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 artform.
• Consider cultural differences in the production and consumption food.

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Reflection:

I’ve always had a view on if food is considered art, so this isn’t the first time I’ve argued that food is art.  However, it is the first time that I’ve been exposed to the many different meanings that statement could have.  This assignment brought my attention to the different ways one could consider food art: the product or the process?  By considering this argument by Elizabeth Telfer, one could be easily convinced that both the process and the product can be considered art, and why.  The fast food presentation is one way of thinking of food not being art, and considering the fact that there are restrictions in thinking about which food can be art: “run-of-the-mill food [is not considered art]. But many meals are intended by their cooks to be… savored, appraised, thought about, discussed – and many eaters consider them in this way” (Telfer, 14).

In my essay, I mention food giving us an aesthetic reaction, therefore food should be considered art.  Telfer mentions this in her essay: “the taste of food and drink as well as the look of it can give rise to aesthetic reactions… [therefore] sometimes constitut[ing] works of art” (Telfer, 14).  This is the first time hearing about what an aesthetic reaction is and what role it plays in evaluating art (and what can be considered works of art).  I mention (in my essay) a wedding cake, which I consider a fine work of art because of how much time and effort goes into designing, and making it.  The video (here) shows many different designs of wedding cakes that, clearly, took a lot of time and talent to decorate such beautiful works of art.  I also included a photo of my 21st birthday cake that I mentioned in my discussion post here. I describe how it took me months to design this cake and get the look of it exactly where I wanted it.  When thinking about food in this way, it is easy to see how one could consider food a work of art.

My 21st birthday cake

Future:

Now that I have thought more about how food could be art, and how sometimes it won’t, I will definitely think about this assignment in the future when I see a piece of food that looks like a work of art.  I will always continue my love of food and how I believe most food should be considered a work of art.  From now on, I will pay more attention to the taste, smell, and texture of food rather than just the look.

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