The article writen by Roland Barthes, “Toward a Psychosociologist of Contemporary Food Consumption” is an analysis of foods role in our modern world. The fact that United States consumes almost twice the amount of sugar as the French should be important to several professions. Economics, politics, psychosociologist, advertising, and historians should all be intrigued. As Americans, we use sugar as a key ingredient when cooking. A more general overview, food contains symbolic meaning and can be a form of communication in particular societies and cultures. These meanings may vary depending on the social status, language, location, religion, and other such aspects. Foods can also contain a ‘spirit’ depending on its taste. Think about food categories in the United States such as sweet, salty, and crisp. Each of these categories means something different. When thinking of crisp, words such as briskness or sharpness arise. On the opposite, sweet foods are often paired with terms such as soft or soothing.
Advertising has become a major factor in foods role in society. Through considerable production of false perception and values, customers have become faithful to certain brands. Within the topic of food, there are three themes that go along with its role in society. The first is the historical quality of food. This revolves around food as a function and tradition. The second theme is the feelings attached with foods. For example, in visual advertising, there are often genders that are assigned with certain types of foods. The last theme is health. People strive for energy, alertness, and relaxation when they consume foods. Modern nutritional science is bound to the values of power instead of moral values (asceticism, wisdom, or purity) as usually perceived. Food is at the core of just about everything we do. It targets other behaviors and often expresses situations.
I would love any specific critques you have about either of my pieces. I fixed my summary the best I could but, without knowing what was incorrect in the first draft, I am not sure if I correctly fixed it.
ReplyDeleteIn “Toward a Psychosociologist of Contemporary Food Consumption”, Roland Barthes provides an analysis of foods role in our modern world. Barthes, a French structuralist, describes how food has become a system of communication and contains various symbolic meaning to several ethnicities. Barthes believes that the fact that United States consumes almost twice the amount of sugar as the French should intrigue several professions, including economics, politics, psychosociologist, advertising, and historians.
Barthes continues with a general overview of how food contains symbolic meaning and can be a form of communication in particular societies and cultures. These meanings may vary depending on the social status, language, location, religion, and other such aspects. Foods can also contain a ‘spirit’ depending on its taste. Think about food categories in the United States such as sweet, salty, and crisp. Each of these categories means something different. When thinking of crisp, words such as briskness or sharpness arise. On the opposite, sweet foods are often paired with terms such as soft or soothing.
Advertising has become a major factor in foods role in society. Through considerable production of false perception and values, customers have become faithful to certain brands. Barthes is puzzled by the means of advertizing. Consumers are so willing to believe the inflated statements about a product. They will often choose one brand over another identical one just due to advertizing.
Barthes wraps up his paper by discussing the three themes that go along with food and its role in society. The first is the historical quality of food. This revolves around food as a function and tradition. The second theme is the feelings attached with foods. For example, in visual advertising, there are often genders that are assigned with certain types of foods. The last theme is health. People strive for energy, alertness, and relaxation when they consume foods. Modern nutritional science is bound to the values of power instead of moral values (asceticism, wisdom, or purity) as usually perceived. Basically, Bathes is arguing that food is at the core of just about everything we do. It targets other behaviors and often expresses situations.