This week in class, we talked about "food porn" and the different personas that the Food Network portrays. According to You Are What You Eat!?: Television Cooking Shows, Consumption, and Lifestyle Practices as Adult Learning, these shows present hosts that intentionally create a persona of the "everyperson," the common cook. "Bam! Emeril is a good-ol-boy who’ll show regular folk how to “kick it up a notch.” And Rachael Ray is the girl-next-door who’ll show working-class wives how to regularly create gourmet feasts in 30 minutes for pennies a day (404)."
Video courtesy of FoodNetworkTV on Youtube.
The above clip is an example of a persona Food Network is depicting. They show Paula Deen baking in her home with her dogs by her side. Paula's southern accent can be warm and inviting to some. Also, her clothes are casual so the audience feels like Paula is just an everyday woman with no culinary experience.
Even the title of her show, "Paula's Home Cooking" depicts the image of a common housewife baking for her family. In the clip, it's a rainy day which contributes to the persona of an everyday woman who has nothing better to do than bake.
Throughout the clip, Paula Deen talks to her dogs just like any normal person might do from time to time. The atmosphere isn't cold and pristine. Instead, it is warm and inviting with pets around the cooking area.
Every chef on Food Network has their own persona so that the consumer can identify with at least one of them. If you're a southern housewife, you can watch Paula Deen. If you're just a regular guy, you can watch Emeril Lagasse or Guy Fieri. There's a lifestyle portrayed for everyone.
SourcesEvery chef on Food Network has their own persona so that the consumer can identify with at least one of them. If you're a southern housewife, you can watch Paula Deen. If you're just a regular guy, you can watch Emeril Lagasse or Guy Fieri. There's a lifestyle portrayed for everyone.
FoodNetworkTV. "Paula Deen's Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies." Youtube. 2 May 2008. Web. 23
Sept. 2011.
Wright, Robin Redmon. Jennifer A. Sandlin. You Are What You Eat!?: Television Cooking Shows, Consumption, and Lifestyle Practices as Adult Learning.
Sept. 2011.
Wright, Robin Redmon. Jennifer A. Sandlin. You Are What You Eat!?: Television Cooking Shows, Consumption, and Lifestyle Practices as Adult Learning.
What kind of effects do you think these images have on the public? Many people can relate to them, but what about those who are not represented by chefs on the Food Network?
ReplyDeleteDo you think these food personalities pretend to be someone else, or do you feel that who they portray on the television is really who they are?
ReplyDeleteI think these images get the public to watch more of the show. The people who are not represented by the chefs are still drawn in by the nice accents and delicious food that they could make.
ReplyDeleteKearsten, I think these personas arethe real deal. The chefs are being who they are.
Paula does play this character role very well. She is like an everyday "southern woman." Do you think the type of food she cooks is portrayed to only southern women?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think it's only for southern women, because I know a lot of people in Pennsylvania that like the food she cooks. Some of it might be southern food, but northern women like the food, too.
ReplyDelete