Extra Blog: Food, Inc.

          Yesterday, Saturday November 27, 2010, I watched the film Food, Inc. Before I watched the film, I had not really thought about everything that happens before the food goes into my mouth. I usually would just pay attention to the dietary or nutrition elements in food. However, after watching this film, I think that I may have to start paying more attention to the other elements or processes that the food goes through before I eat it. I do have to say that I am glad I watched this film after Thanksgiving.
          This film talked about the processes of food. This film could be related to Globalization. The United States likes cheap labor and cheaper products. Food that contains mechanized chemicals is cheaper than organic food; however, it is not necessarily better for the consumer than organic food. When a person eats a food containing chemicals or pesticides, it can have negative side effects. The consumer may become ill or suffer from food poisoning. Unfortunately, money seems to be of greater importance than better health. I do understand that money is something that does not need to be spent recklessly. In this economy today, every money saver that the consumer can take part in seems to be more worth it than spending just that extra bit of money to buy food that may not cause some type of food poisoning. Another part of the film that really intrigued me was the factor of obesity. The United States is one of the most obese countries in the world today, and Alabama is either number two or three in the rating for obese states. I think that we, as a country, need to try to provide healthier meals for students and teach them more about obesity to make them better understand the consequences of food choice.
          This film really opened my eyes to the reality of what is going on in our country. After watching this film, I know that I will be more careful about what I eat and educate others that I know about food. I hope that in the future this country can become aware of what is happening around us and help start making a change.

Global Connections: Sojourns

Saturday, November 12, 2010, I went to Sojourn’s World Trade Store in downtown Birmingham, AL. I have wanted to go visit this store when I found out about it to see all of the different items created around the world. I have always been interested in traveling. I like seeing all of the different architecture and items from different cities and countries.

When I went into the store, it was completely different than what I thought it was going to be. I walked into the store, and it was so trendy. One thing that really stood out to me was the music that was being played. The music had a kind of jazzy African feel, but what I liked most was all of the different kind of nativity scenes that were created. One nativity scene was built inside a baby bird’s egg, and the design and technique was absolutely stunning and so precise.

When I was in Sojourns, I was able to talk with the owner and ask her about the different items in the store. She was showing me some carved wood that was from Bethlehem, and she also showed me clay molds from Africa. This store is a great example of globalization which is free market trading economies between different nations. Here in America, we get a lot of our stuff imported because of cheap labor. Cheap labor is faster and better in getting goods. However, the down side that we tend to not think about is that the labor is unregulated and comes from poor populations. Also, a lot of the corporations do not have the consumer or worker in their best interest. However, nations continue to be involved in outsourcing because of the less money it takes to be involved in globalization.

Anyways, I still enjoyed walking through the store. I even bought an ornament that has a nativity scene inside of a star. I am thinking that this store would be a great place to get Christmas gifts for family and friends, and this event has been one of my favorite experiences.

Food-Ethnic Restaurants

                 On Sunday, November 07, 2010, I went to the Irondale Café, known as The Original Whistle Stop. I had never been to a Southern meat and three restaurant before or eaten true southern food. So, my parents told me about the Irondale Café. Yes, this is the restaurant from the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, as it says on the restaurant’s menu. I remember watching the movie a few years ago, and I was excited to get to experience this historical place in Irondale, Alabama.

                When I first got to the place, I wasn’t sure what it was going to look like on the inside. However, outside the restaurant, there were train tracks and trains passing through the town. It was a rather small town; whereas, I live in a larger city. So, I had to shed my feeling of superiority of my usual culture, also known as ethnocentricism. I walked inside, and all I could focus on was how good the food smelt. So, I tried sweet potatoes, fried chicken, and fried green tomatoes. I must admit that all of the food was very good, especially the fried green tomatoes.

                To learn about a culture, one of the best ways is through its food. I think it’s a way of expressing one’s own culture. Food, in a way, has a social form. It brings people together through a common, shared experience. Almost everyone loves to eat, so food is a way of bringing people together to do something they love the most.

I think that food could also be argued as a visual art. People tend to eat certain foods by the way the food looks or appeals to them. The food at the Irondale Café, to me, looked very appealing. To describe something as art, there are certain criteria that must be met. The food at the café may not necessarily be practical, and it definitely created a response. Ingredients must be used in the making of food, therefore the food is transformational. The food was symbolic because it represents the south, and it also represents the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes. Talent is also needed for the people that are making the food. So, I believe that food is a representation of art.

I enjoyed my cultural experience at this restaurant, and I do believe that I may have to go back to eat whatever I didn’t get a chance to eat Sunday.