I think there is very convincing cases for both sides as to if food can be viewed as art. When I watched the video on fast food, you see an assembly line strategy, where food is being produced in a non-organic, systematic way that in no way resembles any type of art, this at first made me think art and food had little correlation. Then, after watching the slow food video, I became fascinated by how descriptive each step in preparing the meal was, my favorite being “she paints each crepe with pesto sauce made from the delicate tiny leafed basil that grows only here, and from olive oil extracted from olives the mother and son tend and bring to the local press” (2:15-2:28). It is similar to the details people describe when commenting on a painting or similar type of artwork.

After reading the text by Telfer, I saw a new perspective. I do view food as aesthetically pleasing, although I thought it was humorous when she writes “we can distinguish the person who “enjoys his food” but does not notice what he eats”(p. 14), because that it exactly my thought; not everyone is observant or appreciate of the ingredients collected and combined to make a great meal, some people just shove anything and everything they can in their mouths, enjoying it all the same.

Regarding if food is a “work of art”, I do believe in circumstances where care and passion is put into the food, yes it is a work of art. Of course, if you go to an upscale restaurant and ask the chef whether he considers his $60 entrée a “work of art”, he would scoff that you would even ask. But then there are food carts and other family style restaurants, where presentation is not the number one priority, but the taste is absolutely incredible. Telfer constantly refers back to a work of art being “a thing intended or used wholly or largely for aesthetic consideration” (p. 15). By this definition, food would not be considered a work of art (with the main priority being taste). Overall, I believe food can express emotion (excitement, disgust, etc.), and I see a chef being comparable to an artist, so in that sense I would have to overall agree that food is a work of art, just depends who you are asking, and in what type of scenario. The theory that I think best represents my views on food and art is Expressive theory, because it is an expression coming from a artist (in foods case, a chef), and each chef has their own vision and unique touch that makes a plate of food artistic or aesthetically pleasing, just as a artist going about creating their form of art.