HW #5

When it comes to food, I believe dominate discourse can't necessarily be applied to one source or group that is held responsible. Especially since food can be a very personal thing, a lot of times people trust others around them when they seek suggestions. Though there is always the general public's opinions that are available to read through major sites like yelp or other small blogger who share their experience. I believe that those two are equally balanced out to be the dominate discourse.
Based off of the NY times articles concerning the health of American's, I believe that they see the dominat discourse to be social media, especially media focused mainly towards a younger audience. The carrot vending machine seen in the article "Told to eat vegetables, America orders fries" uses the tactic of incorperating elements such as music and new electronics to advertise its importance. The combination of social media and health seems to be a very interesting strategy and might raise awarness but dietary habits are not that easy to change, especially for younger people. Young girls are very much concerned with their body and how they look so I assume they are more cautious when it comes to what they eat, but young boys are trying to accomplish mainly one thing and one thing only, a full stomach. Though there are a handful of boys that try to diet, but a majority of them are female.
A more effective strategy is seen in the article "Doctor's Orders - Eat Well to Be Well". When it comes to health, we don't listen to just random people cause we don't always trust what we hear, but from a doctor's mouth its a different story. They studied in order to reach their status so we assume they are always right, or at least more accurate with their statements. If social media and elite class doctors were to merge into one propaganda that can alter the way we prioritize food, it may have an affect on not only the youth but older audiences as well. Media can spread it, while they also have a solid piece of "truth" that comes straight out of a doctor's mouth. 

HW #4

Especially in the US, there's a wide variety of families with various backgrounds which inspire their way of life including aspects such as education, discipline, and dietary habits. Rituals and beliefs are passed down from one generation to another that may slightly change overtime but the core most significant aspect that changes less often is food. Types of food do not emerge over a short period of time, they have history that can reveal so much about its origin. I see food as a sign of survival since it shows what they were fed and ate under their situation. Countries that were once poor might incorporate cheaper ingredients into their diet to cut food prices, countries surrounded by water may have consumed much more seafood than a country with a large landmass. How people ate over the years of famine and deprivation is the root of how people eat now.

My parents both were born and raised in Japan, but the way they eat seemed to be deeply influenced by their family's background as well as where they were born within Japan. My mom explained to me that she grew up in a rather wealthy house hold and many food choices were available, as to my dad who grew up in a low/middle classed household which often lead to repetition and a smaller range of choices. Though how they grew up had differences, the mentality that every meal should be balanced was the same for both. I believe that this is a sign of dietary habits being influenced by culture and belief. This has also been passed down to me, but after asking whether these "rules" are the same as when they were disciplined, they told me "we try not to alter the most significant part which happens to be simple. Eat a balanced meal and stay healthy, but we don't enforce it the way we experienced it".

Though I do have a Japanese background, It seems like my fridge is mixed with foods from all over. I'll have a few Japanese foods here and there, but everything else seems to be more or less things that don't have a unique cultural background such as butter. Perhaps there is some deep history behind it, but as far as I know its very much neutral. One thing I see that has always been enforced in my house is healthiness being prioritized over taste. Foods that are unhealthy and addicting are bought rarely and is a part of how we were raised. Beverages such as soda were rarely bought when I was little therefore making every time I got my hands on it, a wonderful flavorful experience. These restriction made me live healthy, and also opened my eye to foods that don't need the extra fat and oil in order to taste good.

HW # 3

Overall I see fast food as a part of the growth of society. While the way of life for people today becomes faster paced, food must follow up as well. While working 12 hours a day we don't have time to go hunt down animals for dinner or lunch, and this is where fast food comes in. Life moves fast these days, especially for people living in an urban environment and in order to maintain a flowing society we need other things to accelerate as well. Fast food chains such as McDonalds first started off as an ordinary drive in restaurant (http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_history.html McDonald’s timeline) and gradually morphed into what we have today. Its success only started after 1948 when it became a self-service drive in restaurant, the first step into fast food.

What makes fast food so successful is the convenience of food being brought right away as well as the drive thru option that many fast food chains’s offer. Like technology, fast food is an improvement in the life of people who enjoy the least time consuming options which is the majority of people in the world. Another factor that enabled the fast food business to bloom was the location in which it was made most popular, the United States. The society in America is generally controlled my materialistic views that are created by the media. We enjoy new stuff, things that make life easier, things that don't require us to excessively use up all of our stamina.

The difference that separates organic places like the greenmarket in Union Sq. and fast food is taste and availability. Fast food is everywhere especially in major cities like New York. Every corner you turn you see a McDonalds or a KFC, if not at least an advertisement that displays their new Double Quarter Pounder burger which you can't resist to take your eye's off. I personally love food that is served at the market, especially the chocolate milk that they have or at least used to have; it also makes me feel healthy when knowing that they use organic ingredients. The only downside is that I don't always have time to get food at the market nor is it always there and prepared, but McDonalds is always there and I never have to worry about what they have left. In conclusion fast food chains have money allowing them to market in ways that the greenmarket will never be able to do as well as the health benefits that are often not prioritized over taste, and food cooked in fat makes it more attractive.

HW #2

FOOD


Food is necessary to survive, but I believe it is also rich with culture and significant in how various types of people came to be. I believe people form interest in other lifestyles through food more than anything. It overwhelms most aspects of cultures because it is a necessity in order for us to live so we prioritize it more than other material objects. Food can form bonds within communities and people alike. The way humans separate themselves through religion; strong beliefs concerning food creates communities as well. What we consume can be significant in terms of flavor and religion where restrictions are set including consumption of certain types of meat.



I also enjoy the wonders of food, or more like the wonders of how environments can actually alter the taste of food. Like eating certain foods using a steel fork will actually taste different compared to eating food using lets say a plastic fork. The chemistry between the materials you use to eat and the food you eat can actually make it the best meal of your life or just a typical dinner. This shows that the most expensive meals might not be the best tasting, but no more than the best atmosphere in which you find yourself in while you consume the food. The mentality that expensive meals should taste just as good as its value can also confuse your taste buds because in the end, whether or not the food tastes good or bad is judged in the brain.