Objectives:
- Examine methods for evaluating qualities of art, such as product versus process, the difference between craft and fine art, must art be archival, and what is an aesthetic reaction.
- Explore the notion of food as an art form.
- Consider cultural differences in the production and consumption of food.
Original Post:
Is Food Art? Discussion
Food is something that our world considers necessary for human existence, whereas art is often seen as a luxury. And yet those who work in either the sectors of food or the arts (whether it be artists and farmers, patrons and chefs, or arts enthusiasts and foodies) seem to be working along parallel lines to address issues that we face in our modern world. The arts, including painting, sculpture, installation, dance and music, are in part about creating a sensory experience—something for the audience to see, feel or hear. And perhaps more than any other discipline, food has the ability to appeal to all of our senses—a combination of colors, textures, crunches, smells and tastes goes into the making of a meal, and the selection and transformation of those elements is creative. When a creative, sensory form also has the capacity to express philosophies, inspire multiple interpretations, conjure narratives and/or allude to complex meanings, it is art. Food can be crafted with artistry; convey meaning; be a vehicle or inspiration for some of humanity’s better qualities. Therefore, food is art.
In last weeks reading, “What is Art For?”, Ellen Dissanayake says “Art is not universal…”(Dissanayake 19). This, to me, is the perfect quote to reiterate that food I indeed an art form. By are not being bound by specific guidelines, it can be identified as many different things to many different people; its meaning is not universal and food being an art form is subjective. In my mind, art is a form of expression, and what people make for food is a form of art, whether it is making a wedding cake, having a thanksgiving feast, or just making top-ramen for dinner. By not being universal, food has unlimited potential for expression and uniqueness. Each food item produced is bound to be different from another.
Elizabeth Tefler in this weeks reading, “Food as Art” states, “a work of art by definition [is] a man-made thing, even if the human involvement need consist of no more than putting a natural object in a gallery and giving it a title” (Tefler 12) I completely agree and I think food is legitimate form of art because it is a manner of expression, it can be critiqued critically in more than one way, and also can be extremely unique.
The Greatest Art Masterpiece ever to be created
This is Art! Yummmmm!
Reflection:
This assignment has been my favorite so far. I feel like I have a great appreciation of food. I love to watch the process of learning how a food item is made. It is very intriguing to me how people know which particular ingredients blend well together and it is something I definitely admire.
Telfer says “Although food and drinks can give rise to aesthetic reactions, they cannot constitute the works of art” (12 Telfer). I completely disagree because food can be crafted with artistry; convey meaning; be a vehicle or inspiration for some of humanity’s better qualities. Therefore, food is art.
Future:
I hope analyze food whenever I have the chance to in order to appreciate the work that came into making it. I also hope to try new foods to expand my eatery horizon. By doing this, I think I will immerse myself more into the idea that food is art. I am a strong proponent that it is, as I believe food is a great form of personal expression. Further, I hope to become a better cook by making my meals a better expression of my personal tastes through appearance and taste.
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