[Image: Bulandos, R, 2014].
Food
is essentially a concept of life. It is something that is essential for us, as
human beings, to survive. The six main foodways are: self and community
identity, space and place, reality and virtuality, communication, exchange, and
power, (Atkins, P, Bowler, I, 2001). Two of these foodways, communication and
power, will be exemplified in the setting of the social networking website,
Facebook.
Communication
is a key feature of Facebook. Due to the fact that food is such an essential
part of our lives, it is natural for some of us to communicate this need for it
on social media. Facebook is a brilliant resource that people use to share recipes,
photos of food that they have made, desire to make, or have been served, and
also to discuss experiences with food. In addition, Facebook provides food
brands or companies to promote their business and communicate to their
followers what promotions they have on or what is new in their food chain.
Facebook provides it’s users with the opportunity to share narratives, and this
includes narratives regarding food.
Power
is an additional foodway which will be linked to food, in the setting of
Facebook. According to Kuttainen, V, (2015), food can be a, “source of shame or
pride”. This quotes demonstrates that food has the power to affect someone’s
self-worth. Food also has the power to affect how Facebook users see each other.
If someone posts a photo of themselves eating at a very expensive 5 star
restaurant, then they may, as a result, be viewed as higher class. If someone ‘checks
in’ at McDonalds, then they may be seen as lower or middle class. Food has a
large amount of power on Facebook.
In
conclusion, it can clearly be seen how food is directly linked through
communication and power to Facebook. Food has the potential to have a
significant effect on the social networking website, Facebook. More can be read
about the relationship between food and social media here.
Reference List
Atkins, P., Bowler, I.
(2001). Food in Society. Retrieved
from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/webapps/Conc-camcontent-bb_bb60/items/getitem.jsp? as_course_code=12-BA1002-TSV-INT- SP2&content_id=_768726_1&course_id=_26169_1&doc_id=30459
on 18/09/15.
Kuttainen, V. (2015) BA1002: Our Space: Networks, Narratives, and
the Making of Place: Lecture 8. Retrieved
from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au on
18/09/15.
[Image] Bulandos, R.
(2014). 25 Ad Designs That Will Make You
Look Twice. Retrieved from http://ymbproperties.com/blog/25-ad-designs-that-will-make-you-look-twice/
on 18/09/15.
I completely agree with you on the fact that food can be linked with power and communication, as people are able upload pictures or videos of what they are eating at the time, whether at a fast food restaurant or a five star one, it can cause people to go into thought and havoc of their identity because of money, and how they and others perceive that (Atkins, 2001). Communication brings this in as well as food can be a topic that brings people together, common food interests can create friends you can share your loving desire for, and even eat it together when hanging out. Nowadays when we do hang out with friends, or "catch up" this is done at a cafe, restaurant or food is involved somewhere as it something we need, and something we love.
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion it is definitely evident that Facebook can be linked with terms of power and communication with food to show ones wealth, or lifestyle over another or bring us together.
Reference List;;
Atkins, P & Bowler, I. (2001) chapter 21:the origins of taste. Food In Society:Economy, Culture, Geography (P.p273). London, Great Britian: Arnold.