FAST FOOD NIGHTMARE
Food can illustrate a lot about a nation. In the United it helps depict our growing obesity. In Leah Saulnier’s painting entitled Fast Food Nightmare the artist illustrates a grim image of American society. Saulnier boldly engages the audience by taking popular characters from fast food restaurants that originated in the United States and eerily placing them in a bedroom with an average woman. To some, the initial reaction may be humorous since the portrait appears so random, yet the undertones of the painting reveal more. Saulnier’s painting depicts how fast food chains have an exploitive relationship with American citizens.
Drive through any town in the United States and most likely there is at least one fast food restaurant chain. These restaurants are everywhere, and it can sometimes be difficult to not eat there. In the same sense, the main focus of the characters is at the viewer, making it look like we are next. This creates a very dark, demented tone to the painting. Besides, in all reality it is impossible to run away from fast food chains because their advertisements are everywhere. Along with the huge billboards advertising new low price and deals, consumers are bombarded with fast food commercials everyday. This business has taken over our lives.
It used to be that the food was only consumed in the dinning room or kitchen. However today, due to our crazy schedules it is rare for the whole family to eat meals together. This is one of the reasons why fast food is popular. When it is easier to grab something quick from a Taco Bell or McDonalds, its unnatural to come home and make another meal after a long day. This fact is depicted in Saulnier’s painting by showing the Taco and McDonalds fries all over the floor and bed. Saulnier is trying to highlight the fact that places that you do not typically eat food have become the norm in America. People are so busy with work and play disregard sitting down and eating into any part of our day, even before sleeping. But even though she it looks like the characters where eating in the bedroom, the woman seems unaware.
Sometimes people choose not to open their eyes to dangers in life. Just as the woman is unaware to the characters in the room, American citizens choose not to open their eyes to the dangers of fast food. In the painting the woman has on one of those bed blinders that she put on herself. Saulnier is trying to say that Fast Food chains are not completely just trying to fool us, but we are also trying to fool ourselves. The bed blinder is something that the woman has put on herself symbolizing how people do not want to open their eyes to the dangers of fast food chains just because they are afraid of what they might see. Even though many studies about how fast food companies make their food have been produced, Americans still accept their business.
Food can show the values of a society, after all we are what we eat. Fast Food Nightmare depicts how not only fast food chains are exploiting the common American citizen but how American’s are choosing not to enlighten themselves from fast food schemes. It is truly disastrous that families have started eating more and more fast food, because it is causing the next generation to become obese and grow up with the value that is okay to eat fatty, greasy food. The only way we will break away from this exploitation is to actively make a choice not to eat fast food. Other wise we will all wake up one day in a fast food nightmare.
Drive through any town in the United States and most likely there is at least one fast food restaurant chain. These restaurants are everywhere, and it can sometimes be difficult to not eat there. In the same sense, the main focus of the characters is at the viewer, making it look like we are next. This creates a very dark, demented tone to the painting. Besides, in all reality it is impossible to run away from fast food chains because their advertisements are everywhere. Along with the huge billboards advertising new low price and deals, consumers are bombarded with fast food commercials everyday. This business has taken over our lives.
It used to be that the food was only consumed in the dinning room or kitchen. However today, due to our crazy schedules it is rare for the whole family to eat meals together. This is one of the reasons why fast food is popular. When it is easier to grab something quick from a Taco Bell or McDonalds, its unnatural to come home and make another meal after a long day. This fact is depicted in Saulnier’s painting by showing the Taco and McDonalds fries all over the floor and bed. Saulnier is trying to highlight the fact that places that you do not typically eat food have become the norm in America. People are so busy with work and play disregard sitting down and eating into any part of our day, even before sleeping. But even though she it looks like the characters where eating in the bedroom, the woman seems unaware.
Sometimes people choose not to open their eyes to dangers in life. Just as the woman is unaware to the characters in the room, American citizens choose not to open their eyes to the dangers of fast food. In the painting the woman has on one of those bed blinders that she put on herself. Saulnier is trying to say that Fast Food chains are not completely just trying to fool us, but we are also trying to fool ourselves. The bed blinder is something that the woman has put on herself symbolizing how people do not want to open their eyes to the dangers of fast food chains just because they are afraid of what they might see. Even though many studies about how fast food companies make their food have been produced, Americans still accept their business.
Food can show the values of a society, after all we are what we eat. Fast Food Nightmare depicts how not only fast food chains are exploiting the common American citizen but how American’s are choosing not to enlighten themselves from fast food schemes. It is truly disastrous that families have started eating more and more fast food, because it is causing the next generation to become obese and grow up with the value that is okay to eat fatty, greasy food. The only way we will break away from this exploitation is to actively make a choice not to eat fast food. Other wise we will all wake up one day in a fast food nightmare.