Final Blog

          This semester has been filled with excitement and learning. At first, the idea of food as a topic for discussion seemed unusual. Later on, it became more enjoyable and exciting. The most interesting thing I would have to say about this class is analyzing food in literature and even hip hop lyrics. I never heard of food porn until this class. The analysis of Biggie Small's lyrics was always something I didn't expect. I never really stopped to think about how often we are surrounded by food. Going to the play, Sorry Fugu, also helped in analyzing how food is used in a way of seduction and other means. This class has opened my eyes to how people use food as more than just something you eat.
         The books, Interpreter of Maladies and Eating Animals, were great reads and actually pretty relevant. I learned plenty about the food industry and I've become more aware of what I eat. Both books were both modern and had an unorthodox style of writing. It's great to have a professor who doesn't stick to the mundane and exposes you to new things
         The other half of this class had to do with blogging. I've never really blogged for a class before, so it was a new experience. I very much enjoyed blogging and I'm happy that Jamie incorporated it into our English class. Because of the ability to post articles and essays online, I found the class to be more engaging and interesting. Social media is continuously moving forward and I'm glad my professor agrees with that. She's also saving paper!
         Thank you for taking your time reading my blog!

Final Portfolio

Kevin Kor

10^th May, 2012

English 214

Prof. Stock

To Eat or Not to Eat

            In a majority of family households, meat is the center of the dinner table. Meat is often times the staple of a traditional family dinner and there is often some sort of meat to go along with a lot of family dishes. After reading, Eating Animals, readers may want to choose to be more conscious of what they put in their mouths. Author, Jonathan Sanfran Foer brings to light the cruelty and inhumanity of the American farming industry. Foer uses very descriptive and graphic writing to help display an image in the readers mind; reading the text begins to make readers uneasy. After reading Eating Animals, it’s understandable if the reader converts to vegetarianism; however, the ultimate question is, ‘Is becoming vegetarian on a nationwide scale practical?’ Becoming a vegetarian is more ethical, environmentally friendlier than meat, and healthier for you. It’s also more cost effective in the long run as those who are strictly vegetarian have less medical problems. Sadly, I don’t believe that a full scale vegetarian nation is practical. Foer does make valid arguments for vegetarianism; however, the United States’ economy will not survive if we were all to become vegetarians. Millions of jobs will be affected.

            I’m all in favor of becoming healthier and aware of what you eat. Matter of fact, I’m in favor in practicing a vegetarian diet. I’ve even tried becoming vegetarian; I lasted about 5 weeks until I caved in. Foer nails it when he says, “When people think of a farm, they envision grass, animals, and a farmer”, although it’s quite the contrary. In fact, 99% of all meats produced in the United States have been processed through factory farming (Food Choices). The animals on these factory farms are often times abused, neglected, and shoved into cages so small, they cannot fully turn around and they sleep in their own feces. They are also pumped with hormones and fecal water so they reach a certain weight. Here’s a little excerpt describing the atrocities of factory farming:

Chickens once had a life expectancy of fifteen to twenty years, but the modern broiler is typically killed at around six weeks. Their daily growth rate has increased roughly 400 percent. Some are tossed into large plastic containers. The weak are trampled to the bottom, where they suffocate slowly.

(Words/Meaning pg. 49)

Here is another excerpt from Eating Animals that will make your stomach uneasy:

Conservative estimates by the EPA indicate that chicken, hog, and cattle excrement has already polluted 35,000 miles of rivers….This includes but is not limited to: stillborn piglets, afterbirths, dead piglets, vomit, blood, urine, antibiotic syringes, broken bottles of insecticide, hair, pus, and even body parts.

(Slices of Paradise/Pieces of Shit pg. 177)

            Another reason to lessen the consumption of meat: climate change. According to Eating Animals, animal agriculture makes a 40% greater contribution to global warming than all transportation in the world combined (Eating Animals pg. 43); it is the number one cause of climate change. The common belief is that transportation is the number one offender of global warming. We don’t associate food with global warming, because we do not see the aftermath.

We don’t see the factories releasing gas and toxins into the air; we don’t see factories spewing wastes into our local rivers and lakes. We don’t see it because they hide it from us. After reading Eating Animals, I realized that I’ve never been to a farm; nor do I want to visit one.

            Foer explores family farming like the Niman Ranch farm. Niman Ranch is a private family farm that provides their animals with the freedom to roam around and eat a natural, organic diet. They are also free of hormones and antibiotics. So what is the problem with a family farm? It’s not able to provide for the demand of everyone, and quite frankly; some people could care less about the quality of their meat (Eating Animals pg. 165).

            There are numerous benefits in having a strictly vegetarian diet: A large amount of scientific study discover and emphasize that a vegetarian diet of whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, while incorporating regular exercise has a strong correlation with lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, less heart disease, less obesity, and fewer incidences of stroke, and diabetes just to name a few perks. The health benefits are a direct result from a lower consumption of cholesterol, saturated fat and animal protein (17 Benefits of Being a Vegetarian). Studies also reveal that there is a 59% less chance of being diagnosed with cancer among people who eat small amounts of meat, compared to average meat-eaters. Now imagine how much better those figures would be when compared to vegetarians (Scientific Facts about Meat).  A Yale University study discovered that vegetarians have almost double the stamina of their meat-eating counterparts. Cornell University announced through a major newspaper, “Humans are natural vegetarians.” The report stated: “Animal foods, in general, are not really helpful and we need to get away from eating them.” “In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, low cholesterol also protects against colon cancer, the most common life-threatening cancer among Americans.”(Environmental Impact) Another extrinsic benefit is that world starvation is well connected to meat-eating habits.  If Americans stopped feeding grain to cattle, the excess grain could feed up to 500 million people (not to mention the land that could be used to grow food instead of being used for grazing cattle) (17 Benefits of Being a Vegetarian).

            Foer does an exceptional job in touching the ethical, moral, and compassionate perspective of people. He is able to connect with everyone on the subject of meat. Foer goes from the eye of the farmer, to a consumer, and to a parent. He touches all bases of his audience. In the chapter, Hiding/Seeking, Foer displays views from the factory farmer, the line worker, the Jewish guy, and even the poultry farmer. He even discusses the organic and free range chicken industries.

            In a perfect world, everyone is a healthy vegetarian, and animals are roaming freely on open grass plains. But there is no perfect world. There is a large amount of corruption and politics within the food industry and government. The food industry pressures the government (FDA) to promote dairy products as the main source of calcium and meat as the main source of protein there is. The focal concern I have with vegetarianism becoming a large and mainstream is that it will put millions of Americans out of work. In 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 546,300 privately owned food service restaurants across the United States. If everyone were to become a vegetarian, it would devastate the private sector and hurt middle class America (Significant Points). The food services and drinking places industry employs about 9.6 million wage and salary jobs in 2008; that ranks among the Nation's leading employers. These statistics

don’t include those that work in the farming industry, truck drivers, friendly old lunch ladies, and many others. Tyson Foods, alone, employs over 100,000 people (Significant Points).

            We must also take into account families who have low income. Families may not be able to afford fresh fruits and vegetables; therefore, they are forced into the alternative which is take-out and fast food. There are neighborhoods that don’t even have access to available, fresh produce or groceries (Food Inc.). 

            I understand how damaging the farming industry is for people and the environment. It’s polluting our air and causes multiple health issues. The meat that we eat is dirty, synthetic, and disgusting. This issue is in such a grey area. How do we become less dependent on factory farming and keep millions of people employed? As elementary as this argument sounds, someone with low income would rather be obese instead of starve. Until we find a practical solution, I must stick with purchasing and eating of meat; although, I’ve cut down my consumption of meat.

            The sad reality is that our economy is too large to stop producing meat. Millions of people are employed by some kind of food industry that deals with meat. Unfortunately, the meat industry will not be able to continually employ people if everyone becomes a vegetarian. I’m positive the vegetarian restaurant industry will not be able to survive on a large scale. There’s a reason why there aren’t very many vegetarian chain restaurants. Sure, there are a few around, but it’s not a common site to see. And there is a reason for that. Because of the economic casualty created if the meat industry were to go down, I don’t think it is a wise decision to put millions of Americans out of work. These people work hard to put food on the table; even if that food is filled with antibiotics and growth hormones; it’s better than no food at all.

Work Cited

"17 Benefits of Being a Vegetarian." Yahoo! Contributor Network. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://voices.yahoo.com/17-benefits-being-vegetarian-589913.html>

            "Environmental Impact." Factory Farming. Farm Sanctuary. Web. 04 Mar. 2012. http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming/environment/cultivating.html

"Food Choices." Farm Forward. Ood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Livestock’s Long Shadow, 2007. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. <https://www.farmforward.com/farming-forward/food-choices>.

            "Scientific Facts About Meat." Cleanse.net. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://cleanse.net/scientificfactsaboutmeat.aspx>.

            "Significant Points." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs023.htm>.

            Foer, Jonathan Safran. Eating Animals. New York: Back Bay /Little, Brown and, 2010. Print.

Kevin Kor

English 214

Prof. Stock

May 2012

Inequalities within India’s Caste System

Social hierarchies have been in place throughout history as a strategy, political and economic tool, to keep people in their place and to create order in a chaotic world. Other means of social classifications are often times implemented by the powerful and wealthy so they can continue their agendas. Hierarchies shape responsibilities and define peoples’ lives. Mentioning the term social class can be considered a taboo. Social classes are often looked down upon as if they are often a tool to segregate and discriminate against others. When mentioning social statuses, I’m not attempting to make a comparison between the rich and poor as there will always be rich and poor.  The type of social class problems being discussed are those similar to India’s complex caste system. As society continues to advance and human rights become more relevant, you have to ask when this form of segregation will come to an end. Interpreters of Maladies, a collection of short stories written by Jhumpa Lahiri, highlight the discrepancies between the wealthy and poor. India is one of the largest countries affected by a predetermined hierarchy system, and Jhumpa Lahiri indirectly exposes the difficulties these caste members face to the rest of the world (Lahiri).

The short stories of Interpreter of Maladies, “A Real Durwan” and “The Treatment of Bibi Haldar”, focus on the injustices of the Indian caste system. 

“A Real Durwan” revolves around a group of lower caste members situated in a secluded region of India. Boori Ma, a sixty-four year old woman from Calcutta, is a stair-sweeper or durwan. She’s allowed to live with the tenants of the building in exchange for her services. A couple by the name of the Dalals takes care of Boori as she is becoming older. The Dalals become successful and begin improving the building by purchasing a sink for the stairwell and their room. They continue to steadily improve the building. The Dalals become so successful; they were able take a vacation for a few days. One evening, while Boori Ma goes out for a walk, the sink is stolen.  Upon hearing this news, the tenants of the house all accuse Boori of informing robbers regarding the sink and banish her from the building indefinitely. Boori Ma is constantly mistreated by the other tenants. She tells the tenants stories of her past, but nobody gives her the time of day. They look down on her because of her social status. Once the sink is stolen, all of the tenants gang up and accuse her of anything they could think of. This discrimination shows the unfairness of the caste system and how poorly people of lower rank are treated (Lahiri). 

The second story I will be discussing is “The Treatment of Bibi Haldar”. The story is literally about the treatment of Bibi Haldar. Bibi Haldar, a 29 year old woman, suffers from an unknown disease that has plagued her throughout her entire life. Bibi’s family and neighbors have all suggested possible cures, but even the medical professionals are stumped. She lives with an elder cousin and his wife, who view her more as a burden than anything else. All Bibi wishes for is a normal life, in particular a husband and family of her own. Once she sets her mind to it, Bibi tries to do what she can to prepare; however, her relatives want no part of it. When her cousin's wife becomes pregnant, the wife becomes paranoid that Bibi's condition will harm her unborn baby. While her family pushes her away, Bibi's neighbors are left to carry the responsibilities. I’ve learned that in the Indian culture, neighbors are much closer or more involved in each other’s life than they tend to be in the United States. They pick up where her family fails her. The twist at the end of this tale is bittersweet. She has a child but to an unknown man. Finally she is cured of her disease. Lahiri's Bibi is a sympathetic character and the reader cannot help but feel sorry for her (Lahiri). 

"A Real Durwan" and "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" are both perfect examples of how women of lower castes statuses do not have the opportunity that is available for others of higher class. Although the Indian government officially eliminated the caste system in 1950, it is still a part of the social structure in India because of its deep-rooted tradition in history. Because a person is born into a caste, the caste rarely changes from generation to generation. Most women of poverty are in lower castes. The women who are lucky to be employed are paid poorly and exploited for their long hours of labor. Women are viewed as "replaceable and disposable”. Many women enter the "unorganized, underground economy". In this type of economy, there are extended hours, horrible conditions, poor wages, and are treated unfairly (India). 

Both Boori Ma and Bibi Haldar were a part of the unorganized, underground economy because they were paid in food and shelter instead of legal and financial compensation. Boori Ma was thrown out of her building because the community saw her as inferior and unequal. Boori Ma and Bibi Haldar are what many people in India would call ‘untouchable’. The word dalit or untouchable comes from Sanskrit, and means ground, suppressed, crushed, or broken to pieces. These dalits (untouchables) are considered to be unworthy; people of higher class do not interact with them. Furthermore, women's poverty is a direct link to the lack of access to education and legitimate healthcare. If Bibi Haldar had access to proper healthcare and a good 

doctor, her illness may have been diagnosed correctly and she would have received the right medication.

The social caste system has been in India’s culture for centuries and is still practiced to this day.  Every Indian knows about his or her own caste as well as the caste of one's acquaintances. Caste is the ultimate deciding factor in decisions ranging from marriage, job opportunities, and religious sacraments. Discrimination against the dalit was made illegal under legislation when Britain was in control of India (India).  There is mystery surrounding the origin of India’s caste system, but historians believe it has been in place for over two thousand years. Caste is commonly thought of as an ancient tradition of Hindu life. During the British colonial regime, the caste system was practiced to the fullest extent, because they saw it as a way to keep control. (Dudley). 

To be born a Hindu in India is to enter the caste system, one of the world's longest surviving forms of social classifications. The Indian Caste system is broken down into five categories: Brahmins (priests/teachers), Kshatriyas (ruler, warrior, landowner), Vaisyas (merchants, businessmen), Sudras (unskilled workers, agriculturalists), and Pariah/Harijans (untouchables). The untouchables weren’t even considered a class until Mahatma Gandhi protested for their rights. They are now known as Harijan, or “children of God”. Gandhi, who fought very hard for betterment of this class, called them Harijans or Children of God. Over a period of time, they became to be referred to as dalits or Scheduled Castes (Dudley).

Castes rarely marry out of their social class. In urban India, though, people of all castes meet socially or for business. Discriminating against anyone because of their caste is against the law (Kamat's). Even though it is considered illegal to discriminate against people’s social class, 170 million Harijans are consistently facing threats if they even think to step out of line. Harijan Girls are members of the lowest caste in the hierarchy. Being a woman and from the lowest caste, these girls face an uphill battle. Their jobs involve doing most of the cleaning, or what we might call dirty work. Both Boori Ma and Bibi Haldar can be grouped within this category of women (Kamat's). 

Dalit men are also discriminated against. A perfect example is of a Hindu by the name of Girdharillal Maurya, a leatherworker, who is considered unclean due to his profession. Hindu law states that working with animal skin is filthy and that person should be avoided at all cost.   Born at the bottom of Hinduism's complex social ladder, that meant he could not eat with people from higher castes or drink from their wells. He was not supposed to strive for a life beyond that of his father, an illiterate cobbler. Years later, he still won't repeat the slurs that people called him. Maurya, purchased land spoke up to the police and other authorities to use the new village well. People of higher rank thought it was disrespectful to ask of such things (Untouchable). While Maurya was away in a nearby city, men from the higher Rajput caste came to his farm, broke his fences, stole is tractor, beat his wife and daughter, and burned down his house. The Rajput wanted Maurya to know that he was to stay where he belonged: the bottom. There are countless stories of how dalits are mistreated because of their status (Untouchable). 

The vast majority of India's 170 million dalits live among a blanket of grim statistics: less than a third are literate, over 40 percent survive on less than $2 a day, infant mortality rates are dramatically higher than among higher castes. Dalits are far more likely than the overall population to be underweight, and far less likely to get postnatal care (India).

How can India discriminate against 17% of its population, the percentage of dalits accounting for the Indian population, with no remorse? After centuries of tradition, religious, and social practice, people wonder if practice of the Indian caste system will ever be fully abolished. Even religious conversion has not helped the dalits. They are more or less treated in Islam, Christianity or Sikhism in the same way as in the Hindus society. The dalits carry the title of discrimination and helplessness wherever they go, although the three religions claim equality for all of their followers. Sadly, the dalits are not able to escape the struggles of caste system even outside Hinduism (A Changed Mindset). 

Some people believe that a revolt is a must for a change to happen. There has been no report of revolt taken, because the dalits do not want to damage the Hindu society.  Professor B M Puttaiah of Hampi University believes that that the only way to eradicate the caste system is to change the mindset of the Indian people. Puttaiah says that the feeling of discrimination is one of the basic traits of human beings. Power, social status, and inequality at times leads to the formation of new caste. In order for a new society, a psychological change is a must for a social change (A Changed Mindset).

In an extensive survey created by the Center for the Advanced Study of India at the University of Pennsylvania, researchers discovered that dalits living in concrete homes, not huts made from mud and straw, had jumped from 18 percent to 64 percent between 1990 and 2007 in one north Indian district (Huffington Post). Ownership of various household goods – fans, chairs, pressure cookers and bicycles – had increased over the same period. The study also found a weakening of some caste traditions; for example, far fewer dalits being seated separately at non-dalit weddings. While most dalits still support themselves as rural laborers, there is also a growing dalit middle class, many of them civil servants who have benefited from affirmative action laws (Huffington Post). Globalization and modernization has allows for wealth to triumph over caste. Growing economies also foster urbanization allows for low-caste Indians to escape traditional village strictures. Finally, economic growth also means that the traditional merchant castes are not large enough to fill every job.

Over time, technological advancement and development will help the dalits with their continuous rise up the ladder. There are success stories of dalits who are able to make a fortune with the situation they face. For the dalits that aren’t as lucky, all they can do is dream and use these success stories as a model for hope. 

Citation:

Dudley, Jenkins Laura. Identity and Identification in India: Defining the Disadvantaged. London [etc.: Routledge, 2009. Print.

Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies: Stories. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. Print.

"India - Caste and Class." Country Studies. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://countrystudies.us/india/89.htm>.

AP. "Is India's Caste System Headed For Change?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/22/india-caste-system_n_1165874.html>.

"Untouchable @ National Geographic Magazine." National Geographic Magazine. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0306/feature1/>.

"Kamat's Potpourri: The Caste System." Kamat's Potpourri. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. <http://www.kamat.com/indica/caste/>.

"‘Change Mindset to Eradicate Caste System’." ‘Change Mindset to Eradicate Caste System’. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. <http://www.deccanherald.com/content/243827/change-mindset-eradicate-caste-system.html>.

Character Analysis of Interpreter of Maladies: Boori Ma

         Boori Ma is a feeble 64-year-old woman from Calcutta who is the stair-sweeper of an old apartmentbuilding. In exchange for her services, the residents allow Boori Ma to live on the roof of the building. Boori Ma rants on about the stories of her past. The residents of the brick building hear continuous contradictions in Boori’s storytelling, but her stories are seductive and compelling, so they let her contradictions rest. One family, the Dalal’s, often gives Boori Ma food and takes care of Boori Ma in her old age. After Mr. Dalal gets promoted at work, he improves the brick building by installing a sink in the stairwell and a sink in his home. The Dalal’s continue to upgrade their home and even go away on a trip to Simla for ten days and promise to bring back Boori Ma a sheep’s hair blanket. 
         While the Dalal’s are away, the other residents become obsessed with making their own improvement to the building. Boori Ma even spends her life savings on special treats while circling around the neighborhood. However, while Boori Ma is out one afternoon, the sink in the stairwell is stolen. The residents accuse Boori Ma of informing the robbers and in negligence for her job. When Boori Ma speaks up, the residents continue to accuse her because of all her previous faulty stories and tales. The residents' obsession with materializing the building dimmed their focus on the remaining members of their community, like Boori Ma. The short story concludes as the residents throw out Boori Ma’s belongings and begin a search for a “real durwan.” The tenants of the home openly discriminate against after they begin to think that she help steal the sink. Because of her lower class status, they treat her very poorly. 

Book Club

  After reading my book club book, Interpreters of Maladies, I came out with many different ideas of how to approach my essay. Being a short story, I'm able to have more freedom in choosing which chapter or character to discuss. The advantages of this short story allows me to expand my essay and write about a wide arrange of characters, topics, and plots. The main idea to the Interpreter of Maladies is that it revolves around the Indian culture. All of the short stories in the book have multiple characters that are of Indian descent. The short stories are situated around American and Indian cultures. At times, the two are somewhat meshed together. After reading a few of the short stories, I noticed a difference between the social classes in America and India. In India, the social class is more segregated. There is a large gap between the rich and poor.

    I'll be discussing the inequalities the poor in India face and how there is a hierarchy within the Indian society. There are those who are considered 'untouchables' while there are others that are considered the lowest caste. The members of the lowest caste system are often times mistreated and live in the slums of India. The most disturbing thing is that they are usually born into their social class. Millions have no say in how their social status and lives will play out. They often just accept the fact that is how life is.

Interpreter of Maladies Discussion

 After reading my book club book, Interpreters of Maladies, I came out with many different ideas of how to approach my essay. Being a short story, I'm able to have more freedom in choosing which chapter or character to discuss. The advantages of this short story allows me to expand my essay and write about a wide arrange of characters, topics, and plots. The main idea to the Interpreter of Maladies is that it revolves around the Indian culture. All of the short stories in the book have multiple characters that are of Indian descent. The short stories are situated around American and Indian cultures. At times, the two are somewhat meshed together. After reading a few of the short stories, I noticed a difference between the social classes in America and India. In India, the social class is more segregated. There is a large gap between the rich and poor.
    Jhumpa Lahiri, the author of the book, writes of two different stories about the slums of India. The Treatment of Bibi Haldar and AReal Durwan both revolve around characters who struggle throughout their lives.They are of the lowest low in the caste system and are constantly belittled by others.

    I'll be discussing the inequalities the poor in India face and how there is a hierarchy within the Indian society. There are those who are considered 'untouchables' while there are others that are considered the lowest caste. The members of the lowest caste system are often times mistreated and live in the slums of India. The most disturbing thing is that they are usually born into their social class. Millions have no say in how their social status and lives will play out. They often just accept the fact that is how life is.

When Writing

When beginning an essay, I just try to ramble on as much as I can by throwing out general ideas and statements.  After I feel as if I've written a sufficient amount, I begin to narrow down the topics I want to discuss. After reading John Trimble's section of getting launched, his idea is 'start small' really works for me. I'm able to take a couple  of small ideas that I've written down and expand on them. I realized that the problem I have with writing is becoming too general or branching off too much. I sometimes get off topic, because I try to cover too many things.     When I pre-write, I will try to attack the topic from as many points of view as possible. I like to look at the full  spectrum of every subject I write about. This seems to be a very effective way to acquire information about the  subject matter and it does a good job of keeping the writer's bias out to a minimum. I enjoy this strategy of writing  and it's very comfortable for me. It's also quite effective.

Interpreters of Maladies

       My selection for the book club book is Interpreter of Maladies; a collection of short stories written by, Jhumpa Lahiri. The fact that it was a combination of short stories as opposed to a novel initially sparked my interest. The first short story deals with a couple who are in a struggling marriage. They finally make a breakthrough during dinner, and they continually heal the relationship when they are at the dinner table. The two become comfortable with each other once they begin eating.

                Interpreters of Maladies revolves around an Indian family that discuss their issues. The book is comprised of short stories so they are not connected. The reoccurring theme in each story is the discussion around the dinner table. Indian food and dinner was important in the first two stories I read. It seemed as if all the problems have gone away once the characters began eating. According to the author, Jhumpa Lahiri, food is more than something you eat. It's a conversation. It's family bonding. It's peace of mind.

               After reading the first two stories, I began thinking about how much food relates to my social life. I realize that the most time I spend with my parents at the dinner table and how dinner is always prepared every night. It makes me appreciate food and eating together even more. I always hear about how eating dinner is important to build a strong family, however; I never actually realized the effects it had until now. I also need to try some Indian food since I've never eaten it.

Sorry Fugu

I recently went and viewed the short-play, Sorry Fugu.  Word for Word Performing Arts Company, a San Francisco’s theater group, does their rendition of “Sorry Fugu”, a short story by T.C. Boyle. Boyle begins with restaurant chef, Albert, who tries his very best to make an outstanding dish but after two attempts. The food critic, Willa Frank is still disappointed. After a couple unsuccessful attempts to woo Willa, Albert ploys a strategy to seduce Willa Frank into tasting his dishes and enjoying her food. 

 The play went better than I expected, although I haven't really been to many plays. I didn't know what to expect, but I did enjoy it. The play is very similar to the short story as in it follows most of the script. The play goes into further details with the character and their backgrounds. The play is very sensual and does reference to quite a bit of sexual acts among the characters. The term, 'food porn' is a good description what this play is about.

Food porn is is a  visual presentation of cooking or eating is that arouse a desire to eat or the glorification of food as a substitute for sex. Sorry Fugu brings to life the combination of cooking and pornography in a sophisticated way with its double entendres. The actors do a fantastic job at making it clear that there is sexual tension between one another. That's something that readers may miss in the short story.

To Eat or Not to Eat

    After reading Eating Animals, readers may want to choose to be conscious of what they are eating. Foer gives graphic details on practices of the farming industries and how unethical they are towards their livestock. His detailed description of the factory farming makes readers uneasy and gives them an idea of practicing vegetarianism. This well written book from Foer makes it a lot less challenging to convert to vegetarianism. I believe that Foer does make valid arguments; however, a solely vegetarian nation would be unsustainable. The United State's economy will not survive if we were all to become vegetarians. 

    Foer has valid arguments for being aware of the farming industry and being aware of what we eat. The details and statistics of the cruelty these animals suffer is alarming. Having a diet without eating meat tends to be healthier and less damaging to the environment. I've tried going vegetarian multiple times, but I haven't been able to sustain it. The longest I've lasted without meat is 5 weeks, but then I caved in. I know its healthier for me and better for everyone, but it's tough.
    Foer does a great job in touching the ethical, moral, and compassionate feeling of people. He is able to connect with everyone on the subject of meat. Foer goes from the eye of a farmer, to a consumer, and to a parent. He touches all bases of his audience. In the chapter,Hiding/Seeking, Foer displays views from the factory farmer, the line worker, the Jewish guy, and a poultry farmer. He even discusses the organic and free range chicken industries.
    I understand Foer's point of morality and ethics when discussing factory farming, but farming industries and restaurants around the United States will be devastated if everyone were to convert to vegetarianism. Our economy is too large to stop producing meat. Millions of people are employed by some kind of food industry. Sadly, the meat industry will not be able to continually employ people if everyone becomes a vegetarian. I'm positive vegetarian restaurant industry will not be able to survive on a large scale. To my knowledge, there is no vegetarian restaurant chain. Sure there are some restaurants that serve vegetarian dishes, but not solely.
    Because of the economic casualty created if the meat industry were to go down, I don't think it is a wise decision to put hundreds of millions of people out of business. These people work hard to put food on the table; even if that food is filled with antibiotics and growth hormones. It's better to have food on the table than nothing at all.  

Critiquing Eating Animals

 Eating Animals is a book that delves into the factory farming industry and its practices. Author, Jonathan Safran Foer discusses the mistreatment of animals through multiple investigation of farms and thorough research. He promotes a sense of vegetarianism and the idea of 'being conscious of what you eat'. Foer writes and formats his book in a way that is simplistic yet sophisticated. He is able to connect with a large platform of different readers as he brings to life the reality of factory farming.The idea of factory farming is obviously a controversial topic and a topic this sensitive will obviously evoke very strong and contrasting viewpoints.


Foer has the ability to connect with his audience because he becomes very personal within the text. He discusses his childhood and eating with his grandma. He also talks about having a child and how that ultimately led him to become a vegetarian.


 I agree with about half of Jennifer Reece’s review of Eating Aninamls.  Foer does come off as condescending and a little bit stuck up. He’s very biased which, for me, is a huge impact on credibility. Foer says that his main objective is to make us conscious of what we are eating, but I believe that there is a hidden agenda behind all of it. He really does want to convert people to vegetarianism. That being said, I also think that Reece’s review is biased as well. She took a few lines from his book out of context. For example, Reece quotes him as saying, “. He turns down the meat, telling Mario that he is kosher, which he is not. Why he does not tell the truth, that he is a vegetarian, is an excellent question, one I am still pondering.” He clearly says that it would be awkward if Foer tells Mario that he is a vegetarian. Reece also thinks that Foer is fighting for veganism but I don’t think that is the case. He hardly mentions the mistreatment of dairy cows or eggs. Bottom line; both Foer and Reece come off as bitchy and a bit stubborn.


 Jay Rayner, on the other hand, does a more professional job at critiquing Foer’s book. Maybe it’s because he is writing for the Guardian in the U.K. He criticizes Foer on his agenda to convert people to vegetarianism even though Foer says that’s not the case; Rayner also mentions that. Rayner believes that Foer doesn’t understand the process of factory farming and has to realize protein and animals are a requirement for people. 


 Foer brings awareness of the farming industry to the public. He exposes the inhumane treatment of cattle, chicken, and pigs. Foer’s rhetoric is very powerful as he uses detailed accounts and step- by-step processes of factory farming. He’s also done his fair share of research and investigation. The only knock on him is his condescending tone and his obvious bias towards the subject. 

Domino Effect

  After reading Eating Animals, readers may want to choose to be conscious of what they are eating. Foer gives graphic details on practices of the farming industries and how unethical they are towards their livestock. His detailed description of the factory farming makes readers uneasy and gives them an idea of practicing vegetarianism. This well written book from Foer makes it a lot less challenging to convert to vegetarianism. I believe that Foer does make valid arguments; however, a solely vegetarian nation would be unsustainable. The United State's economy will not survive if we were all to become vegetarians. 

    Foer has valid arguments for being aware of the farming industry and being aware of what we eat. The details and statistics of the cruelty these animals suffer is alarming. Having a diet without eating meat tends to be healthier and less damaging to the environment. I've tried going vegetarian multiple times, but I haven't been able to sustain it. The longest I've lasted without meat is 5 weeks, but then I caved in. I know its healthier for me and better for everyone, but it's tough.
    Foer does a great job in touching the ethical, moral, and compassionate feeling of people. He is able to connect with everyone on the subject of meat. Foer goes from the eye of a farmer, to a consumer, and to a parent. He touches all bases of his audience. In the chapter, Hiding/Seeking, Foer displays views from the factory farmer, the line worker, the Jewish guy, and a poultry farmer. He even discusses the organic and free range chicken industries.
    I understand Foer's point of morality and ethics when discussing factory farming, but farming industries and restaurants around the United States will be devastated if everyone were to convert to vegetarianism. Our economy is too large to stop producing meat. Millions of people are employed by some kind of food industry. Sadly, the meat industry will not be able to continually employ people if everyone becomes a vegetarian. I'm positive vegetarian restaurant industry will not be able to survive on a large scale. To my knowledge, there is no vegetarian restaurant chain. Sure there are some restaurants that serve vegetarian dishes, but not solely.
    Because of the economic casualty created if the meat industry were to go down, I don't think it is a wise decision to put hundreds of millions of people out of business. These people work hard to put food on the table; even if that food is filled with antibiotics and growth hormones. It's better to have food on the table than nothing at all.  

Go Hard or Go Home

We currently live in a society with the mentality of, ‘go hard or go home’. As Americans, we are proud to say that everything we do is to the extreme. We stuff our faces in what seems to be an endless supply of food, drink until our livers give out, and party hard 'till the break of dawn. Americans live in the fast lane and are damn proud of it. USA! USA! USA! Compared to other nations, it seems as if America does things and takes theme to extreme measures. This fast paced lifestyle is a cause for concern. People in the United States are continually diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Even though a majority of these illnesses can be avoided, we tend to ignore it until it becomes a full scale problem. Americans need to realize that they are the cause for their illnesses and-overall, just poor health.

America is notoriously known for being overweight and unhealthy. Why does America, a first world country, have a life expectancy of only 78 years when a third world country, like Singapore, has a life expectancy of 81 years? It can be traced back to our lifestyle. Americans are the biggest consumer in the world. We know no moderation. We continue to consume-whether it be food, gasoline, or product. The 'American lifestyle'  has given us the false impression that the more we consume, the happier we will be. 

 It is actually quite the contrary. We hear of credit card debt-caused by overspending. We hear of obesity-caused by overeating. We hear of global warming-caused by the same negligence and ignorance. And once we realize that we’re sick, we start to panic and wonder, ‘why me?’

The climate change crisis is my favorite example of procrastination. When you fly over a large city like Los Angeles, you will not being a city of sunshine and buildings. What you see a cloud of brown shit floating around the city. Without any scientific evidence, I can tell you that the brown ‘shit’ is not natural. We tend to put things off and wait for somebody else to deal with it. I guarantee you, once cities start flooding and hurricanes become the norm, people will realize that they have continually fed into the destruction of mankind.

The Fast Lane

            As Americans, we live in a fast-paced society that demands a significant amount of time and energy. We often times don’t have enough hours in the day to take care of ourselves. As a result of fast food and lack of exercise, our overall health begins to decline. Often times, we don’t realize that we are continuously feeding ourselves with synthetic and processed food. We don’t stop to think about what we put in our mouths; don’t stop to think about what goes into creating the food we eat. This is America’s dilemma. The problem America has is finding the balance between a 21^st century lifestyle and a lifestyle of completeness.

            After a long day’s work, cooking a full, complete meal is the last thing on many people’s mind. I beg you to reconsider. Home cooked meals are often times healthier than the typical salt saturated, deep fried, takeout food. People may argue that eating has nothing to do with nutrition, but more about the economics. The common misconception is that fast food is cheaper than food prepared at home. Not only is restaurant food more expensive, the medical bill often time gets ignored in the whole calculation. Obesity is unhealthy and expensive. According to the National Institute of Health, the total cost of overweight and obesity to the U.S. economy in 1995 dollars was $99.2 billion.

           People who are overweight are diagnosed with more issues than a healthy person. People suffering from obesity are more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and cancer just to name a few. Data from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention center found that 33.8% of American adults are obese while 17% apply for children and adolescents. If you think about these statistics for a moment, you then realize that 1/3 or Americans adults are obese. It's also no surprise that the United States leads the world with the nation having the most obese people. 

            Think twice before entering a drive-thru. Understand the consequences of continuously eating out. You may ask yourself, “Why should I have to eat healthy? I’m an adult and I’m able to make my own decisions, damnit!” This is true. Nobody is forcing you to make healthy choices, but if you want to keep your wallet fat and your belly slim, go home and enjoy a nice home cooked meal.