Flirting With Food

So today, I am totally swerving away from the controversial topic of feminism. I am taking my first bite of another topic: food. [Yes, the ridiculously cheesy pun (pun-ception) was intended.]

Disclaimer: I am not intending for this post to be as long as my last because

1. I have no more free time this week.
2. Food's evolution is pretty self-explanatory (primitive humans were hungry, so they ate), and is not too relevant to food in print. If the history of food interests you, though, check this out.
3. My last post probably went on for way too long and was tiresome to read.

I always have a lot to say, though, so we'll see what happens.

I am approaching this topic by researching food as an art and how food is presented in the media. I am also going to play with my own vision for this topic.

Food magazines are one of the few print categories that are currently growing in popularity. Cookbooks were toast a long time ago, but using food, steamed or raw, as the center-fold of magazines has replaced DIY recipe following with truly artistic statements. This gourmet, elevated stature of food is due to the way the featured foods are selected, made, and finally staged. Many magazines utilize "artsy" lighting, angles, and scenery to frame their cuisine (dim lighting, serene locations, close-up shots, shallow focus, etc). Additionally, the foods promoted are often organic, GMO-free, and naturally derived using only fine, pure ingredients. Organic eating is no longer simply a healthy lifestyle choice; it has become an intricate part of self-identity rampant among self-acclaimed "hipsters" and artists. For an interesting, scientific perspective on the "hipster diet", click this!  For a statistical database delineating the growth of organic eating, BAM, here it is.

Side Note: Apparently there's a popular feminist food magazine. Pretty cool combo of categories, am I right? Check it out.

This is a particularly amusing and controversial cover photo, if I do say so myself.

Now, if we are talking about the image of food in the media, we cannot leave out social media.  With accounts under the name of "@FoodPorn" and trending hashtags including #foodstagram, it is clear that food has become a staple of social media interaction and popularity. My all time favorite, and something I would consider being inspired by for my magazine, is Instagram's "@NewForkCity". Started by a few close high school seniors (like myself!), @NewForkCity has taken social media by storm, having followers on both Instagram and its most recently initiated Tumblr account. 

In New York City, food is iconic. From the classic New York hot dog to the new but widely popular Black Tap milkshakes, the city's shelves are stocked with the coolest, biggest, cheapest and most expensive meals, snacks, and treats, all claiming to be the best. Considering the fact that I am moving to New York City this August, this topic would serve as a great way for me to explore all the food the city has to offer before I even get there. However, I definitely want to find a balance between healthy eating and gourmet gorging to promote simply, while also maintaining the artistry of grubbing in my spread. 

I explored several different current food magazines (20, to be exact) that are similar to what my vision is via this list. The one that really caught my eye was Edible Brooklyn. It combines the simplicity of presentation with the glamour of the food industry. Farmer's market by day, foie gras by night.

So, after all this research, I am not finding food as appetizing as feminism. Still, if I focus on New York City, or make it the topic of my sample issue, I believe I could do a lot of awesome research and designing for this topic, especially because I am going to New York City for spring break.

Also, embedding links is fun.

Also, I'm really hungry now.

"About." New Fork City. N.p., 10 July 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

"Awesome Food Magazines You Should Be Reading." First We Feast. N.p., 26 Sept. 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

"Cherry Bombe." Cherry Bombe. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

"The Cherry Bombe Shop." Cherry Bombe. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

"The Evolution of Diet." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

"Home | Edible Brooklyn." Edible Brooklyn. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

Khan, Amir. "The Hypocritical Diet of the Hipster." Usnews.com. N.p., n.d. Web.

"US Organic Food Market to Grow 14% from 2013-18." FoodNavigator-USA.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.