I believe all food can be art. Food is an aesthetic experience, no matter the type, slow of fast food. It appeals to the senses and creates a pleasurable experience for the person engaged in eating the food. I think that fast food, although not healthy, is art because it requires the dedication of a person or group of people, to pick our certain additives, chemicals, or spices that enhance the flavor and scent of the food. This process delivers a man-made creation that provides an aesthetic experience, art. Finally, although fast food is reproduced in its same form millions of times, Telfer describes that duplication does not reduce the artistic quality of a piece:
“I said that both an original recipe and an actual dish are works of art if they are regarded aesthetically…Suppose a chef…creates a superb pie, which is then turned out by the thousand. Are all the pies works of art, or is the abstract recipe the only work of art? The nearest analogy in the standard fine arts is probably with engraving and other forms of print-making, where the essence of the process is that it enables an artist to produce many copies of one work. Since we can call each engraving a work of art, we can call each pie a work of art, at least in the classifying sense,” (Telfer, 17).
Just because a work of art is duplicated, does not mean that it loses any of its original qualities. It now just becomes more easily enjoyed by the masses. Finally, I believe that food requires the postmodernist theory of art. There is no type of food that will be pleasing to every person. It is important to not that postmodernist ideals are:
“Rather than assuming that art reflects a unique and privileged kind of knowledge, postmodernists point out that any ‘truth’ or ‘reality’ is only a point of view – a ‘representation’ that comes to us mediated and conditioned by our language, our social institutions, the assumptions that characterize individuals as members of a nation, a race, a gender, a class, a profession, a religious body, a particular historical period,” (Dissanayake, 19).
Food is interpreted differently in various cultures and also between people of the same culture. One person might find an expensive, elaborate meal at a five-star restaurant to be a very pleasurable, artistic experience. However, another person might find the experience to be aesthetically undesirable. Food, just like art, provides for different points of view for various people.
Hey Lindsay,
Nice job. You said that food is aesthetic experience whatever the slow food or fast food. Even if there is the different type of food and sense from different person to food, the food is art and the cook is a work of art. “Food, just like art, provides for different points of view for various people” (Para. 3).Furthermore, you told that you believe that food requires the postmodernist theory of art. Actually I insist on the food is not art. Art is a concept rather than objects such as food for me. Thus, there are some doubts which I confused, hope can share with you.
I no more agree with your opinion of the difference types of food don’t have influence on the work of art, because chief work to produce food, the process is enjoyable for them. But it is question for me why food is art? You told food is aesthetic experience but how it shows without the work of art – cook. Such as tasting or selling? There is no more details to evidence the opinion of art is food instead of you described that how the cooking or craft is the aesthetic experience. Anyway, Thanks for you share the opinion of food are art to me.
I can definitely relate to your view on all food as art, as there is always a process of making both slow and fast food that at least someone can appreciate. Also like you said, “this process delivers a man-made creation that provides aesthetic experience, art”. The aesthetic appreciation of food is just another reason why all food is arguably an art form of sorts. I found your point on duplication to be particularly interesting and thought provoking. You agree with Telfer by stating that, “just because a work of art is duplicated, does not mean that it loses any of its original qualities”. I agree with this outlook to an extent. If something is duplicated in the sense that someone attempts to loosely recreate the piece, then obviously it does not “reduce the artistic quality” at all; although, I’m not sure if this argument on duplication applies to food that is created by mass production. Items that are mass-produced to me are not works of art made by the labor and effort of an artist. In this case duplication is almost exploited for the sake of convenience, and definitely diminishes any original or artistic qualities of the food.
I really appreciate your use of Dissananayke as a source in your post. The fact that you are identifying your view of whether food is an art with a particular art theory is outstanding.
Also, when using a quote longere than three lines or so, like Telfer’s above, format it as a blockquote. Select the text in edit mode and click the blockquote button on the toolbar.