In this episode, I talk with Aaron Meskin, a philosopher of aesthetics whose work spans comics, food, popular culture, and the philosophy of art. We begin by talking about architecture, cultural memory, and the feeling of living in spaces that carry historical weight. From there, we explore what it means to care about beauty in different domains, why some people care deeply about buildings or fashion, while others are drawn to beer, music, or television. Aaron suggests that aesthetics isn't limited to galleries or museums, it’s part of everyday life, and we all engage with it, whether through a shared concert experience or the design of our homes.

We dive deep into comics as an art form, what makes them unique, why it's difficult (and maybe unnecessary) to define them, and how their hybrid structure of text and image creates new forms of narrative and expression. Aaron reflects on how comics offer intimacy, especially when created by a single artist, and why they deserve more philosophical attention. We also touch on food and drink as potential art forms, considering when a cocktail or a carefully prepared dish becomes more than just consumption. Toward the end, we challenge the boundaries of art itself, asking whether conversation and podcasting could be considered artistic forms, and what criteria we use to make that judgment.

Throughout, we explore how aesthetics helps us pay attention, how it’s social, and how it enables new ways of connecting to each other and the world. Whether through a comic, a gourmet meal, or a walk through a 14th-century village, aesthetic experiences are all around us Sometimes we just need to notice them.