For Mixtape #4, we asked some of our writers: What arts, writing, or culture help get you through the winter months?
Matthew Beeber, Chicagoan: While it may not get me through all the winter months (it’s more of a December thing), I am somewhat buoyed by an annual screening of A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the less reverent but funnier (a controversial opinion) sequel, It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown.
Sarah Dowling, poet and literary critic: I’m from Saskatchewan, and even though I haven’t lived there since I was a teenager, it’s still my point of reference for winter. When I think of winter, I think of Allen Sapp’s paintings—he captures the light so beautifully (what little of it there is!).
John Fredericks, PhD student: I’ve been cooking a lot of bean-forward recipes lately: cannellini bean and kale soup, black bean soup, and, of course, the obligatory Southern-style black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. I’ve also been reading a bunch of fiction. I highly recommend Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland.
Amber Jamilla Musser, theorist of embodiment: I just streamed Love Lies Bleeding and it is providing a lot of great winter inspiration. From seeing muscled babes to enjoying 80s fashion, and lesbian sex, the whole experience was transformative and the antidote to my windy, cold reality.
Sam Norcross, contributing writer: I’m a cold weather kind of guy, so I tend to lean into it. Just picked up a copy of the Louise Glück collection Winter Recipes and will probably re-watch Fargo or the Olive Kitteridge mini-series on a chilly Sunday coming soon. I’ve also landed on lapsang souchong as my warm beverage for this winter—if you’re looking for a tea that tastes like smoked leather, look no further!
Andy Perluzzo, PhD Student in Literary Studies: Winter in Québec comes with brilliantly sunny days at chillingly negative temperatures, perfect for bundling up for long walks or hitting cross-country ski trails. Headphones in tow, I’ve been really into lengthy nonfiction audiobooks, most recently Patrick Radden Keefe’s Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, Matthew Desmond’s Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, and Stephen Bown’s Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada. While not my preferred genre for reading, these books and their detailed histories have been excellent companions while basking in as much sunshine as possible during the season’s shortened days.
Sarah Sgro, Visiting Assistant Professor of Literature and Creative Writing, Hamilton College: I’m currently embracing my hobbyist era, using the winter months to learn a little bit about a bunch of things I may or may not consistently pursue. Here’s that era’s syllabus: everything in my partner Rose’s fragrance lab, with special attention to galbanum, vetiver, geranium, and musk; beginner books on ferments and breads (I’m late to the whole sourdough thing); Katherine Bradford’s swimmers and an open tab for an Intro to Painting class. And, to stay on brand, various internet novels while I finish my own.
Mitch Therieau, Culture Editor: I’ve been regressing to my high school self and listening to a lot of Counting Crows. Their song “A Murder of One” is the most emotionally bombastic song I’ve ever heard. I love it. Most people in my life who I’ve played it for do not. It is my “break glass in case of emergency” song. It can’t be overused. Whenever I listen to it I tend to receive some cosmic sign that I shouldn’t be listening to it. It has caused me to fail to pull over and let a fire truck pass on at least one occasion. One time I heard it on the radio and I missed an exit, adding almost an hour to my commute. The other week I was feeling raw about a professional disappointment and I put on “A Murder of One.” Spotify immediately started recommending me self-help podcasts.
MTC Mixtapes: asks our editors, writers, and readers to share their responses to a particular question about something they’re loving, hating, fascinated by, or curious about right now.