Creating a New Food Source

Food Security is a major issue all over the world. When one thinks about what food security means they do not think about Canada and how it impacts Canadians. One solution that has evolved to help with the lack of food is urban farming. Urban farming has spread to the United States and people are starting to buy into programs such as The Stop Community Food Center. Chris Levkoe (2006) says in his article that this is not just an area where people in need can grow food. This idea of creating sections of farmable land in cities and allowing people to farm their own food allows them to reconnect with the source of their food and nutrition. Places like Halifax’s Urban Garden and Toronto’s Urban Agriculture all differ in characteristics but all allow community members to take part in growing their own food. This is a part of what Levkoe refers to as a Food Justice movement.

This place also creates other opportunities for those taking part in farming. By being a part of this great opportunity, people in the community are brought closer together as it gives neighbours a chance to get to know other people in their neighbourhoods. By teaching people new skills like farming, they can feed themselves and take these new skills learned and apply them to job opportunity. This is also a chance for some people to learn other skills such as responsibility and communication which are essential in everyday life.

 By creating a means of alternative food sources rather than just supporting the corporate giants this allows the people participating in the gardens to feel a sense of power and control over their lives; the feeling that they are making a difference and taking a stand. When the community plots show progress the community members are able to witness their efforts coming together and this gives them a sense of accomplishment. These people are not only creating a cheaper alternative to buying food from massive corporation, they are producing healthier food for themselves. Many people partaking in the urban farming would not be able to afford such healthy food because in today economy it is cheaper for people to eat processed food. In the end, by getting closer to the source of their food and feeling the positives that come from the gardens when they prosper, these people are creating a healthy life style for themselves and their families.

 

 

Levkoe, C.Z. (2006). "Learning democracy through food justice movements," Agriculture and Human Values 23: 8998.

I AM CANADIAN

Nationalism can be seen in this clip; the Molson Canadian's I am Canadian advertisement. This clip best represents what it means to be Canadian and shows how Canadians see themselves and how we want others to see us. To look at how Canada is represented we would have to analyze three things: our national anthem, the flag that represents Canada, and our Canadian symbols. Canadians take great pride in these things. The national anthem brings all of Canadians together as we stand tall and proud when it is played. The national anthem is played every morning in high school and elementary schools for 2 minutes and all Canadians in the school feel a sense of pride and nationalism. The anthem is also played at the beginning of sports games.

 As Canadians we value our nation as being the best in the world at hockey. As you can see in the clip when he is yelling “we are the first nation of hockey”. He is saying this because nations will highlight their achievements and assets. Since we are the best at hockey as a nation we build our culture around hockey and strive to be the best. Another part of Nationalism is our flag and how it is seen worldwide. In the clip the man mentions that “we can proudly sow our country’s flag on our bags”. This is something that our country takes pride in because or flag is nationally recognized and when people from other country see it they automatically associate Canadians with being “nice”. This is also mentioned in the clip as he says “I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzie but I’m sure they are nice”. This notion of Canadians being nice and well respected as a multicultural nation is shown in the clip when he says that “we believe in diversity not simulation”. As Canadians we pride ourselves on accepting all cultures and religions.

One of Canada most recognizable symbols is the beaver. This symbol has be used for a long time and has become an iconic symbol which appears on our currency. The guy in the clip mentions that the beaver is a “proud and noble creator". This is exactly how Canadians and other countries view our nation. We are a proud and noble country. With creating our nation’s identity we highlight our achievements as a nation and represent our nation through our national Anthem, our flag and symbols.

Hobsbawm, E. (1983). The Invention of Tradition (pp.1-14). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Using the Circuit of Culture to Study Smartphones

 
Du Gay et al., (1997) discuss how culture has gained increasing centrality in modern society, politically, socially, economically and academically. They also introduce the circuit of culture which consists of five major cultural processes: representation, identity, production, consumption and regulation. These elements overlap and intertwine in complex ways and serve as the basis by which cultural artefacts can be analyzed and studied.

 

Representation: how symbols are used to create a meaningful concept

Identity: how it produces individual/group identity

Production: how does the product come to be

Consumption: what meaning do people give to it when they use it

Regulation: influences how the product exists in society

A smartphone is a mobile phone taken to a whole new level which has more advanced computing capability and connectivity than a regular mobile phone. Examples of smartphones include Apple's iPhone, RIM's Blackberry, Google's Android etc.

Smartphones are advertised in a way to show that they represent a lifestyle. Windows has recently used celebrities Gwen Stefani and Jessica Alba to advertise the new Phone 8 and point out that this phone is perfect for those with active and important daily lives.  These phones are also expensive and represent someone who has an elite status.

These same advertisements show that the Smartphones can be individualized to one's needs and therefore represent personal identity. For Gwen Stefani in the above advertisement, the Phone 8 provides her with a tool to help her with clothing design and writing while on the road. Whereas for Jessica Alba, the phone is used as entertainment for her daughter. Each Smartphone can be personalized to unique needs.

The companies which produce these phones have different stories of how they came to be. These companies design Smartphones for an imagined customer and then modify them based on consumer feedback. For example, Apple has released the iPhone4,iPhone4S and iPhone5 within two years and has promised improvement with each phone.

When people use their Smartphones, they feel satisfied and empowered since they are able to do so much with one device. They can browse the internet, find directions, upload videos, take pictures, listen to music, make phone calls, text message, e-mail and so much more with their phones. As Smartphones have become more and more popular there is an increased pressure put on consumers to buy the latest and most highly technical phone. People turn their noses up to regular mobile phones. Also with the increasing demands for Smartphones, landlines have become more obsolete since they do not offer all that a Smartphone can.

The importance of regulation of Smartphones can be seen in the recent lawsuit of Apple vs.Samsung. The various Smartphone companies are always trying to one up their rivaling companies. In doing so, they sometimes infringe upon patents which leads to lawsuits.

 

Playing Battle of the Sexes with Judith Butler

Battle of the Sexes is a game designed to be played in teams of males vs. females, it is advertised as a game to determine the superior sex. The object of the game is to see which sex understands the opposite sex better by answering gender specific questions about the opposite sex. For example, in the commercial we see a team of females asking the males a question about a popular female hairstyle. Hairstyles are termed a "female gender related" topic in this game. The team that answers more gender specific questions correct wins and it termed the superior sex.

I find this game to be quite humorous. They are quite literally reinforcing constructed gender stereotypes of the sexes. Furthermore, I would like to imagine what feminist theorist Judith Butler would have to say about this game. I imagine she would have several problems with it. Butler believes that gender is neither the causal result of sex nor asseemingly fixed as sex. Therefore, I imagine that she would have a problem with the game grouping subjects such as cars to be a male interest and hairstyles or clothing to be female interests. What makes these subjects male or female subjects?

The game name "Battle of the Sexes" is another interesting point. Again revisiting Butlers theory on gender and sex, I ask the question why is this game not called "Battle of the Genders"? Is this game implying that if you are born biologically male that you will be masculine and should therefore battle off against the females? What if you are born biologically male and yet you have a feminine gender? This game makes the mistake of linking sex and gender in a way that biologically male=masculine and biologically female=feminine.

This game also suggests that there are only two sexes and two genders. Butler believes that sex should not restrict gender into a binary division. When we split gender into two divisions, we run into a number of problems and it does not make sense to do so. By dividing the sexes into two and corresponding each sex with only one gender we express ignorance. This game is the epitome of the constructs that theorists such as Butler are arguing against and attempting to diminish. This game is extremely outdated with the gender stereotypes it portrays and I am surprised that it even exists today. I imagine that Butler would agree, however the game could be good for a laugh or two.  

He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake...

Santa Claus is Coming to Town is a very popular Christmas song which, although jolly in nature, reinforces the thought that "Santa is always watching and judging behaviour" in the minds of children. After taking a course in Contemporary Social Theory, I immediately drew parallels between the song lyrics of Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Jeremy Bentham's panopticon when listening to my favourite Christmas hits this holiday season.

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is in charge of all the presents, and in the mind of a child, all the excitement that surrounds Christmas morning. He has the ability to put an ends to all the gifts that children will receive as a result of crying, pouting and naughty behaviour. Children are reminded through these lyrics that if they are not properly behaved, their Christmas may be spoiled.

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

During the holiday season, children are reminded through these lyrics that Santa can always see them. On Christmas night, if they are not sleeping, he will not come bring them gifts. They are reminded that although they do not know if he is watching at all times, that he has the ability to constantly watch them and could be. To be safe, it is best for children to be good at all times.

These lyrics serve as a reminder and warning during Christmas time that Santa rewards good behaviours and punishes poor behaviour. Children are reminded through spottings of Santa Claus at the mall and through other media that he is real. They write him letters and when they receive a response, this realism is confirmed. They are told by their parents that he is magical and therefore it is believable that he can watch you at all times. These lyrics are played over and over again at Christmas time and are referenced by parents when telling their children to behave. They are a reminder, constantly in the heads of children about the power that Santa holds and his ability to see them at all times.  With that in mind, let's consider Bentham's ideology of power and the panopticon.

Michel Foucault writes in his 1975 work Discipline & Punish: The Birth of thePrison how the panopticon is effective in its design by establishing and sustaining a power relation where the prisoner feels as though they are constantly monitored even if the surveillance is discontinuous in its action. Bentham believed that power, in order to be most effective, should be visible and unverifiable.

Visible: the inmate will constantly have before his eyes the tall outline of the central tower from which he is spied upon.

Unverifiable: the inmate must never know whether he is being looked at at any one moment; but he must be sure that he may always be so.

Can you see the parallels? I sure can...

 

Critical Reflection #3

Du Gay et al., (1997) discuss how culture has gained increasing centrality in modern society, politically, socially, economically and academically. In particular, two reasons for this cultural explosion are identified: substantial, societies increasing concern with materialistic objects and epistemological, which is concerned with matters of knowledge. Previously, culture has taken on an inferior role in the social sciences as cultural knowledge deals with the intangible. This is no longer the case. The circuit of culture consists of five major cultural processes: representation, identity, production, consumption and regulation, which overlap and intertwine in complex ways and by which cultural artefacts can be analyzed and studied. Du Gay et al., (1997) introduces the Sony Walkman as a medium of modern culture and examines it using the circuit of culture to demonstrate the role of culture in modern society. Similarly, I will introduce the iPod as a cultural artefact of today’s society and explore its social influence using the elements of the circuit of culture.

The iPod has become one of the most iconic social media devices of our generation. It has replaced the Walkman and taken it to another level as a digital multi-media player. The iPod goes beyond playing music; it allows individuals to make personal files portable increasing the convenience of business, personal entertainment and much more. Researchers have suggested that the iPod has a unique culture of its own which represents a mobile lifestyle and social expression (Bull, 2007). I will begin the cultural study of the iPod by examining its representation. The iPod being a relatively expensive media device has separated it other mp3 players and audio devices. The iPod itself has enhanced Apple’s status from an underdog to a competitive rival. The vast attention surrounding the iPod allowed Apple an elite status and allowed this company to produce further products that would inevitably receive attention. Apple and its products began to be seen as representation of social status following the production of the iPod. The iPod's sleek scroll pad has become an iconic design and subject to imitation by other companies. The iPod is recognizable by society, without even knowing the brand name, one can identify that another is listening to an iPod as opposed to another mp3 just by glimpsing at the device.

Another element worth discussing which is closely intertwined with representation is the personal identity that the iPod allows one to construct. The ability to acquire music spanning many different genres and time periods has allowed individuals to take personal music preference to a whole new level. Also the capacity to construct multiple music playlists according to mood or daily activities has enhanced the ability for individuals to create personal identity through their iPod. iPod accessories have allowed for further individuality, making each iPod a unique representation of one’s identity.

Apple has succeeded in producing iPods which offer consumers the complete cultural package. Apple has produced different types of iPods to meet the personal needs of different people. The iPod shuffle, with its sleek design is customized to those who use their iPod to listen to music while working out. Whereas, the iPod touch is better suited for those who use their iPod for games or to download Apps because of the built in Wi-Fi network. Apple has tailored an iPod for every lifestyle. The production of a complete cultural package has enhanced what the iPod represents and the individuality associated with it.

Another element worth discussing is the meaning that the iPod brings to its consumers and its consumption. The iPod allows one to walk out of the house and plug into a semi-private world of their own while being in public. The iPod creates a bubble, constructed through the playlists of hand selected songs and music genres, which the consumer uses as an escape without fully removing themselves from the outside world. iPod advertisements demonstrate this ability to escape from the outside world as they show people dancing, completely toned out from what is going on around them and completely toned into their music. The iPod represents a culture of individual space in which consumers have complete control over that space for they have created it. The iPod almost represents security, a comfort zone for the consumer, which would not be possible without the device (Bull, 2007). Consumers become reliant on the iPod and without it the morning commute for example would not be as comfortable.

Regulation is the final element of the circuit of culture that should be discussed with regards to the iPod. Before the launch of iTunes, the iPod was frowned upon by the music community since it supported the use of pirated music. With the increasing popularity of the iPod, Apple realized they would need to create a way for music downloading to be done legally. Apple introduced iTunes which would allow iPod users to buy music. With this breakthrough, the popularity of the iPod increased and Apple went from a counter culture to a large corporation.

Personally, I use my iPod on a daily basis. I own the iPod shuffle, as I primarily use my iPod at the gym. I have constructed many different playlists on my iPod ranging from music that I listen to when I am relaxing or studying, to my "grunt work" playlist that I listen to at the gym. I also have many different music genres on my iPod and I am able to create my own personalized music list by excluding singles that I did not like very much by my favourite artists. My iPod is red, one of my favourite colours. I would consider my iPod my own personalized device which is unique to my taste in music. If my iPod is not charged, I will sometimes bring my girlfriend's iPod to the gym. This is when I most notice how personalized my iPod really is to me and how personalized her iPod is to her. Her iPod is an iPod touch, which is less ideal than my shuffle for working out. Even her workout playlist does a very poor job at getting me motivated at the gym, due to different music taste between her and I.

I use my iPod as an escape when I walk to school. I tune in and I enter my own bubble where I have created an individual space. My walk seems shorter and I have a different perspective on the world which is a reflection of the music that I am listening to. My iPod creates a culture of its own.

References

Bull, M. (2007). Sound Moves; iPod Culture and Urban Experience, London, New York: Routledge

du Gay, P., Hall, S., Janes, L., Mackay, H. and Negus, K. (1997). Doing Cultural Studies: The Story of the Sony Walkman (pp.1-40).

Critical Reflection #2

In modern society, people are no longer connected or involved with the source of their food. The people in Canada are at a dilemma because of the economic price of food .Currently, it is much cheaper for people to consume processed food and drinks such as chicken nuggets and soda than it is to consume wholesome and healthy choices. Since some Canadians cannot afford to eat fresh vegetables and meats, they seek out cheaper options in the form of pre-packaged and processed foods.

The government allows corporations to view people as consumers and not as citizens and therefore economic gain takes priority over individual, personal needs. It is found that mass food production and food corporation distances the people from the root of healthful food and proper nutrition. Brewester Knee (1993) calls this issue “distancing”; the disempowering and deskilling of people from producing their own food and being able to eat it. The corporations are distancing the consumers from the source of food. The local farmer’s market used to be a popular place where people of the community would come together and have direct interaction with the people who were growing and producing their food. Some still purchase their fruits and vegetables from the local farmer’s market however this source of food is becoming more and more obsolete.

This is where the Food Justice Movement comes into play. The food justice movement is a “wide range of activist, from farmers to eaters who represent a diversified approach that brings together many critical issues in Canada and around the world with a focus of creating a just food system” (Levkoe, 2006). There are three main discourses in the food justice movement. The first is “right discourse” which states that all human have the right to safe and nutritious food. This means that the government should be held responsible to defend us against hunger. The second is overcoming food insecurity and viewing hunger as an issue of poverty.  Addressing the issue of poverty will ensure that kids and families are not going hungry. The last discourse is the “community food security (CFS)”. The CFS creates a spot where community members can reconnect and grow their own crops. The people of the community can then distribute the food according to how they see fit. This creates long term self-sufficiency. By creating these community gardens the people that are helping are gaining more than just fresh healthy vegetables. They are learning life skills and knowledge necessary for democratic citizenships. This is empowering the people of the community because some of the volunteers are also users of the food banks and by planting and farming vegetables they are giving something back and contributing to the organic agriculture. Learning and participating in these gardens will bring the community closer. The lack of vandalism and theft to these places is proof of how well connected people feel to the community and garden.

In Halifax, Nova Scotia there is a community garden or urban farm where people of the community can plant and grow vegetables and other healthy alternatives. I think that this is a great idea because it gives the people of Halifax a different environment from all the concrete buildings and houses. This era lets people of all different religious backgrounds and cultures come together and share a common ground. This brings the community closer and gets people involved with their neighbours .It also lets people develop different skills and provides those in need with a healthy, organic food source. I met Jayme Melrose, Coordinator of the Common Roots Urban Farm in person. I could tell by talking to her how great this place was and how strongly she felt about the good that comes from theses community gardens. I myself have tried to grow tomatoes and garlic in my backyard and can appreciate the difficulty and hard work that is urban farming. I believe that what they are doing is a great way to share healthy alternatives with those who cannot afford it. I think this because as a student that is living on a budget it is a lot easier to buy cheap processed food then it is to buy organic. Because of these major corporations advertising processed food for so cheap it is hard to not take advantage of the prices. I feel that the government needs to step in and change the tables. It costs just fewer than five dollars for one head of lettuce at the grocery store, yet you can get a burger from McDonalds for just one dollar. These major price differences are forcing individuals who have a strict budget to make unhealthy food decisions, which in the end has huge negative effect on their heath.

 

 

Levkoe, C.Z. (2006). "Learning democracy through food justice movements," Agriculture and Human Values 23: 8998.