This week’s theme in the lecture was food and the networks
surrounding it such as foodways. In the online social network I have been using
for my case study it’s not uncommon for people to post pictures of the meals
they have either made or bought. Whether this is to show how affluent they are
or how they have exceptional taste is unknown to me as I have never felt the
need to show what I was eating unless I had cooked the meal myself. The thing
that stood out to me in the lecture was the theories of choice in foods and how
while you may think you choose to eat what you want to eat, the power over what
you eat is kept by large corporations that choose foods which are the most
palatable to a wide range of people.
Black oxford apples Retrieved from https://outonalimbcsa.wordpress.com/apple-varieties/black-oxford/
Raj Patel(2007) in his book “stuffed and starved” talks
about the ways there are only certain types of apple available to consumers as
they are the varieties that travel well, are pleasant in taste for a wide
variety of people and take well to waxing techniques to make them appealing for
sale. Looking at the pictures of apples for sale on the Woolworths website is a
good example, how many apple have you seen that were as shiny as these.
On Facebook people re-enforce this majority rules, with people taking photos of
meals they think will impress their friends. Even if this food is terrible so
long as it looks good there is no problem. It’s an example of how “taste is
constructed” (Kuttain, 2015) that people only seem to post photos of food they
know will be well received by their friends, whether this is because of how
healthy it is, how classy, how decadent or how adventurous it is.
References
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our space: Networks,
narratives, and the making of place, lecture 8: Food networks. [PowerPoint
slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Patel, R. (2007). Stuffed and starved: Markets, power and
the hidden battle for the world food system. Melbourne, Australia: Black Inc.
Image credit
Black Oxford Apples, Unknown author. Retrieved from https://outonalimbcsa.wordpress.com/apple-varieties/black-oxford/
Black Oxford Apples, Unknown author. Retrieved from https://outonalimbcsa.wordpress.com/apple-varieties/black-oxford/
Your blog raises some interesting points and I certainly agree with you. It is amazing to see just how many photos of food are uploaded to Facebook, and like yourself, I rarely upload a picture of foods I have eaten (save for the birthday cake I had just last week). It is interesting to think about the power the corporations have over the choices we as consumers make. As discussed in the tutorial, we believe we have the choice, yet the choices are constructed by companies selecting the most 'appropriate' foods to be displayed in stores. Kuttainen (2015), discussed how food can be linked to an expression of one's identity, and as suggested in your blog this can be seen by the types of foods one will upload. This can also be linked back to power as only photos that will make the food look appealing will be the photos that make it on sites such as Facebook in order to perhaps impress others.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives, and the making of place, Lecture 8: Food networks. [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from: http://www.jculearn.edu.au.
Social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram are often bombarded with photos and statuses about food. Often many people do not think much off it, rather that how yummy it looks, however it is quite surprising how much we as humans can subconsciously be affect by what we see or read. Whether it be a bad review which makes us avoid a restaurant or motivates us to eat healthy, or even pushes us to go out and try something sweet. As Atkins states “food messages are received even when there is no advertisement”. This statement supports the belief that we are affected by our society, whom are not advertising for a company, more so than the company themselves.
ReplyDeleteAtkins, P. Bowler, I. (2001). Food in society: economy, culture, geography. New York, United States of America: oxford university press Inc.
I never truly understood why people felt it necessary to put up pictures of their foods on social media; however, what you said makes complete sense after this week’s lecture. Instead of seeing these pictures as ‘the latest trend’ I now understand that like you say, these tastes are constructed and can signal status (Kuttainen, 2015). These not only show ones status but also helps create an identity.
ReplyDeleteFor example, an individual showing off their five star restaurant meal would be seen as someone with a high status and importance; compared to an individual that put up a picture of them eating their left over Maccas from 2 nights ago. Not only would that show their low status it is just down right disgusting. Of course there is very little of the latter, as like you said they are put up to impress others, which further proves your point of majority rules idea you brought up.
References:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Making of Place, Week 8: Networked Narratives: Food. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/
Your ideas concerning power and choice are interesting as Patel (2007) states that the food system is shaped by others, and your comments on food variety had not occurred to me before. The idea that we, as consumers, lack choice (and thus power) and that constructed taste revolves around what would be received best by peers is a confronting thought. I remember the first time I was presented with a tomato and cheese sandwich (and it should be noted that I hated tomato at the time); I ate it anyway because I didn’t want to be different. On that same tangent, walking around the grocery store, I find that I only ever pick the same apple from the shelf, perhaps with more variety available I would have more favourites.
ReplyDeleteReference:
Patel, R. (2007). Stuffed and starved: Markets, power and the hidden battle for the world food system. Melbourne, Australia: Black Inc.