“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!
This Week’s Apéritif: Classic Hot Toddies (Lemon, Cinnamon Sticks, Honey and Konjak [Cognac])
Ryan Wildstar’s Recommendations:
Reading: Nights Too Short to Dance by Marie-Claire Blais
Review of Nights Too Short to Dance (via Quill & Quire)
Marie-Claire Blais reflects on her 10-book novel cycle (via Quill & Quire)
Listening: The Music of Snow Raven
Looking: The Art of Anna Boberg (1864-1935)
Viewing: Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage) directed by René Laloux and written by Laloux and Roland Topor. (50th Anniversary — released December 6th, 1973)
Tasting: High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America - Season 2 (Netflix)
‘High On The Hog’ Season 2 Centers Food As Freedom (via Forbes)
With Season 2, ‘High on the Hog’ Deepens the Story of the Nation’s Black Food Traditions (via Civil Eats)
'High on the Hog' Season 2: How Black cuisine shapes American culture (via KCRW)
Ryan Elston’s Recommendations:
Reading: Blackouts by Justin Torres
Read or listen to an excerpt of the novel here! (via MacMillan)
'Blackouts' is an ingenious deathbed conversation between two friends (via NPR)
Listening: Echoes: Ancient & Modern by Trevor Horn (featuring Iggy Pop, Lady Blackbird, Tori Amos, Seal, Marc Almond, Andrea Corr & more!)
Trevor Horn talks to SDE about his new album (via Super Deluxe Edition)
Looking: The Art of Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh: Sovereignty - Official U.S. Presentation, 59th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale
Check out the Simone Leigh Retrospective at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. (currently on view until March 3, 2024!). After that, the exhibition travels to LACMA in Los Angeles (on view from May 26, 2024 until January 20, 2025!).
Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum hosts a retrospective of Simone Leigh's work (via NPR)
Viewing: Planet Earth III (BBC, BBC America & AMC+) — presented & narrated by David Attenborough
Tasting: Still We Rise: A Love Letter to the Southern Biscuit with Over 70 Sweet and Savory Recipes by Erika Council
That’s it for this week! But we want the dinner party to continue! So each week we are asking a “dinner party” question for everyone joining us here at our table. Last week, we asked: “What's one of YOUR favorite soups?” Here are some of the great responses from the comments:
Ryan Wildstar chose his Great-Grandma Belle's Borscht!
Ryan Elston chose Vietnamese Phở!
Mary Chase chose Caldo Verde!
Cheryl chose Chinese Hot and Sour Soup and Thai Tom Yum!
kde chose Vegetable, Bean & Barley Soup and Potato Soup!
Del Mar chose Matzo Ball Soup, Wor Wonton Soup, and Brazilian Paprika Chicken Stew!
Thank you everyone for your wonderful responses! That was last week . . . but we don't want this week's dinner party to end either!
So here is this week's question for the table:
This week we talked about the 1973 cult classic film, Fantastic Planet. We then realized this was the first time we’ve ever discussed an animated film here on the podcast.
So, our question for the table this week is:
What's one of YOUR favorite animated films?
Tell us your choice in the comments and we’ll share some of your responses on next week’s podcast!
Also, don't forget to stop by The Epicurean Vagabonds Substack on Wednesdays, to check out our revamped Mid-Week Libations! Now with audio segments featuring Ryan & Ryan!
And thank you for joining us for Season Two of Aesthetic Arrest!
Cheers to that!
Aesthetic Arrest Podcast: Trevor Horn, High on the Hog, Fantastic Planet, Planet Earth III & Erika Council's Bomb Buttermilk Biscuits!