I’m more than happy to flit between highbrow and lowbrow pursuits

September 20, 2024 12:00 pm(Updated 12:10 pm)

A friend of mine recently told me his way of exploring a new city – a way he called, “high culture, low culture”. Basically, it involves doing at least one thing that you would expect a visiting king to do, even after doing something cheap, commercial or dirty.

A trip to London might include going to see a Millwall game followed by dinner at The Wolseley. In Berlin, the night would start at the Berlin Philharmonic and end with a sesh at Berghain, a famous techno club. In my hometown of Birmingham, I would suggest seeing the Birmingham Royal Ballet before wearing a Skittle Bomb at The Village Inn – a venue that hosts cabaret shows and drag nights. You can finish by polishing the lid of Santorini halloumi – a kind of compromise in the middle.

It’s a simple way of approaching life that I’ve never heard before – oh my High Profit the podcast was completely beyond me. This combination appeals to me because it offers a balance: the opportunity to avoid pomposity and to avoid getting involved in a lot of waste, but it allows you to enjoy a little of both. I’m afraid to say it, it gives a little perspective.

Until recently my tendency would be more in the categories you can call “cultural and gastronomic”. In the off season there was a month or so where I watched European art house movies on MUBI while drinking organic wine. Then, suddenly, I realized I was going to be a cheater, and I got myself a pie from Fray Bentos, San Miguels and binged. Love Is Blind. That started the time of buying food from the corner store I had as a child, like Brain’s Fagots, canned peas, frozen fish and chips – and watching shows infinite a Selling Sunset.

My desire for Brains Fagots may be lacking in whatever Brain’s Fagots gives you (salt?). But perhaps it was more philosophical than that. In fact, my body said: “You’ve seen a lot of pictures going on in the French countryside where not much happens. You have to do something real.” In my wisdom I thought it meant I had to keep eating and watching garbage (and only garbage).

I didn’t think I could say, watch Selling Sunset with a glass of natural wine. Or watch an obscure Isabelle Huppert movie with a box of 20 nuggets. Apparently, watching something chin-strokey helps soften the BBQ sauce.

Some would say that the “high and low” offerings are no longer defined, and that the two groups have merged. Of course, there are several things that mark both choices at the same time. In terms of food I would say that the top pit fish method is a perfect example. Tuna tin is something I once associated with a boy called Simon who I knew at school who used to stick his ribs out the window of the 11 bus.

But recently canned fish has been revived in culture. One company, which sells “Cantabrian tuna in olive oil” in a beautifully designed box, describes the act of tinning the fish as “an art form”. I’m inclined to agree… But bottom line: it’s a fish can. It is also low culture.

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And then stand-up comedy, by its very nature, is low culture. Wanting to make people laugh is needy and desperate, and wanting to be laughed at is just as bad. But then you see someone as high as James Acaster, and you’re instantly up and down. Yes, I am comparing James Acaster to a tin of fish.

What is my decision on following a high/low “diet”? It gives wisdom, balance and introspection. It reminds us that when we strip away the makeup of our chosen identity, that we are all the same, nothing more. Each of us can enjoy everything: opera is for the poor and kings must dance in the gutters.

So I encourage everyone to find time every day to do something high and low. Oh, and another way you can do both at the same time is with my book, Art Hole. Yes, it’s basically a collection of amazing art stories and obscure stories, but it’s also an “artist monograph”, which is about as high art as you can get. Think of this as a cross between Marina Abramović and Timmy Mallett (a Serbian icon and a guy running around with a giant foam spear). Or if you don’t want to do that, make yourself a “chip butty” and watch Great beauty by Paolo Sorrentino.

This week I have been…

Reading… A unique book by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong Art As Therapy. Art is considered a very important, mysterious thing, but I often leave the gallery thinking: “What was that all about?” This book provides many answers and I think it would be a valuable book for all curators, people who work in galleries, and anyone who loves art.

Watching… On days when I was too tired to read I was re-watching Nick Clegg’s “I’m Sorry” video which was an electronic banger; John Travolta tries to advertise Idina Menzel at the Oscars; Ed Miliband tells Jeremy Paxman he is “difficult”; and a series of ASMR videos of women looking at you gently in a sophisticated hotel.

Listened to… Zero 7 is one of my all time favorite artists and they have released a new album under the moniker Swim Surreal. In the Half Light. I live such a fast paced life where I’m always running down hallways and yelling at little people that sometimes I find it hard to relax. Next to getting acupuncture from Tommy from Groundforce, this album still helps me switch off after a busy day, and my favorite track is “The Endless Wave”. Additionally I have been listening to white noise and Today A program on Radio 4 (it’s the same thing for me).

Thinking… So much for what it would be like if all people turned their heads like owls. Would it seem impolite to talk to someone with your body facing away from them but your head facing them? I think maybe, but maybe not? Would it be so good to be able to completely change our heads? If you are trying not to startle the victim, it is very easy to move your head in such a way that you do not make unnecessary sounds. But, I never bother with surprise prey, so maybe the ability to 360 turn my head isn’t something I need? I am writing this at 3am.

‘Joe Lycett’s Art Hole’ is published in hardback, audio and eBook on September 26 (Trapeze, £35)