Social Media and the Food Revolution

I would argue that social media and food are two of the most important things on discussion and consumption in today's American society. Especially with today's youth; it is what we have grown up with for if not all, but a majority of our lives. I believe that social media directly stemmed the "golden age" of food that we are in today.

How do I know that we are in the midst of a food golden age? Well, if you ever watch the Food Network or Cooking Channel, you will realize that food has really taken on the form of art, more so than in the past. There are shows on now that are specifically about showcasing how food can be art, for example, Sweet Genius, Cupcake Wars, Sugar Dome, Iron Chef and Ace of Cakes. Chefs all around the world are beginning to no longer see themselves as just a cook, but an artist. More so than ever, there are "super chefs" that are the equivalent of rock stars in the social media world. Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, for example, are part of the veritable pantheon of culinary giants that have begun to grace the masses with their social media presence. Often times, both of these rock stars show off their culinary creations via social media and this, in turn, drives people to experiment for themselves and become "amateur" culinary artists.

Now, I've only slightly tapped what social media has meant to the food world. We talked in class today about it's effect on fast food and dieting, but I believe that it is the real culinary arts that we have seen the most change.