A Professor of Consumer Behavior and a Professor of Religious Studies studied 52 paintings depicting The Last Supper. Of these painting, whose dates run from 1000 to 1800, the size of the plate and food both increased in more than 60%. How should we interpret this data?
I found this article to be very interesting after hearing a part of the lecture of haute cuisine's beginnings. it reminded me of the fact that when people are eating just for sustenance there is not much emphasis put upon it, however, once we do not spend our entire existence finding food, we can develop styles and perhaps be more picky. if this was indeed happening (albeit slowly) from 1000-1800 could it have not affected how the supper was portrayed.
ReplyDeleteI think that we should interpret this data as a dispersal of wealth, and therefore food. During the time of Christ I don't believe that there was neither a large population nor an abundance of food. However, as time goes on populations grow and food becomes more readily available to everyone. Since there was more food available during the artist's time in seems logical that they would add more as a reflection of their time, and not a reflection on the Biblical texts. After all, art imitates life. So if someone were painting the last supper today, we may very well see super-sized portions and many other things not there before.
ReplyDeleteFood has defanitly gone back to centuries ago where the artist painted the last supper. If we saw the same picture today it would definatly be more broad in choice of that back in Biblical times where there was not much choice rather then fish wine and bread. Time had evolved throughout the years in a more unhealthy way for us and items that have become more advanced in todays world with much more of a population and a "fast & eaisy" meal.
ReplyDeleteThe data reflects what's going on in the world, and especially America, today. Portion sizes today are nothing like they were once ago. Restaurants today offer you half your daily calories in one dish and enough food to probably feed two or three people.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that changes in our diet make their way into paintings and depictions of the past. If someone were to recreate the Last Supper today, it may look something like this:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rtOXMZlMTkg/R1y4Gn9J6rI/AAAAAAAAAlw/PYHhS-Ff30g/s1600/Fast%2BSupper.jpg
-Aaron Gross (806184)