Friday, January 06, 2006

why why why why why

This afternoon I was asked yet again – why do I blog (and photograph) so much about food?

I could have been glib: and you find politics, the subject of choice for so many bloggers, that much more interesting? (The answer may have been “yes” so I did not go that route.)

I’m glad people (some people, not the person I was with this afternoon, obviously) seem to accept my obsessive food focus.

But really, it’s not just about food. I know that someone may click on Ocean and scroll down and see a photo of pommes frites and say – okay, I’m not into that, and move on to something more heady (rather than stomachy).

And that’s okay. But those pommes frites? They speak to larger issues. I mean, anyone who does not understand that for me, those pommes frites represent all the pain and anguish of being human in this complicated world of ours is simply giving Ocean a cursory look.

And that’s okay too.

But do know that in my mind, even though I cannot always adequately put it into choice words, it really is more than just about food.

5 comments:

  1. >move on to something more heady (rather than stomachy).

    A nice turn of phrase there, prepares we readers to contemplate the juxtaposition of pommes frites and the pain and anguish of being human. Ah, the agony of being boiled in oil.

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  2. It’s your blog, you’ll write what you want to!

    Perhaps they are jealous of your experiences. Ocean is about so much more than food. Yes, you do have beautiful pictures of food that torment me. But Ocean also provides insight of culture wherever you are; Poland, Paris, Madison, etc. How else would I have learned about peeping Santas?

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  3. Why shouldn't you blog about food? Food is something we all need and hopefully, love. It is one life's greatest pleasures. The connection between food and the significant relationships, as well as, events and celebrations in life is well-known. Food blogging trumps blogging about politics by a mile-- that can be frustrating and unpleasant. Diversity in blogging is as necessary as diversity in anything else in life. Your photographs are beautiful and they inspire me to actually cook. My only question is how do you maintain your youthful figure?

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  4. odonatas: the mind can move from potatoes to agony after all..

    nancy and robin: it's not the first time I've heard the "why food?" question. Oddly perhaps, life's stories are more vivid for me if told with the help of food.

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  5. I saw those frites, and first I went to Amsterdam in my head, then I thought of local Le Chardonnay and their all-you-can-eat Mussels and Frites, then I tried to link to Frite Alors! in Montreal under comments. And then I thanked the heavens for you.

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