Why do we eat? What does eating signify for us?
Food is vital to our existence. It is needed on a daily basis, providing us strength to carry out our day-to-days. It is also a temptation that we are constantly surrounded by, stimulated through aromas and imagery that activate our taste buds and cause our mouths to water or our stomachs to grumble. Our desire for food, whether that be while hungry or satiated, can arise from the mere thought of it.
There are two perceptions that explain why we eat; One experience that is universal and another that is subjective. The mechanisms of the internal digestive system are ubiquitous. We input sustenance into our bodies that is absorbed, processed, and passed through us. Food can also be another experience, however. One that is linked not just to food as fuel, but to food as memory. Through particular dishes, flavors, and processes of cooking, feelings of nostalgia and sentiment are generated, demonstrating why we are able to place meaning on food just as we do with people and place.
FED analyzes the relationship between bodies and food, offering an understanding on the operations for daily function. It also analyzes the relationship between people and food, elaborating on the importance of it, and what it is able to symbolize for each individual.
