The Hollywood Handshake

Phenomenology of Bake Off

The highest honor you can receive on The Great British Baking Show is not “Star Baker.”

No, the highest honor is a handshake from Paul Hollywood, the blue-eyed judge — our image of God the Father, if he were born a low-class British boy become a wildly successful baker.

If, truly, the contestant is able to configure a cake of musical flavors that breaks some barrier — if they aspire to bake beyond their ability and yet bring something to fruition that both startles and delights — if they’re able to make good to the promise that creation is worthwhile, Paul Hollywood extends his hand.

That reminds me of The Creation of Adam, as God the Father reaches out to Adam, offering to touch him with his divinity.

Soggy bottoms and all, the contestants occasionally reach back, touch the Father, and bring glory to the confections.

I don’t think I’m making a joke, necessarily, that The Great British Baking Show contains Christian motifs. Nor do I think it’s something so profoundly deep that we all need to point and gawk as if we’ve just discovered The Covenant of the Ark. I think it’s simpler than that.

It’s both mundane and beautiful. When things function, when things are elegant and we like to watch, they contain motifs…