Barthes' article "Toward a psychosociology of contemporary food consumption" breaks down the ways people unintentionally communicate with the foods they eat. Barthes approaches the topic from the viewpoint of both the individual and the whole, through psychology and sociology. As a opening to his topic Barthes brings in the food culture of another country, hoping it will allow his own countrymen to open their minds to what he is about to say.
Barthes goes into how the words we use to describe the foods we eat make up the syntaxes of food's language. The words themselves give the food a "spirit" all its own that takes it to a whole new level of exstience. The food itself begins to have a whole new meaning for what it stands for to society and inviduals.
Futher on into the article Barthes dicusses how through food the French are able to retain their links to the past. To the french the whole concept of food is one gaint family tradition, but for the country as a whole. They all come together through food the way others do for holidays. Barthes shows that the food allows everyone to communicate with each other.
In "Toward a psycholosociology of contemporary food consumption" Barthes gives an outline of an analysis on all information that can be gathered about food from the view of French culture. He begins his article by bringing up how pblivious people are to what goes into their food and how much of it is shaped by advertising. Barthes mentions how the only time food or eating habits are brought up is in relation to lifestyles, the economy, or advertising.
ReplyDeleteHe goes on to explain the ways in which people commmunicate with their food.Acoording to Barthes, just about everything that is done with food is a sign, or form of communication. Each sign represents a unit in a system of communication. From there Barthes explains about find the significance of each food and how the main untis of the system are flavors.
Barhtes finishes his article with the three main themes in food advertising. The first theme caries a historical quailty to it which allows society to connect with the past and return to an almost rural setting. The second theme attaches feelings to food such as joy or relaxtion. The third and final theme conveys a message of health and healthy eating.