Image retrieved from: http://41.media.tumblr.com/b5b8c5d5777d24abf7ecb5aa40508cab/tumblr_inline_nm2nhtdVwy1t3kw0f_540.jpg
Back in 2012, Instagram experienced an incredibly gigantic food craze; users took social media platforms to another level, and invaded their dinner tables to snap a photo of their meals. Whether it was used to present their healthy eating habits, or simply to add variety to the countless selfies and scenic shots, food photography has become a significant part of social media.
As Kuttainen (2015) stated in this week’s lecture, food can be perceived “as a repository or a mirror of culture”. To be more specific, the presence of food in the social media world has impacted and constructed self and community identity. On the Virginia Bloggers page, bloggers discuss the positive impacts of food photography in social media; according to the author, foodgramming on social media has assisted in promoting healthy living in the younger generations. While this may be so, Patel (2007) discusses the underlying issues related to food. Patel (2007, p.8) writes about the convenience of food and how this “dissuades [us] from asking hard questions” about food production, advertisement and consumption. Furthermore, he also agues that what we eat and how much we eat reflects our economic status. Kuttainen (2015) supported this theory when she stated that social media users post images of particular foods to demonstrate what they consider to be high-end or exotic. In saying that, posting particular foods on social media platforms can virtually change someone’s economic status.
Although we don’t consider it, “taste...has both physical and social meanings” (Atkins et al. 2001). Since the trend began, users have continued to upload photos of their meals, whether they are exotic, prestige, home-made or so on. Such posts, whether it is obvious or not, has a role in influencing the identity of self and the community.
Reference list
Atkins, P. and Bowler, I. (2001). The origins of taste. In P. Atkins and I. Bowler (Eds.), Food in society: Economy, culture, geography (pp. 272-295). London, Great Britain: Arnold.
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Our space: Networks, narratives and the making of place. Lecture 8: Food networks. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au
Patel, R. (2007). Introduction. In R. Patel (Ed.), Stuffed and starved: Markets, power and the hidden battle for the world food system (pp.1-19). Melbourne, Australia: Black Inc.
Image credits
Tips for taking the perfect foodgram [image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://41.media.tumblr.com/b5b8c5d5777d24abf7ecb5aa40508cab/tumblr_inline_nm2nhtdVwy1t3kw0f_540.jpg
Consumers also use Facebook's social media communities to get online opinions about what to eat at night, how to improve culinary skills and what foods to buy. This 'food' culture can represent expressions of self identity and community identity. It is about perceptions of ourselves, as well as perceptions of others in how we measure up according to worldview.
ReplyDelete(Patel, 2007) argues that corporations (like Facebook) that sell food, shape and constrain how we eat, and think about food. 'Health' groups on Facebook, which are dedicated to consuming the 'right' foods may become self-criticism traps. In your mirror gaze, you may consider yourself inadequate.
Food decisions may be influenced by what we see on Facebook's news feeds or on our iPhones. Facebook effectively uses content marketing yo inform 'meaningful' relationships with consumers with profit motive as a driving force.
Reference:
Patel, R. (2007). Stuffed and starved: The hidden battle for the world food system. Brooklyn, N.Y: Melville House Publishing.