What happens when we take comics, cocktails, or conversation as seriously as we take classical painting or symphonies? Why do certain forms of art gain cultural legitimacy, while others are dismissed? And what does this tell us about how we value creativity in everyday life?

Aaron Meskin is a professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Georgia. He is a leading philosopher of aesthetics, known for expanding the boundaries of what counts as art by examining comics, video games, food, and other cultural practices. His work pushes philosophical inquiry beyond the traditional fine arts to consider how everyday and popular forms of expression carry aesthetic and cultural value.

In this episode, we explore why aesthetic experience matters—not just in museums, but in homes, cities, and daily life. We start by talking about architecture and place, and how the age or design of a space can shape our psychological and cultural sense of belonging. Aaron challenges the idea that only "high art" is worth reflecting on and emphasizes how things like beer, fashion, interior design, and television are also domains where people make and experience beauty.

We also dive into Aaron’s work on comics, where he explains why it’s not always necessary—or even helpful—to define what a comic is. Instead, he argues that understanding art can come from paying attention to the features and experiences that make a work meaningful. We discuss the unique intimacy of comics created by a single author, the rise of memoir and autobiography in graphic novels, and how comics merge visual and narrative storytelling in ways traditional literature can’t. Finally, we explore whether food and drink can be considered art, what separates creativity from art-making, and even whether a podcast conversation might count as an aesthetic experience. This episode is a thoughtful journey through the many forms of expression that surround us—and an invitation to start noticing them more fully.