Megan Dattoria
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Project Board
Katherine Nochera~ 11/ 17/ 2009~ Project Board
After some more thought, I have decided to embrace natural, soothing, handmade, slow elements in the design of my slow food tea infuser instead of a beach theme. This elements are referenced through handmade paper, ceramics, and decoration.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Elizabeth Silber
November 10th Re-post
Research Paper
Originally the movement known as the Slow Food Movement began in 1986 by a man named Carlo Petrini. Beginning in Bra, Italy, he began this movement to initiate a stand against the opening of a new McDonalds near the Spanish steps in Rome. While doing so Petrini came up with the motto of this movement, which is good, clean, and fair. The essential idea behind this revolution was to attempt to preserve the cultural cuisines of Italy associated with natural plants and ingredients. The importance of appreciating domestic animals and environmental landscapes is also the center of the Slow Food revolution.
While researching this movement I began to look at the types of tea infusers and how they play a part in slowing down daily life in order to enjoy life and have a more healthy lifestyle overall. We are so programmed to run from place to place and get things done in the small amounts of time we have and therefore fast food has become a relatively normal part of life. Convenience has become a double-edged sword in terms of the foods we eat versus the speed at which we can eat them.
Some of the objectives of the Slow Food Movement are creating and maintaining seed banks and preserving basic ingredients in connection to local food systems that currently exist, educating consumers about the risks of consuming fast food, developing political programs to conserve family-owned farms, lobbying against the utilization of pesticides, encouraging consumerism in an ethical manner, and teaching gardening skills.
While no one can really tell you exactly how successful this movement is, considering the origin in 1986, many of the people I know have begun to rethink the foods they eat. I know that specifically as a college student that recently I have begun to try to limit the amount of fast food I eat. Many friends of mine say that fast food is cheap and convenient and that that’s why they eat it, but over time we have begun to find other ways to control our budget while eating healthier and making more informed decisions about where and what we eat. As we have gone in 2009 and soon-to-be 2010, there has been a push for things to be organic, less trans fat, more veggies and fruits, etc. This has allowed people to begin to change the environment of fast food. While its still not healthy and often the ingredients are less than mediocre, McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy’s have begun to include salads, fruits, milk, and other alternatives to the fried foods they offer. They have expanded their menus in order to address the issue of healthy foods, but now it’s a matter of convenience. It’s so quick and easy to eat snack foods or fast food but in the end are we sacrificing our family dinnertime? Our time with friends enjoying a meal? Time in general to cook dinner and take that time for oneself? I think so.
Instead of looking for convenience in fast food I have begun to take the time once a week to sit down with my family for a home-cooked meal. Every Monday night (or most) our family sits down to eat dinner and every person makes something so we are all participating. It’s nice to have at least once a week where we aren’t running around or stressing out about work or school, just time with one another.
In terms of the Slow Movement, I am aware of how important these issues are. As I researched the movement a few words came to mind that I would like to maybe incorporate into my piece or the creation of my piece. When I begin to sketch I think I will look to these words so that I can incorporate the Slow Food Movement into the finished product of my piece. The words I thought of were friends, family, organic, healthy, consciousness, choices, farm, fairness, cooperation, and environment.
Now as for my actual piece I would like to create a tea strainer that embodies the essence of tea itself. When I think about tea or a tea infuser I think about the luxury of time. I think about a cold day when you can take a minute to enjoy a warm cup of tea or coffee in sweatpants. The importance of taking time for yourself and enjoying the best ingredients whether various types of tea leaves or the actual process of straining tea. With my piece I want whoever uses it to be able to enjoy taking a minute out of their day for themselves.
I would also like to include some beading in addition to my sterling silver. IF not beading, I want to add an element of luxury, whether sparkle or color. I would like to create a tea ball strainer as well. After studying tea strainers I saw that many used them in the 19th century when teatime was prominent in daily life and now many people collect these antiques as decorative pieces for their home. I think the tea infuser, as an antique would take someone back in time whether they use it for tea or they use it for decoration. Either way it allows you to think of a time where life was slower and could be enjoyed a little longer.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Slow Food Movement Research Paper
Ms. Lisa
11/15/09
The slow food movement is a good concept that provides resolution for many of our countries issues. These ideas to restructure diets, change lunch menus in our school systems and produce more organic vegetables are very instrumental. This global response has pushed people to be more creative while eating healthy. For instance, the Tea Infusers are being used more when people drink teas. It provides a better quality of taste and effectiveness.
Countries had shifted to the quick, grab a bite and run diet. Fast- foods are so convenient for our busy lives. Consequently, America is now unhappy with its obesity rates and poor health people are experiencing. On Labor Day, September 7, people in communities all across the country sat down and shared a meal with their kids, neighbors, teachers, community leaders and others. They expressed their concerns about the need to get real food into the schools. This was a successful event that encouraged people to get involved with our global problem. Now, the slow food movement is a national guide for schools that are reorganizing there menu plans. Some are teaching nutrition education, garden-based learning, and solid waste management. Others include weekly salad bar featuring fresh, seasonal, local fruits and organic vegetables.
No doubt, many schools are still debating about the changes that need to take place but haven’t because of our countries budget. Slow food is better, but agribusiness is arguing that industrial farming is the only way to economically feed a global population nearing 7 billion. Organic farming yields less per acre than standard farming, which means a worldwide Slow Food initiative might lead to turning more forests into farmland.
Interestingly, families have gone back to planting vegetables and fruits in their gardens. So we are using various kitchen appliances to keep pure foods like natural fruit drinks and using objects like Tea Infusers to have quality tea. These unique objects are so common now that you can make your own Tea Strainer. They are extremely economical starting at $3.99. There are a variety of styles to choose from: antique, classical, commercial, domestic, stylish and washable.
Tea Infusers can be made from different materials as well, such as: copper, silver, ceramic and others.
11/15/09
The slow food movement is a good concept that provides resolution for many of our countries issues. These ideas to restructure diets, change lunch menus in our school systems and produce more organic vegetables are very instrumental. This global response has pushed people to be more creative while eating healthy. For instance, the Tea Infusers are being used more when people drink teas. It provides a better quality of taste and effectiveness.
Countries had shifted to the quick, grab a bite and run diet. Fast- foods are so convenient for our busy lives. Consequently, America is now unhappy with its obesity rates and poor health people are experiencing. On Labor Day, September 7, people in communities all across the country sat down and shared a meal with their kids, neighbors, teachers, community leaders and others. They expressed their concerns about the need to get real food into the schools. This was a successful event that encouraged people to get involved with our global problem. Now, the slow food movement is a national guide for schools that are reorganizing there menu plans. Some are teaching nutrition education, garden-based learning, and solid waste management. Others include weekly salad bar featuring fresh, seasonal, local fruits and organic vegetables.
No doubt, many schools are still debating about the changes that need to take place but haven’t because of our countries budget. Slow food is better, but agribusiness is arguing that industrial farming is the only way to economically feed a global population nearing 7 billion. Organic farming yields less per acre than standard farming, which means a worldwide Slow Food initiative might lead to turning more forests into farmland.
Interestingly, families have gone back to planting vegetables and fruits in their gardens. So we are using various kitchen appliances to keep pure foods like natural fruit drinks and using objects like Tea Infusers to have quality tea. These unique objects are so common now that you can make your own Tea Strainer. They are extremely economical starting at $3.99. There are a variety of styles to choose from: antique, classical, commercial, domestic, stylish and washable.
Tea Infusers can be made from different materials as well, such as: copper, silver, ceramic and others.
Some say they were originated in China. It’s argued that they have been around for decades but are just more elaborate now. The purpose of a Tea Infuser is to keep the tea of choice in its most pure state to be effective. The tea that goes into the strainer is loose and easy to flow rather than being wrapped in a bag which loses its potency. These are teas for high blood pressure, relaxation, cleansing and etc...
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Kara
Kara Mellott
11/08/2009
ART 218
Slow Food Movement
The slow food movement originated back in the 1980’s in Italy where a man named Carlos Petrini set out to prove having more well prepared and thoughtfully crafted meals would always be more beneficial to people. At least more beneficial than ordering take out or what we call fast food from the McDonalds down the street. One might think this would be no easy task taking into consideration the daily consumption of fast food from people all around the world. It seems that people, even after this movement has caught on, still never have the time to just relax long enough to prepare a meal for themselves, and possibly a few friends, to sit down and enjoy. Whether it be a lack of energy or time, most people, including myself, don’t participate in a movement that has grown hugely since its beginning and is reaching new heights of popularity.
By the 1990’s, the slow food movement had developed into a pretty big business and had grown from 20,000 to 65,000 members in 42 countries. In addition, Carlos Petrini has written several books on the subject further promoting its aspects. Of course, being the originator of this movement put him in the position to persuade people to get on board with this movement and incorporate it into their lives. Not only have books been written, but a foundation has been started with the mission of sticking by the world’s agricultural biodiversity and being respectful of cultural foods.
The slow food movement aims to hold on to the ideas of traditional, cultural cuisine by getting people to think about the choices they are making when they eat and how they go about eating as in the environment they are in when they eat and who they are with. The whole point of the slow food movement is to basically just get people more involved with what they are putting into their bodies and to challenge themselves to come up with better options when it comes to their dining.
It is the slow food movement theory that the pleasures gained from preparing a meal and dining with family and friends thereafter will only make a person feel better about themselves. When you set aside time to actually enjoy your food, it can be a much more fulfilling experience for you. There is also a lot to teach our children about the value of fine dining and to help them to appreciate foods taste. It is important for children to think of eating time as a social event and the slow food movement will aid in the development of children’s senses.
Source:
http://www.slowmovement.com/slow_food.php
11/08/2009
ART 218
Slow Food Movement
The slow food movement originated back in the 1980’s in Italy where a man named Carlos Petrini set out to prove having more well prepared and thoughtfully crafted meals would always be more beneficial to people. At least more beneficial than ordering take out or what we call fast food from the McDonalds down the street. One might think this would be no easy task taking into consideration the daily consumption of fast food from people all around the world. It seems that people, even after this movement has caught on, still never have the time to just relax long enough to prepare a meal for themselves, and possibly a few friends, to sit down and enjoy. Whether it be a lack of energy or time, most people, including myself, don’t participate in a movement that has grown hugely since its beginning and is reaching new heights of popularity.
By the 1990’s, the slow food movement had developed into a pretty big business and had grown from 20,000 to 65,000 members in 42 countries. In addition, Carlos Petrini has written several books on the subject further promoting its aspects. Of course, being the originator of this movement put him in the position to persuade people to get on board with this movement and incorporate it into their lives. Not only have books been written, but a foundation has been started with the mission of sticking by the world’s agricultural biodiversity and being respectful of cultural foods.
The slow food movement aims to hold on to the ideas of traditional, cultural cuisine by getting people to think about the choices they are making when they eat and how they go about eating as in the environment they are in when they eat and who they are with. The whole point of the slow food movement is to basically just get people more involved with what they are putting into their bodies and to challenge themselves to come up with better options when it comes to their dining.
It is the slow food movement theory that the pleasures gained from preparing a meal and dining with family and friends thereafter will only make a person feel better about themselves. When you set aside time to actually enjoy your food, it can be a much more fulfilling experience for you. There is also a lot to teach our children about the value of fine dining and to help them to appreciate foods taste. It is important for children to think of eating time as a social event and the slow food movement will aid in the development of children’s senses.
Source:
http://www.slowmovement.com/slow_food.php
Dave Garcia research
Dave Garcia, 11/10/09, research
Dave Garcia
Slow Food Research Paper
The Slow Food Movement is inspired by the growing and dominance of fast food lifestyle around the world. It is an “idea, a way of living and a way of eating.” Other than a lifestyle, it is also mainly friendly to the environment and the community because many people believe that food should be organic and locally grown; factory farms are not a good idea and family owned farms should be preserved. Animal cruelty is an issue for this movement and that is the reason why factory farms are evil. Slow foods taste good and are produced in a sanitary manner. A very famous book back in the early 1900s entitled The Jungle by Upton Sinclair may have been a reference for the movement. The books talks about how unsanitary the meatpacking industry was and how workers were endangering their lives when they are cutting meat. It was a horrifying job for these workers and slow food is not all about that. Workers should be paid for their work fairly.
I first heard about slow food last year in my Human Geography class. I thought about it for a second and it is true that people today prefer to live the fast life and not appreciate good food anymore; as long as they are quickly served is all we care about because we are always in a hurry and we have busy schedules. As a result, many traditional foods are not eaten daily like they used to. Many ingredients such as grains, vegetables, fruits and animal products are disappearing because of the popularity of convenience food and industrial business. I remember growing up in the Philippines, a third world country, and my parents used to tell me that fast food is not good for anyone’s health. We used to have slow food daily (at least that is what I thought back then). My mother cooks food for at least 2 hours because she believes that slow cooking brings out the real taste of the food; she even used to cook with firewood that she buys from the market. Because we could not afford refrigeration, she used to go to the local market to buy locally grown vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and other ingredients. This also means that we have to consume the food in one day or else it is going to rot. In addition, microwaves are still in development to perfection. Learning from that experience, I do not take things for granted especially food. The Slow Food Movement has a point that needs to be brought out there for the people to understand how the fast life is slowly changing the world.
Dave Garcia
Slow Food Research Paper
The Slow Food Movement is inspired by the growing and dominance of fast food lifestyle around the world. It is an “idea, a way of living and a way of eating.” Other than a lifestyle, it is also mainly friendly to the environment and the community because many people believe that food should be organic and locally grown; factory farms are not a good idea and family owned farms should be preserved. Animal cruelty is an issue for this movement and that is the reason why factory farms are evil. Slow foods taste good and are produced in a sanitary manner. A very famous book back in the early 1900s entitled The Jungle by Upton Sinclair may have been a reference for the movement. The books talks about how unsanitary the meatpacking industry was and how workers were endangering their lives when they are cutting meat. It was a horrifying job for these workers and slow food is not all about that. Workers should be paid for their work fairly.
I first heard about slow food last year in my Human Geography class. I thought about it for a second and it is true that people today prefer to live the fast life and not appreciate good food anymore; as long as they are quickly served is all we care about because we are always in a hurry and we have busy schedules. As a result, many traditional foods are not eaten daily like they used to. Many ingredients such as grains, vegetables, fruits and animal products are disappearing because of the popularity of convenience food and industrial business. I remember growing up in the Philippines, a third world country, and my parents used to tell me that fast food is not good for anyone’s health. We used to have slow food daily (at least that is what I thought back then). My mother cooks food for at least 2 hours because she believes that slow cooking brings out the real taste of the food; she even used to cook with firewood that she buys from the market. Because we could not afford refrigeration, she used to go to the local market to buy locally grown vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and other ingredients. This also means that we have to consume the food in one day or else it is going to rot. In addition, microwaves are still in development to perfection. Learning from that experience, I do not take things for granted especially food. The Slow Food Movement has a point that needs to be brought out there for the people to understand how the fast life is slowly changing the world.
Erin Brewer
Art 218
Zen inspired Tea Infuser
Sitting down with family and enjoying a healthy home cooked meal should be a daily occasion. Sounds almost foreign for this generation. The Slow food Movement is trying to get people back to taking time in life to enjoy their meals and family. Since fast food has taken over the World and primarily the United States we need to find a way to get people to take time to relax and enjoy a meal.
Due to the generation gap, children are forced to eat alone or pop something in the microwave while parents are at work. No one has time for each other. When sitting at the dinner table it gives the family a chance to learn from each other and enjoy the time spent with each other. At the end of the day there’s not much time for a family gathering around the dinner table. Now, both parents are working or one parent is working two jobs to make ends meet. People rely on fast food chains to feed their families, because taking the time out to cook a meal seems like too much. The generation of parents versus children now is completely different. The now parents were eating with their families when they were younger and mom was home to cook and clean and bring the family together for breakfast and dinner. For the children’s generation this does not happen. The family is broken by prior commitments such as, work and after school activities.
The Slow Food Movement is not just a way to give the fast food chains a bad name, but to slow people down, enjoy life together, and help our environment. Breakfast, being the most important meal of the day and the most commonly skipped can really affect a person’s well being and health. People are always in such a rush to get out the door in the morning they don’t eat breakfast, or either grab something from the local Starbuck’s.
The environment is becoming severely affected by the way we choose to get our food source. By using the Slow Food Movement we can produce good tasting food in clean way that does not hurt our environment.
Tea is the second most-widely consumed beverage in the world. Surprising, right? After finding this out it really interested me. I am a tea drinker, but wanted to figure out where tea was drank and it’s cultural background. I researched this and found out it started in China. So for my tea infuser I decided that I am going to have a Zen inspired design that will keep people from getting up.
According to legend, boiling water before drinking was thought of as being a hygienic precaution to some in China. After tea leaves from a nearby bush fell into the boiling water, a brown liquid (from the leaves) infused the water. One Chinese scientist decided to try this liquid and discovered it was refreshing. Tea consumption then spread all over China and soon after spread to Zen Buddhist missionaries. This was very interesting to me. I thought by putting a little history into the design of the tea infuser I could create an inspiring and exciting design.
I researched Zen designs and found many pictures of Zen gardens. In a Zen garden there is either gravel or sand, that is raked or not raked. This symbolizes the sea, ocean, rivers, or lakes. I want to help people relax and really take their time when drinking their tea. I hope my Zen design will inspire new ideas or provide viewers with happy memories.
By representing a natural landscape I hope to grab the attention of the viewer and to have people focus their concentration on the tea infuser. I want people to be able to relax, enjoy their tea, and the company of friends or family.
Slow Food Tea Infuser Initial Research
Megan Dattoria
Nowadays people need to move so fast just to keep up with the ever-changing world. Everything in our lives is designed for optimal speed. Text messages let you say just what you need to without the hassle of chatting. Search pages let you look up information instead of having to think a problem through or remember an ounce of information for yourself. Online shopping lets you purchase clothes without having to go in a store or talk to a single person. Drive-through windows let you pick up your morning coffee without even leaving your car. Though these advances in technology allow the common person to get more done in their day, this also severely limits one’s actual human inte
raction and keeps society highly strung and impatient.
The slow food movement is an excellent concept meant to work against this overly fast paced and stressed out routine that society has adopted. When I first heard of the movement I was on the
I think that tea is an excellent method to spread the slow food movement into society as it is already used mostly to wind down and have a 
break. I know that I, myself, drink tea every night before bed to calm myself down and just breathe. My intention with my tea infuser is to extend this soothing experience and accentuate the purposes of the slow food movement in its design. When I think of slow food several words come to mind: indulgence, enjoy, savor, break, breathe, experience, inhale, watch, together, communicate, connect, be, live, calm, aromatic, anticipate, wait, and appreciate. My goal is to emphasize these elements of the tea-making experience. My first thought was to make a long cylindrical infuser like the one pictured to the left. I thought this had a very modern aesthetic appeal and might make people stop and think but then I realized it was designed for speed and was against my intentions. I then realized that I would have to make an infuser that sits inside the cup and brews with little human interaction, lengthening the infusing process.
I then considered an infuser that clips to the side of the mug, as pictured above, because I like the idea of being able to see one’s tea brewing. This allows one to appreciate the process and watch the colors of the leaves bleed into the water. I then
abandoned this idea because I felt like this design made the infuser seem too much like an accessory to the cup and not as much a main focus. I then came across a photo of a paper infuser that is skewered and balanced atop the cup by placing the skewer across the opening of the mug. I liked this idea because it was simple and had a modern appeal. It also allows the drinker to watch the tea brew. I like that, since I am making the infuser out of copper, an excellent heat conductor, I am able to make the skewer out of a material that would stay relatively cool and wouldn’t scold one’s hand if they wished to adjust the infuser. I am thinking of turning it out of wood because my dad has a pen turning station set up in his shed and would be happy to couch me. In this way I would be able to make notches in the skewer where it rests on the rim of the mug so it cannot roll around.
I am also considering making the straining element inside the copper part of the infuser highly intricate and decorative so the drinker’s eye is brought down into the cup and occupied for a longer time than if they were using a plain, ugly tea bag. I am hoping this will force the drinker to spend more time watching the tea brew and enjoying the process. I hope that the drinker will then think of having tea as an activity, rather than a means to the end of having drunk tea. I also think that this design will allow the aromas of the tea to escape and entice the drinker so that they anticipate and look forward to the tea so they appreciate it more.
There is one more element that I am considering incorporating into my infuser. I believe that tea should be a very social event and is a means of communicating with others. Thus, I was interested in making my infuser accommodate two drinkers. In this way e
ach drinker has to wait for the other’s tea to be done before they can drink and are forced to spend time together in a relaxing setting that allows easy communication; talking without a direct purpose, just talking to get to know one another. This is just an idea and I’m not sure if I’m going to stick with it, as this also prevents one from enjoying tea when they are alone. I don’t know if I want to limit my design in this way. Overall I am designing my infuser to embrace the idea of watching the tea brew enjoying the process.
Slow Food Tea Infuser Research
Katherine Nochera~ 11/10/2009~ research
Luaus take a really long time. You have to set aside an entire evening if you plan on attending one; it will last at least four hours. If you think the luau is an extended event, you'll be floored by the amount of time it takes to roast the pork- a few days! When I began my research into the slow food movement, I immediately thought of all the cultural traditions that embrace a slowness in food making or ceremonies. Most cultures have a slow food tradition that involves a beverage of some sort. British and Asian cultures have hot tea, Polynesians have kava, the northern US has coffee, the southern US has sweet tea, and most areas have some ceremony revolving around alcohol. As I continued my research into the slow food movement, I realized it was not just concerned with food and consumption, but also seeking to revolutionize the hurried lifestyle.
The slow food movement, begun by Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1986, originally developed as an outcry against the construction of a McDonald's on the Spanish Steps in Rome. Now, the movement is the antithesis to fast food and seeks to improve the quality of food and consumption in order to benefit humans, animals, plants, and the environment. When we grocery shop locally, at farmer's markets, and in-season we greatly reduce our carbon footprint. The less distance our food has to travel to reach us, the less oil used per calorie of food consumed. Saving on oil saves the environment and our pocketbooks. The slow food movement encourages home garden planting as a means to establishing a more personal investment in our food and ecoregion. Then, when we are finished with our food, we can use the leftovers to create compost, recycling the health!
Taking time to plant a small garden, visit a farmer's market, have a sit-down family dinner, or even just cook at home a couple times a week forces us to have a more personal connection with our food and the life around us. When we take the time to sit around a table and eat with others while having conversation, we eat slower and allow more time for digestion. It takes approximately twenty minutes for your stomach to "tell" your brain you are full and no longer hungry. Eating with others and conversing allows our bodies the time it needs to avoid overeating.
I think an interesting table setting, centerpiece, or china design can stimulate conversation and emotions during a meal or other gastric experience. In brainstorming about my tea strainer design, I want to lure the tea consumer in not just with the design itself, but also with the emotions, memories, and associations related to the images. When most people think of island life, they think of a slower pace, long walks on the beach, enjoying beautiful scenery while eating, and luxurious naps in the shade of a palm tree. People take time to listen to the ocean roar, admire a shell's design, and feel sand between their toes. Tea ceremonies should be relaxing experiences. I want to aid the relaxation through the design of my tea strainer.
I have chosen to embrace the theme of "island life" in my tea strainer design. I want to incorporate southern pacific shells and designs. These visual references will encourage the user to take notice, relax, and think about things like vacations, island life, and the beauty & exoticism of nature.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Really......I don't even care for Tea....
To be completely honest.....prior to the assigment, I had no idea what a tea infuser was or what the slow food movement was for that matter. At first thought, I kind of was like, "what is this pseudo-intellectual movement that no body probably knows about"! Interestingly enough there are a lot of people that are down with the whole "slow food idea". With over 100,000 member world wide since its inception in the late 1980's and with a little over 16,000 members in the U.S., the only think that sits on my mind when I'm "day dreaming" on my project, is why is this the first time I'm hearing about this? I mean, is it really just that I've been living under a rock for the last 2 decades or what? Now I'm all for everybody getting a balanced breakfast, lunch and dinner in a new and fresher way, however with the whole "organic food" craze that has been going around in the States, personally I feel like it doesn't do the slow food movement any justice. While the movement has gotten a lot of international recognition, I regrettably feel skeptical of its successes in the United States.
It would seem that in other countries based on their economic reliance as well as their culture awareness, the slow food movement has flourished because the movement means more to people than "just food". For example, based of the explanations of the "ark of foods" (a founding principle in which the slow food movement was made off of), which is a collection of dishes that embody the heritage of the nation in which it represents, this means more to people than just making a buck (which is more than I could say for the U.S.). Oddly enough most of the fast food industries that globalize the world such as McDonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc. are based out of where? That's right, you guessed it.......THE UNITED STATES. Earlier I asked "why haven't I heard about the slow food movement in the United States until now?". Well I'm willing to bet its not because McDonalda would care to have any "natural food " competitors. I imagine its not in the best interest of the fast food industries to publicize low priced, afforable, whole food (which is why you only see 20 to 25 Mcdonald's commercial a day and zero whole foods, or all natural brand foods a day). In other countries of the world it is a standard to have a farming communities which proves food for its people, but not so much in the United States. the "organic food" craze has almost made a commodity of all that is naturally grown, and has put a price tag on a natural resource (like everything else in this country).
When reading over interviews with Carlo Petrini (founder of the slow food movement), he gave the impression that the slow food movement was trying to combat this idea that "whole food" isn't a luxury for certain people, but it is a right to all peoples. Alice Waters, one of the most well known members of the slow food movement in the California chapter of the Movement has taken proposals to congress debating the quality of food for children in their school lunches. I'm not really sure if I fulfilled the assignment, but I've said everything that came to mind when researching the topic not to mention, the slow food movement delves into alot of issues that are bigger than just "food". But that's just my take on it. Please feel free to comment
Later
;)
It would seem that in other countries based on their economic reliance as well as their culture awareness, the slow food movement has flourished because the movement means more to people than "just food". For example, based of the explanations of the "ark of foods" (a founding principle in which the slow food movement was made off of), which is a collection of dishes that embody the heritage of the nation in which it represents, this means more to people than just making a buck (which is more than I could say for the U.S.). Oddly enough most of the fast food industries that globalize the world such as McDonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc. are based out of where? That's right, you guessed it.......THE UNITED STATES. Earlier I asked "why haven't I heard about the slow food movement in the United States until now?". Well I'm willing to bet its not because McDonalda would care to have any "natural food " competitors. I imagine its not in the best interest of the fast food industries to publicize low priced, afforable, whole food (which is why you only see 20 to 25 Mcdonald's commercial a day and zero whole foods, or all natural brand foods a day). In other countries of the world it is a standard to have a farming communities which proves food for its people, but not so much in the United States. the "organic food" craze has almost made a commodity of all that is naturally grown, and has put a price tag on a natural resource (like everything else in this country).
When reading over interviews with Carlo Petrini (founder of the slow food movement), he gave the impression that the slow food movement was trying to combat this idea that "whole food" isn't a luxury for certain people, but it is a right to all peoples. Alice Waters, one of the most well known members of the slow food movement in the California chapter of the Movement has taken proposals to congress debating the quality of food for children in their school lunches. I'm not really sure if I fulfilled the assignment, but I've said everything that came to mind when researching the topic not to mention, the slow food movement delves into alot of issues that are bigger than just "food". But that's just my take on it. Please feel free to comment
Later
;)
Tea Infuser Research
Amy Hohl, 11-09-09, two page research
Almost every American the slow food movement seems to be very inconvenient and unrealistic now. I can remember sitting down to dinner when I was younger having a home cooked meal and helping my mom set the table. Everyone talked about the day and the TV was off limits. Now I amlucky to have dinner with my family once a month in this fast pace world we have become. When times changed and Americans spend more time at a drive through window then a dinner table, a problem was established.
I think about how busy my life is as an art student, along with my parents who work and my sister who goes to school and has soccer and horseback riding. We live in a world where too much is never enough. To fast is not fast enough and to slow down to enjoy a meal seems like something from the 1950’s. When family dynamics changed and my mom went from being a housewife and mother of four kids to working a 9 to 5 job along with my dad’s career our family pace picked up as well. The slow food movement is something I completely agree with. I love a lot of the aspects of technology and fast food is conveniently good every once and a while but I miss having sit down meals and good conversation.
For this project the overall objective is to create a well designed, thoughtful and useful tea infuser inspired by the ideas of the slow food movement. With the slow food movement the tea infuser needs to convey things such as a sense of tradition, relaxation, family, hospitality, and sophistication. Objects can make someone slow down by creating a visually appealing design, something useful, and making something that can be enjoyed to use. As an artist things such as design can control the viewers eyes. Keeping in mind both positive space and negative space and telling a story with the piece is important. If you can control your thought process and visually express it then you will have accomplished a successful piece.
For my piece I am going to do a Moroccan inspired tea strainer. During 2006, Morocco imported more than $56 million dollars worth of tea from China, and that was only the first half of the year.
Tea is considered an art form in itself in Morroco, and is a drink experienced throughout the entire day and known as the “drink of hospitality.” Tea is such an important aspect in their culture that if you do not accept an offer to have tea, it is very impolite and disrespectful to the hosts. The actual tea varies throughout the region and seems to be sweeter in the north than in the south. They add mint leaves and pine nuts to add different flavors but when the mint is scarce, wormwood leaves is used which gives a distinct bitter flavor that is supposed to compliment the mint.
Morocco has a saying about the tea that “The first glass is as bitter as life. The second glass is as strong as love. The third glass is as gentle as death.” The glasses that they use are different from a mug or thermos we would use in America, which I feel, slows down their time and makes them go back for multiple glasses. The glasses are about three and a half inches tall and about 2 inches in diameter. In America we think just to supersize when were on the go and rushing but Moroccans have smaller portions and go back for seconds or thirds.
Slow Food Tea Infuser research
April Lambert, 11/9/09
There are two speeds in which Americans move in today: Fast and Faster. The average family has 2.5 children, since you cannot have .5 of a person for the purposes of this argument we'll round up to three children. To support all three children the both parents most likely work a full time job. If all three children participate in extra curricular activities after school mom and dad get home just in time to run through the drive through at a fast food restaurant and run to soccer practice or ballet. Everyone gets home after that just in time to go to bed, wake up, and do it all over again.
So for most Americans with this daily schedule the slow food movement not only seems bizarre, and unnecessary, but unpractical. The consumption of food used to be about more than just inhaling the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals to survive along with enough fat and sugar for three days. Not only is making your own meals a irritation, it can be difficult and time consuming. So to get someone in today's American society to slow down for ten minutes would be an accomplishment.
The only way, it seems, to get Americans to slow down is to throw a holiday at them. People usually make a nice homemade meal, order healthier food, or close to homemade that everyone enjoys together with good conversation on days such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and so on.
Tea is the perfect way to get people to slow down on days other than holidays. Tea in itself takes at least five minutes to steep and if, after the tea is brewed, it is still hot you also have to wait for the tea to cool. Many other cultures value tea and stop their whole day to slow down for a cup of tea. In England they have high tea everyday where they stop and have a cup of tea and some sort of cookie or tea cake. In Asia tea is consumed at almost every meal, and is used when people are sick as well. Many cultures make special cups and other china just for consuming tea and other consumables that go along with tea.
No in America people tend to slow down long enough to brew their own or buy a cup of coffee. Though coffee can make someone slow down to brew it and add sugar and cream to the persons liking, but coffee is often used to give someone energy and make them go faster. Americans can continue to have their morning coffee but instead of coffee at night or just crashing in bed it would be good for most people to slow down and brew a nice cup of tea. One cup at the end of the night would help slow you down and calm you down which would lead to a better nights sleep. If you get a better nights sleep you also might not need your cup of coffee in the morning to help you get up and go.
For my Tea infuser i have decided to go with some sort of Ocean design. I have chosen the ocean because most people go on vacation to relax and slow down and when most people go on vacation they go to the ocean. There is something about the ocean that makes people slow down and relax. Weather it be relaxing on the beach watching the water or peacefully swimming in the cool salt water. My goal is to get my tea infuser to make the viewer nostalgic of the ocean and hopefully trigger memories of the ocean that make the person stay longer thinking back at a time at the ocean before moving on with their day.
Tea Infuser Research
Elizabeth Chapman, 11/9/09
For most American lifestyles, the slow food movement seems inapplicable. If mom works at the office for eight hours a day, and dad can’t get home until nine, then that makes meals short, quick, and more of a chore than an engaging experience. This, I believe, is a sad thing. Really it’s because there’s so much about preparing a meal that is (crazily enough) satisfying and almost spiritual.
Recall the last time you cooked a meal. Was it frustrating? Would you rather have eaten out? Sometimes, eating out can help us unwind. But if we eat out because of urgency, necessity, and expediency, we’re losing something. Food starts becoming empty calories, or tasteless material that goes straight from lips to stomach. The slow food movement I feel is incredibly positive in this respect. True, cooking food can sometimes be a chore, but eating it? When is eating ever a chore? If we have the capacity to savor our food, why don’t we do it more often?
This is why we are encouraged to eat slowly. Historically, many cultures have devised some sort of ritual around the act of savoring meals. In America, we have Thanksgiving, which emphasizes family and communion. Tea ceremonies in Asia are very dedicated, precise, and time-consuming affairs in which one batch of tea leaves is often brewed six times just to release every last flavor. It seems like a lot of trouble to go to, but despite this, mealtimes have always been a means for humans to relax and interact.I do personally think this is extremely important. We can’t survive without eating, and if we don’t care for it then we’re losing a part of our history that’s been thousands of years in the making.
This is why tea has become a pivotal component of the slow food movement. There’s already a historical precedent for people to take their time with tea brewing, and also an extensive material culture associated with it. People in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia have all skillfully crafted carafes, pots, and cups to enhance their tea experience. It’s because of these objects that tea can persist and remain physically interactive. If a person can see a beautiful teapot, then he can appreciate its craft and maybe even appreciate the tea inside even more.
A flip side to this is that tea is a luxury item. It might be cherished, but it’s not necessary. It’s not necessary to make good, complex meals if a simple box of take-out will do. Busy people might see meal making as expensive and superfluous. This is definitely true of tea – it is expensive to keep up a regular tea habit. Tea fans tend to collect all different varieties, and even today being a tea-drinker has a somewhat aristocratic connotation. This is probably why many Americans choose a quick cup of coffee over tea, because culturally tea is viewed as less accessible than a plain old cup o’Joe.
America’s coffee consumption is very indicative of its culture. Its morning drink of choice can be gulped down as a magical cure-all for hangover or exhaustion – and if we can factor in the number of Starbucks floating around, we see that the coffee industry is booming. Coffee has become synonymous with a hardworking, active lifestyle. Coffee houses make it an accessible, on-the-go perk that literally is our modern-day version of the elixir of life.
But when is coffee not any of these things? It has its own, very different ritual when drunk with dessert. Then it can almost be compared with an Asian tea ceremony, in the way it is brewed at home in small doses and poured into dessert cups with fancy saucers. The dessert coffee is America’s tea ceremony, and if the slow food movement is to find a niche in the American market, it should do so not with tea but with coffee. America has already fallen in love with coffee beans, and long since taken a preference to them over tea leaves. I can vividly envision an American family sitting down to evening coffee and dessert – far more readily than I can picture everyone halting at lunch to sit down and enjoy a Victorian high tea.
But because our response to this movement must be in the form of a tea strainer, tea will be the focus of my design. If I could describe the slow food movement in words, they would be thus: bizarre, surreal, hypnotic, lethargic, reflective, anti-caffeinated, and savory. Bizarre and surreal because high art has taken slow food under its wing and produced some truly strange experiences. At a slow food café one might be expected to see elderly folks serving the food with painstakingly slow and fragile motions. And the portions are arranged minimally, with a concentration on the purity of the food to be eaten. It can be hypnotic, too, watching tea leaves unfurl as they slowly tint the water in myriad shades of red, brown, green, or yellow.
During this hypnosis one might feel lethargic and prone to reflect on his day, or even be spurred to talk to fellow tea-drinkers about theirs. The whole reflection process is helped along if the tea is not caffeinated, because then there won’t be any adrenaline kicking in to make a person rush to guzzle down his tea. The process sets us up to savor our tea at precisely the moment when its flavor has peaked.
I’d like to create a tea strainer that is hypnotic. Its pieces will swirl together and interlock so that people are encouraged to look around it in a continuous circuit. If they are mesmerized by it, they’ll be more inclined to take the time to enjoy their tea.
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