The Mystical High Church of Luck: Decoding Las Vegas (with Ari Shaffir)

“Things don’t happen in Las Vegas. Things are happened in Las Vegas. All actions in the town are so meticulously predicted and orchestrated that spontaneity itself exists only as the ghost of compulsion.”  –Rolf Potts (in 1998)

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Ari discuss Rolf’s 1998 Las Vegas essay “The Mystical High Church of Luck,” and their relationship to their early creative work (2:30); how the experience of Las Vegas depends on what stage of life you’re in, how Vegas compares to New Orleans, and how Rolf and Ari have a hard time enjoying themselves when they go there (14:00); the stereotypes that surround Las Vegas, why it is difficult to write about, and how one might find original experiences there (30:00); what it would be like to live in Las Vegas, and the mysteries and mechanics of “luck” (47:00).

Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian, writer, podcaster, and actor. He is the host of the Skeptic Tank podcast. His latest comedy special, JEW, is available on YouTube.

Las Vegas Links:

• The Mystical High Church of Luck, by Rolf Potts (1998 essay)
• Circus Circus Las Vegas (hotel and casino)
• Caesars Palace (casino resort in Las Vegas)
• Ghostbar (Las Vegas nightclub)
• History of Las Vegas
• Rat Pack (20th century Las Vegas entertainers)
• Casino (1995 film)
• At Home in the Neon, by Dave Hickey (essay)
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Hunter S. Thompson novel)
• The Hangover (2009 American comedy film)
• Las Vegas, Tis of Thee, by Richard Todd (essay)
• Fremont Street (popular gambling street in Las Vegas)
• Las Vegas Strip (popular gambling street)
• Valley of Fire State Park (recreation area near Las Vegas)
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
• SEMA auto show (car accessory convention)
• Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show (convention)

Other Links:

• Van Life before #VanLife (Deviate episode)
• Salvador Dalí Museum (St. Petersburg art museum)
• Atlantic City (casino resort city in New Jersey)
• March Madness (college basketball tournament)
• Joe Rogan (American comedian and podcaster)
• Odyssey: Driving Around the World (TV documentary)
• Antoni Gaudí (Catalan architect)
• Easy Rider (1969 road-trip film)
• Roseanne (American TV sitcom)
• High Fidelity (2000 American film)
• Portlandia (America TV series)
• Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book)
• TraveCon (convention)
• Foxwoods Resort Casino (Connecticut tribal casino)
• Steven Soderbergh (American filmmaker)
• Shepard Fairey (American artist)
• Tim Ferriss (American author and investor)
• Pablo Picasso (Spanish artist)
• Wandering Jew (plant)
• Psychogeography (creative exploration of places)
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (museum in Cleveland)

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.