welcome to TVLand
A Good READ on Salon:
Here’s the convo my dear friend has been keeping, on a very worthy note ;)
Simon Y: Is that a prof of yours? You know, I actually am surprised another TV network is starting up. I supposed it may not have occurred to me just how popular Food Network really is if it can sustain two 24/hour channels.
In a lot of ways, me being me, I can’t help but see a parallel to the way 24 hour news channels have forever changed the way we culturally produce, and consume news. Inevitably, there will be a rise in sensationalism in order to attract ratings, followed by a watering down of content. News will no longer have an aura of authority since it is so widely propagated, and I suspect pretty soon, cooking shows will soon be the same way.
Basically, I expect to have my own cooking show online within the next 5 years with a happy niche viewership. You can have one too. I’ll be your lead in.
In a lot of ways, me being me, I can’t help but see a parallel to the way 24 hour news channels have forever changed the way we culturally produce, and consume news. Inevitably, there will be a rise in sensationalism in order to attract ratings, followed by a watering down of content. News will no longer have an aura of authority since it is so widely propagated, and I suspect pretty soon, cooking shows will soon be the same way.
Basically, I expect to have my own cooking show online within the next 5 years with a happy niche viewership. You can have one too. I’ll be your lead in.
Me:
Hahaha, tis true. Food has become it’s very own medium, and that’s exactly why I LOVE thee.
We’re constantly going to be redefining our relationship to food as we do with ourselves and technology from here on out, as we do with the other forms of media and art spreading in new ways everyday.
Ever walk down a diet book / cook book / political section of any book store nowadays? Titles JUMP at you like the latest billboards telling you what to think, what to eat, and making assumptions that everything you’ve been doing is wrong thus far and that you NEED this New! Ultra! Glamourized! Crash Diet! Way of Living! *Roarrrrr!!!
That you can achieve in just a short FOUR WEEKS TIME!! That’s right people!
How capitalistic to monetize on the fact that a something that works for one, let’s say a diet and exercise regime, can be re-packaged and sold to the masses. Sure, it can serve to ‘re-educate’ and ‘help’ others, but in what way? Who are we trusting nowadays to tell us what’s good? Are these figures not essentially adding to the entire info saturated technology world where it’s more information to sort through? It says a lot about our culture that we always need to be SAVED by some sort of short term solutions ‘Hero’. Who’s authority are you taking when you commit to these books? It was like walking through a self help isle, I felt shame and embarrassment that I was there, like I had plastered on my forehead a sign that read, “I DON’T TRUST MYSELF!”. Even walking to the checkout, I was terrified to be judged by the cashier (similar to walking to a checkout counter with condoms in hand at a drugstore), “omg, i’m so skinny already (poor me), is she going to think I need help?” We all like to think we’re ‘better’ than all of this, that we can rise above all this bombardment of marketing telling us what to consume and what to buy all the time. I guess my message is, be weary, and pick your battles. You decide what’s best for you.
You must be wondering, (or a small feel of my shame needs to explain) why I was in that aisle to begin with — well, I was there to do just this – culturally dissect a current diet book of choice for my Nutrition class paper. How me to pick “The Okinawa Program/Diet” spearheaded by two Canadian M.D’.s boasting work on a 25 year Centenarian Study.
I will spare you the deets on my analysis, those who know me will know I went to town on the cultural deconstruction of the east meets west persona of the holy grail. Prevention is key! and so Integrative medicine! I have always believed that, but for that you can read my paper if you so choose to medle through more information as you do here. (Thank You Reader!) or COMMENT! I love active conversations!! (can you tell?)
hahaha, all in all, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think all information is bad. it’s just TOO MUCH INFORMATION. Add it to the pile. my Tetris brain is about to explode. welcome to grad school, where sorting through information is now my full time job. Can i monetize on that? how do i stay alive and well and survive on this skill? Oh Life, you go round dee round. :) All i can say is I can’t wait for spring break!! Gimme some Sun, Drinks, and Non Stop EATING! Woot woot!!! And some REAL social time with REAL people. :)
It’s just becoming so costly to sort through the pile of info that’s getting bigger and bigger as we project more of ourselves into spaces online that are for “social networking” when really it’s being redefined as statistical power on how companies keep track of our behaviour and manipulate our psychies to sell us more stuff. Dahhhh, leave me alone. I don’t want to BUY to feel better unless I’m buying food, REAL food, not empty calories! While you’re at it, throw in some soul, love, and a dash of Grandma too. No wonder there’s a trend in small niche soul food restos popping up all over NYC (or shall i say where it’s at — Brooklyn). People want things that are REAL the more we are becoming digitalized and more and more disconnected from our real worlds when we connect online. “waaaaLLLLLl-Eeeeeeeeee”.
Come on spring, show me that tiny budding plant that can push through it all to give me some life again.
Welcome to the metropolis. you’re playing in the big girl pool now, kid. Sink or swim?
Sounding a lil bitter? Well, well, that’s for you to decide ain’t it. ;)
March 11th, 2010 at 8:24 PM
Interesting article! I especially love the bit about the unskilled Rachael Ray and am going to have to quote it on my blog. I actually don’t mind her cooking show, but I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate her travel show.
March 24th, 2010 at 11:40 AM
I’ve worked with her, in her defense, she’s very PRO at talking on camera, filming uncut five min segments at a time, and banging out many shows in one day professionally. Most chefs struggle with talking on camera. And most actors aren’t trained chefs, it’s hard to find a balance. In my opinion, she came on air at a time in America when people needed an answer to the quick fix dinner for busy people on the go, she’s brilliant at selling that, and bridging the gap between pro chefs and the epicurean and everyday ppl who need real life solutions. Culturally it was also a time when American eating habits had changed, and now that the food movement is moving back towards slow food heritage with more emphasis on what and why we eat what we do, and finding real life solutions to sustainability, food as entertainment in the media realm has changed the niche of their viewers. Like any large network, Food Network’s really smart about their night time entertainment slots — i.e. competition shows, vs what they broadcast at say tues at 10am.
March 24th, 2010 at 11:44 AM
on the travel show note — people like watching hosts be luxurious when they travel, and do things that they can’t — instead of have to budget like a college graduate backpacking through the world on 1 dollar a day,
although smart in concept, maybe that’s why no one liked that show or watched it? 40 dollars a day was a wierd number huh.