It's become popular to speak in terms of obsession. People sometimes claim to be obsessed with television shows, their hobbies or collections, their favorite colors. And then, as we discovered last class, there's food. For example, take this clip from Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations:
This promotional video uses the pop-culture preoccupation with obsession to sensationalize its topic... and it works! But are cooks, bloggers, butchers, cheese-makers, and your garden variety restaurant patrons all really obsessed? More than likely the answer lies in the word's definition. Luckily, the clip cites a dictionary.
obsession: the compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion , often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.According to this then, an obsession is a particular kind of preoccupation--one that the obsessive doesn't want and can't seem to control. We'll also speak more about fixed ideas in a few weeks but suffice it to say these thoughts aren't going away. Finally anxiety, that nervous feeling you get when you think something horrible is about to happen, is often a key part of obsession.
So then in other words: an obsession is an unwanted idea you can't distract yourself from. It isn't connected to your surroundings, and it's often accompanied by a feeling of dread.
Is this how you imagine cooks and food bloggers? And really, going back to another idea from last class, can something like this every really be "balanced" or is it by its very definition excessive?
Something to think about.
This is a very interesting clip. And it really caught my attention how obsession can be related to food. I do not see having the best ingredients, or the cleanest kitchen, or even the best dishes as an obsession. Everything has its balance, meaning it's normal for a great chef to care about his food since this will create a reaction on the consumers and therefore a good or bad reputation. I'm the kind of person that if I'm doing something and is not perfect, I feel uncomfortable. For example, If I know someone is coming over to have dinner, I try my best in cooking a pleasent dish. Of course anxiety can dominate you for a moment if you're rush or someting like that, but that's a transient reaction.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that chefs may be obsessed in creating a flawless dish doesn't mean that they think about it all the time, or that is a preocupation outside of work, or doesn't mean that is going to affect other areas of their daily activities. As I said, it's normal for a person to feel some pressure when it comes to do the best. I don't think that this feeling may be associated to "obsession."
Obsession as with any other word its meaning and degrees will vary through people's preception thus some people are able to control the level of anxiety or how much they "obsess" over something. In regards to this clip the chefs have a "balanced" level of food obsession because there wasn't any sugguestion (agreeing with previous commemnt (by liliana)) that the other sections of their lives are being disrupted by their "obsession".
ReplyDeleteI always knew there was an obsession with eating food, I had no idea there was an obsession with the creation of food. I watch a lot of shows on the food network and I have noticed that the chef's can be perfectionists when it comes to their meals because they view it as art, but I did not think it would be considered an obsession.
ReplyDeleteCan you really call it an obsession if someone in their profession takes extra measures to be the best at what they do? Isn't that what most successful people strive for? A chef that goes beyond to get the best ingredients knows the benefits those ingredients have on his dish, the chef that keeps a clean kitchen knows and goes beyond knows proper food safety and what is required of them so their patrons don't get sick from their food. To keep a kitchen and food to the standards of proper food handling regulations one might come off obsessive. Someone that knows better will do better, but to someone who isn't a chef they could come off obsessive.Having a clean kitchen with the best ingredients and the best dishes sets you apart from the rest and ensures your success as a chef
ReplyDeleteGood points. This serves as an excellent example of using the concept of "obsession" at an attempt to sensationalize another aspect of the hospitality industry.
ReplyDeleteSome eat to live. Others live to eat. With a better understanding of the definition of obsession, it’s hard to imagine anyone dreading a gourmet meal. (With the exception of Youtube's "Kid allergic to Food")
Chef Anthony Bourdain?
Ha! He’s a hack! Kitchen Confidential was
a testament to that. He’s not obsessed with “pork” or any other facet of gastronomy. If anything, the man is piggy-backing on the fame of passionate chefs in order to secure FoodNetwork gigs that will continue to finance his excursions to south-east Asia.
Bourdain and the circle of other wannabe “celebrity chefs” are obsessed with booze, cocaine, and under-age brothels. The party is no longer big enough, nor endless in New York anymore.
Can I imagine chefs or food bloggers as being obsessed with food?
Not as much, with the exception of Thomas Keller (Per Se, French Laundry) who personally wipes down the bottle of oils daily, strains peas and serves it as some kind of mortal ambrosia, and is notoriously obsessive about ingredients and his kitchen. I mean, the proof is in the pudding. (And it will cost you about $250pp) In Keller’s case, it’s his now signature tapioca and caviar aka “Oysters and Pearls.” I suspect some obsessive food thinking behind that one.
I don't believe anything is wrong with being obsessed with making food, as long as you are getting paid for it. These chefs shown are getting paid for their obsession and their obsession not only benefits their needs but the customers they have.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't seem like an obsession to me; At least according to the definition provided here. Would food really be an unwanted idea to a cook? Everyone is free to choose what they do in life. If a cook chooses that profession he or she must have some kind of passion toward food. I think they are passionate more than obsessed. Everyone tries their best to do the best possible job when doing something they love. I think this is the case here(besides the cook that said it was like sex).
ReplyDeleteIn the last class, somebody said, “without obsession, there is no passion and without passion, there is no sense of life"? I think this quote describes what this video is all about; these people love and enjoy so much what they are doing that it is impossible for them not being obsessed. I do not see anything wrong with people doing their best for bringing benefits to their lives, so the question would be how do we can determine when a passion or love for something becomes an obsession?
ReplyDelete