Blog 6: Hunger for Being Noticed

 

( https://www.google.com/search?q=food+porn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIyoOWqOSJyAIVxBemCh26AQvV&biw=1920&bih=946#imgrc=BNEXHJJ4EZ-RKM%3A )

In this week’s class, we have been focusing on food and what role it plays in our virtual network. Personally I believe that is does have an influence and strangely, probably more often than what Facebook intended it to have. Foods presence is mostly prominent in photos being uploaded of friends who are impressed by a meal they have prepared or have had prepared for; feeling the necessity to upload it so the online society can all witness the marvellous creation they had the pleasure of indulging in.

The term ‘food porn’ has been trending on Facebook for a couple of years now and is described as photos of delicious foods that make viewers envious. This was especially common when users were going out to a fancy restaurant or were impressed with their own cooking skills and wanted to display it to the online world.  In terms of ‘self’, I believe it takes a certain type of person to upload their food.  A group of people who send each other photos of their food might do so in situations where their intentions are too show off or to make others jealous. Personally I believe it’s similar to body image shots and I would dare to link it with self-esteem issues and public acceptance needs.

Your community identity can determine what types of foods you upload, for example;  body builders will show off how much protein they are eating, or people who want to be perceived as wealthy might upload exquisite meals that have been prepared for them. Personally, uploading food to social media seems quite pointless to me and if an individual really wanted to see nice foods they will search for it on the internet, they do not need it shoved in their face through their news feeds begging for likes.

References:

Atkins, P and Bowler.I (2001). Food in Society: Economy, culture, geography. London, United Kingdom: Hodder Headline Group.
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Food Networks [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from learnjcu.jcu.edu.au