté (1892-1990) [Recommended by kde!]
Viewing: Severance (Apple TV+) — starring Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken & Patricia Arquette [Recommended by Katie Kleinhesselink!]
Tasting: Searching for Tiramisu! [Recommended by Christina!] Part Two: Someg Bakery in Tirana, Albania
Well, that’s it for this week . . . but we have one final shoutout we have to make before we sign off. On one of our podcasts last month, we asked: Who is one of your favorite LGBTQ+ artists? And Brenda Bryson said . . . Ryan & Ryan! That’s us! Thank you, Brenda, for recommending us as your favorite LGBTQ+ artists! We’re honored.
When this podcast comes out, we will actually be in Paris! But we didn’t want to take a week off, so we decided to do a listener’s choice podcast! And when we get back, next week is going to be French Week!
So, our question for the table this week is:
What is one of YOUR favorite French things? French fries? French toast? Notre Dame? Brie cheese? Edith Piaf? Marcel Proust? It can be anything you love that’s French.
Tell us your choice in the comments and we’ll share some of your responses on next week’s podcast! And thank you for joining us for Season Two of Aesthetic Arrest!
Cheers to that!
Aesthetic Arrest Podcast: Earthsea, Elizabeth Fraser, Erté & Louise Erdrich!