metablog

My friend, Erin, pointed me to this idea that the FoodNetwork is just like Soft Core porn. I never really thought of Food as Porn, but this interview makes the case.

The interviewer Barbara Gladston says:

What accounts for The Food Network’s success is not necessarily the quality of the food or the service. What keeps us tuning in to yet another choreographed confection by yet another culinary star is the vision of great-looking meals. After all, we’re not actually tasting anything….Frederick Kaufman argues in the current issue of Harper’s Magazine, “Like Porn.”

As the article points out, a key demographic for the Food Network is 18-35 year old males – the ones who “like to watch.” It’s tough to actually execute, but watching is so satisfying. This also recalls the stereotype that men are turned on visually (Playboy), where women are turned on aurally (dirty talk).

For the full interview (including an audio stream), visit the link below:
http://www.onthemedia.org/yore/transcripts/transcripts_100705_porn.html

or, just listen here:
[audio:http://www.wnyc.org/stream/ram.py?file=otm/otm100705g.mp3]

As the broadcast television continues to move onto the internet, I wonder how the look and feel of cooking shows will continue to develop. Even more interesting – the delivery of these shows and segments will continue to stimulate the senses while we’re on the go. It will continue to become even more sensational and pervasive (or is it perversive in this case?)