BBC NEWS
You read in the news all the time about epidemics, natural disasters, famines....A lot of negative things are happening in the world. However, having media, like channels on T.V. and internet sites, allows us to access this information quickly. I know that when I read the news I am more grateful for my living situation in Canada, the clean water and ample food I have available here...thank you Media for the information!
The above commercial, and commercials like it promotes health, and reaches a large population....thank you Media!
Overall, although there are many negative aspects to media affecting our food choices, there are also some beneficial ones too.
Various forms of media (TV, Magazines, Movies, News, Billboards) will always be a part of the North American Culture, so hopefully we can move towards more and more health promoting ads, and less consumerism ads. I guess we'll have to wait and see....what do you think the trend is?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Beautiful T.V.
"When a person we admire uses [a product, eats a certain type of food, is in a certain environment] it seems cool by association."
Grade school - toe socks were so in! The trend in my school was started by the 'popular girl'
Highschool - ipods were the new thing - if you had one, you were that much cooler...
When applying this concept to food, 'cool by association', I tend to think of watching influential T.V. shows like 'Friends' or 'Gossip Girl'. The women are beautiful, thin, wanted, and loved - assumingly because they are beautiful and thin. They also seem to either never eat, or eat only classy, healthy foods (think Sushi, or fine-dining)...or drink a lot of vodka. There's a song about how a girl is depressed because she "Will never be as pretty, as the girls on 'Friends'". What are we setting our nation up for, especially the young, influential girls, if often portrayed on T.V. is an unattainable ideal?
Look at any 'Sex in the City' episode or movie. They are always eating out, drinking Cosmo's, and never gain a pound. They are living the dream in New York, and often I wish I could do the same...I would love to be 'cool by association' and feel content in that environment....so the short and sweet of it is: Very few people can live the lifestyle of the girls in 'Friends', 'Gossip Girl', or 'Sex in the City' without gaining some weight, becoming broke, or having an unhealthy lifestyle. We are influenced by what we watch - and unfortunately even us knowing this doesn't mean we are going to stop watching these shows; they allow us to fantasize....and the commercials in between don't help our cause of trying to avoid junk food...
Lastly, on the topic of fantasizing comes in product placement again. We sometime idolize these characters represented in the shows, and will use what they use as it seems to work, and because we respect what these fake, non-existent characters use for reliable products; we sometimes base our decisions off their decisions. Is this messed up or what?
Anyways, I'm off to watch 'Sex and the City'...time for food!
References
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16365132/Psychology-of-Product-Placement
Grade school - toe socks were so in! The trend in my school was started by the 'popular girl'
When applying this concept to food, 'cool by association', I tend to think of watching influential T.V. shows like 'Friends' or 'Gossip Girl'. The women are beautiful, thin, wanted, and loved - assumingly because they are beautiful and thin. They also seem to either never eat, or eat only classy, healthy foods (think Sushi, or fine-dining)...or drink a lot of vodka. There's a song about how a girl is depressed because she "Will never be as pretty, as the girls on 'Friends'". What are we setting our nation up for, especially the young, influential girls, if often portrayed on T.V. is an unattainable ideal?
Look at any 'Sex in the City' episode or movie. They are always eating out, drinking Cosmo's, and never gain a pound. They are living the dream in New York, and often I wish I could do the same...I would love to be 'cool by association' and feel content in that environment....so the short and sweet of it is: Very few people can live the lifestyle of the girls in 'Friends', 'Gossip Girl', or 'Sex in the City' without gaining some weight, becoming broke, or having an unhealthy lifestyle. We are influenced by what we watch - and unfortunately even us knowing this doesn't mean we are going to stop watching these shows; they allow us to fantasize....and the commercials in between don't help our cause of trying to avoid junk food...
Lastly, on the topic of fantasizing comes in product placement again. We sometime idolize these characters represented in the shows, and will use what they use as it seems to work, and because we respect what these fake, non-existent characters use for reliable products; we sometimes base our decisions off their decisions. Is this messed up or what?
Anyways, I'm off to watch 'Sex and the City'...time for food!
References
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16365132/Psychology-of-Product-Placement
Monday, November 15, 2010
'Isn't it ironic - don't you think?'
I just got back from the gym and am battling with myself over the dilemma of 'to eat or not to eat?' While running on the elliptical I enjoy watching T.V. - it makes the time go by so much faster. The gym I go to happens to have 8 T.V.'s, meaning 4 different channels will be playing at the same time...PERFECT! :D
However, please watch the clip below then allow me to rant:
I personally love the Food Network, and have learned a lot about culture, ethnicity, and of course food items and food preparation. However, some of the shows on the network are obviously not shown to promote healthy eating, as the sole purpose is about delicious food fried in fat and then coated in salt and sugar. Isn't it ironic that the Food Network is showing a cooking show of deliciousness while we are running at the gym to burn off the deliciousness that we just ate? Vicious cycle if you ask me. Does anyone else have this issue? How is the gym promoting a healthy lifestyle when it has shows playing like 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives'? Does the food network promote over-eating? What are your thoughts?
My housemate and I always plan our mealtimes around when our favourite shows are on (I love free cable!). Or, if we are just scrolling through channels, will not allow ourselves to take a bite of our sandwich until we have settled into the couch. Food and T.V. just go so well together...sometimes it feels like there is no point of eating unless the T.V. is on; is there a problem with this? Yes! T.V. has influenced my life and many others' lives when it comes to self-restraint and food choices...how can we stop the cycle?
However, please watch the clip below then allow me to rant:
I personally love the Food Network, and have learned a lot about culture, ethnicity, and of course food items and food preparation. However, some of the shows on the network are obviously not shown to promote healthy eating, as the sole purpose is about delicious food fried in fat and then coated in salt and sugar. Isn't it ironic that the Food Network is showing a cooking show of deliciousness while we are running at the gym to burn off the deliciousness that we just ate? Vicious cycle if you ask me. Does anyone else have this issue? How is the gym promoting a healthy lifestyle when it has shows playing like 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives'? Does the food network promote over-eating? What are your thoughts?
My housemate and I always plan our mealtimes around when our favourite shows are on (I love free cable!). Or, if we are just scrolling through channels, will not allow ourselves to take a bite of our sandwich until we have settled into the couch. Food and T.V. just go so well together...sometimes it feels like there is no point of eating unless the T.V. is on; is there a problem with this? Yes! T.V. has influenced my life and many others' lives when it comes to self-restraint and food choices...how can we stop the cycle?
Friday, November 12, 2010
...and how does this make you feel?
Scroll down to the bottom fast through the images below:
So - How do you feel? Me - Im hungry and ready to go grab some junk food.
How are we supposed to be at a healthy weight as a nation when we are bombarded by images of delicious looking food on a daily basis from commercials, magazines, tv shows and movies, billboards.....
ahhhhhhhh!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
I spy with my little eye....
Ever wonder why after watching your favorite TV show you have a craving for a certain food? Often this is a result of 'product placement' (click to see some shameless product placement in movies you know). This is a form of advertisement, where brand names of products are placed in various forms of media that do not already contain advertisements, such as movies, the story line of television shows, or news programs.
Actual product placement falls into two categories: products or locations. Producers/manufacturers use ads to reduce the cost of production by getting paid by companies to have their products placed in for subliminal advertisement.
Consumers may not realize they have been targeted, but when they reach for a certain brand name over another, often there is reason behind this. Sometimes it's because it's what you grew up with, other times friends have recommended it, but this isn't always the case.
According to psychologists, seeing a product often makes it seem more functional for us to buy, and it is in the back of our minds when we are looking for a similar product.
The media is blurring the lines between manipulation, persuasion, and entertainment. We need to take a stand and recognize product placement for what it is to overcome mindless purchasing.
Josie and the Pussy Cats - A movie chock-full of advertisements.
Resources:
http://worstproductplacement.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_placement
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16365132/Psychology-of-Product-Placement
Actual product placement falls into two categories: products or locations. Producers/manufacturers use ads to reduce the cost of production by getting paid by companies to have their products placed in for subliminal advertisement.
Consumers may not realize they have been targeted, but when they reach for a certain brand name over another, often there is reason behind this. Sometimes it's because it's what you grew up with, other times friends have recommended it, but this isn't always the case.
According to psychologists, seeing a product often makes it seem more functional for us to buy, and it is in the back of our minds when we are looking for a similar product.
The media is blurring the lines between manipulation, persuasion, and entertainment. We need to take a stand and recognize product placement for what it is to overcome mindless purchasing.
Josie and the Pussy Cats - A movie chock-full of advertisements.
Resources:
http://worstproductplacement.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_placement
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/16365132/Psychology-of-Product-Placement
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Mindlessly Overeating
PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN!!! (click to see Johnny Depp...mmm)
I love this movie - the music, action, romance, and era-depicting film is truly a joy to watch! However, when I sit down to this type of film often I also sit down to a bag of chips, or ice cream, or candy....I can't seem to help it. I'll consume mass quantities of junk without really paying attention to what I'm eating...mindless eating.
What movies do you eat excess in? Sad, happy? See the poll on the home page to vote for the movie the type of movie that makes you chow down! Movies about food (think 'Chocolat')...comment below with your guilty pleasure inducing film or film genre. 'Eat Pray Love' personally made me want pasta so bad...
I recently read a book by David Kessler called "The End of Overeating: Taking control of the insatiable North American Appetite." Below is what I learned....
Reference:
I love this movie - the music, action, romance, and era-depicting film is truly a joy to watch! However, when I sit down to this type of film often I also sit down to a bag of chips, or ice cream, or candy....I can't seem to help it. I'll consume mass quantities of junk without really paying attention to what I'm eating...mindless eating.
What movies do you eat excess in? Sad, happy? See the poll on the home page to vote for the movie the type of movie that makes you chow down! Movies about food (think 'Chocolat')...comment below with your guilty pleasure inducing film or film genre. 'Eat Pray Love' personally made me want pasta so bad...
I recently read a book by David Kessler called "The End of Overeating: Taking control of the insatiable North American Appetite." Below is what I learned....
In North America’s food-obsessed culture many people feel out of control and powerless in the tempting presence of food. The convenience and abundance of processed foods, coupled with the food industry’s strong marketing strategies, has contributed to an increase in the overweight population. The sugar, fat, and salt-loaded foods in many restaurants is an unavoidable temptation. Although food can be rewarding and comforting, it can also have a significant influence over our senses – namely sight, touch, taste, and smell. These senses tempt us to consume food that we find appealing in large quantities. This novel is directed towards educated North Americans who are either health-conscious individuals, struggling with weight, or who just can’t say ‘no’ to food. The book is composed of comparative research, personal experiences, humorous quips, and a conversational tone with which you can relate to. Among all these sections, emotional, behavioural, physical, and psychological issues are discussed with regards to consumers and their food habits. This novel does not attempt to provide universal solutions to these issues, but rather it suggests ways to help change one’s habits in order to address the fundamental problem within each individual. The content of this novel helps people understand the different factors that affect their consumption patterns and as a result, how to control their eating.
So, for anyone in the same boat as me - media influencing food intake (while watching a movie etc), and the Food Industry influencing food choices (think restaurant of high sugar, salt and fat), this book is an excellent resource! We can stop over eating. We can stop mindlessly eating.
Reference:
The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable North American Appetite. Kessler D.A, 2009. McClelland & Stewart Ltd, www.mclelland.com. Softcover book, 324 pp, $21.00, ISBN 978-0-7710-9556-6.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)