Abstract
By exploring the theoretical lens of Marshall McLuhan, we discover how social media exemplifies “the medium is the message.” This theory explores the importance of how communication occurs, in addition to the content that it carries. Food Media, one outlet for McLuhan’s construct, encompasses a broad spectrum of photography, film, and print. With the emergence of Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest, the variety of platforms for consuming food media has grown. These networks share mechanisms of content transfer yet reveal varying messaging and subsequently attract different audiences. Through photography, the visual expression of language, social media has flourished. The visual aspect of social media platforms has become crucial to how messages are conveyed and, ultimately, their appeal. Virtual communities, discovered through these platforms, develop shared interests. The number of culinary enthusiasts has grown exponentially due to the visual appeal and increased access to food photography. The broad reach of social media has also created multiple focus groups revolving around specialized diets, health and wellness, food education, and diverse cultural cuisines. This paper explores the history of the visual aspects of food media, from still photography to digital video, and how these technological advancements, as well as the media through which they are viewed, have changed our food literacy and how we interact with food and each other.
Presenters
Rhonda StewartSenior Instructor, College of Food, Innovation, and Technology, Johnson & Wales University, North Carolina, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Food Media, Visual Influence, Culinary, Culture, Community
