image from: http://media1.onsugar.com
But also, as Dr Kuttainen said in this weeks lecture; "food is not just food" (Kuttainen,V2015)
Since instagram is a social media site, users create and express their identity on there. A user may post photos of foods that are important to their heritage, or religion and therefore; identity. One factor in the origin and persistence of foodways is that they often represent an important expression of our identity, both as individuals and in reference to a broader ethnic, class or religious grouping. (Bowler,I & Atkins,P 2001)
REFERENCES:
Kuttainen, V. (2015) BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, Lecture 8: People Networks. [Powerpoint Slide p.2]. Retrieved from http://www.learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Atkins, P., & Bowler, I. (2001). Chapter 21: The origins of taste. In R. Radojicic (Ed.). Food in society: Economy, culture, geography (pp. 272-295). London, Great Britain: Arnold.
You touch on some good ideas in this post, such as food photography being based on aesthetics and food being used to express a person’s identity. However, I think you could have elaborated on the identity part. You mention an individual’s identity, but how does food on Instagram relate to community identity? How do users react to other people’s food? Does sharing one’s dinner on Instagram allow one to find other people with the same tastes? Is there one overruling ‘taste’ in food on the site? As Atkins et al. (2001) stated: “tastes are also derived from our culturally constructed inclinations for particular dishes and ingredients, and our socially-derived desire for our consumption habits to show us in the best possible light” (p. 272). I do not use Instagram much, but I imagine that the leading types of food photography would be that of restaurant food (so the user can show off the fancy places they eat at) and organic, healthy food (so the user can flaunt their healthy lifestyle). I think your post would have benefitted greatly from a specific example, but you still managed to get your ideas across to the reader so good job.
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Atkins, P., & Bowler, I. (2001). Chapter 21: The origins of taste. In R. Radojicic (Ed.). Food in society: Economy, culture, geography (pp. 272-295). London, Great Britain: Arnold.
I agree about Food photography being most prevalent on Instagram, but with Instagram and Facebook being linked now, and the ability to share Instagram photos to Facebook and Twitter among other sites, it's becoming almost impossible to scroll through a day's worth of news without seeing a post or two. But it's hard to judge people on it because it's something that has become so common in society, it's "an expression of identity" (Kuttainen, 2015) and an insight into someone's lives, the things they enjoy. It's a way of connecting with people on a deeper level, which is sometimes hard to see. But you are absolutely right when you say quote Kuttainen (2015) saying "food is not just food", because it's not any more. It's humans connecting through their love of food and sharing that love with people through social media.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Kuttainen, V. (2015) Our space: Networks, narratives, and the making of place, lecture 8: Food networks [Powerpoint Slides] Retrieved on September 18, 2015 from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au