Kelly Banh- Beef and... ART?
All this talk about plantimals is a bit disturbing. Combining the genetics of different kingdoms to produce crazy hybrids- I’m not too sure I would approve. I’m going to hold off on my opinions about interbreeding organisms with a brain or consciousness and discuss the mixing of an apple and a steak (which really turned out to be an internet hoax. go figure… but then again, is this really far off?). Then, I’ll attempt to link this to art.
Presenting the “applesteak,” a “New fruit's taste/texture said to be indistinguishable from an apple, but with the genetics and nutrition of beef.” The fake article was created by Ward Nicholson, highlighting the potential dangers of such a creation, the competition the “applesteak” would create for the beef market, the disputes between vegetarians and animal rights groups that would arise, and ultimately, who gets to decide genes and food choices. As a side note, the article also touched on Brave New World as Professor Taylor mentioned during his guest lecture.
The article was commented about on beyondveg.com, where this blurb was also found: “Too bad wiser heads prevailed upon the author to label this as the spoof it actually is. Just imagine the hue and cry that could have resulted had this been let loose somewhere else on the Internet as real. Think of the chain postings on email diet listgroups netwide, the barrage of protest letters to biotech firms and Congress--the panic, the fear, the mayhem! Coulda, woulda, SHOULDA. Read it and weep.” Sure it was a scam, but to Nicholson, it was an expression, and possibly very well categorized as written artwork.
During discussion, we were presented with the video of meat cultured in a lab. Ward Nicholson’s article is not much different from that video. If we are able to culture meat in a lab, then perhaps with more research and experimenting, beef could grow on trees? What’s more important? The economic efficiency of such a product? The benefits of eating an apple with the nutrition of beef minus the harmful fats? Not killing cows for food? These are the types of questions that arise from exposure to focus on videos and articles like that of the lab-cultured meat and fake article of Ward Nicholson. Just as Orlan experimented with cosmetic reconstruction, the purpose of art is believed to evoke emotions and opinions on issues like man-made beef and unnecessary surgery.
So what of this man-made cow meat? It was an extremely difficult topic for the class. One of the things that was mentioned was that it would provide vegetarians with an alternative to eating “meat” without killing an actual animal. Personally, I wouldn’t support this. Vegetarianism is a choice, and if you are going to stand by the beliefs of true vegetarianism, then there shouldn’t be any loopholes. If people have been doing it for years without the aid of biotechnology, then it should be continued in such a manner. Many of my family members are religious vegetarians, and they have been perfectly content with the natural resources that they have been given. No need for imitation beef products and shrimp-looking tofu. That’s just… weird. An article like Ward Nicholson just shows how absurd it would be. Internet hoax… maybe. Or maybe artistic expression.
Presenting the “applesteak,” a “New fruit's taste/texture said to be indistinguishable from an apple, but with the genetics and nutrition of beef.” The fake article was created by Ward Nicholson, highlighting the potential dangers of such a creation, the competition the “applesteak” would create for the beef market, the disputes between vegetarians and animal rights groups that would arise, and ultimately, who gets to decide genes and food choices. As a side note, the article also touched on Brave New World as Professor Taylor mentioned during his guest lecture.
The article was commented about on beyondveg.com, where this blurb was also found: “Too bad wiser heads prevailed upon the author to label this as the spoof it actually is. Just imagine the hue and cry that could have resulted had this been let loose somewhere else on the Internet as real. Think of the chain postings on email diet listgroups netwide, the barrage of protest letters to biotech firms and Congress--the panic, the fear, the mayhem! Coulda, woulda, SHOULDA. Read it and weep.” Sure it was a scam, but to Nicholson, it was an expression, and possibly very well categorized as written artwork.
During discussion, we were presented with the video of meat cultured in a lab. Ward Nicholson’s article is not much different from that video. If we are able to culture meat in a lab, then perhaps with more research and experimenting, beef could grow on trees? What’s more important? The economic efficiency of such a product? The benefits of eating an apple with the nutrition of beef minus the harmful fats? Not killing cows for food? These are the types of questions that arise from exposure to focus on videos and articles like that of the lab-cultured meat and fake article of Ward Nicholson. Just as Orlan experimented with cosmetic reconstruction, the purpose of art is believed to evoke emotions and opinions on issues like man-made beef and unnecessary surgery.
So what of this man-made cow meat? It was an extremely difficult topic for the class. One of the things that was mentioned was that it would provide vegetarians with an alternative to eating “meat” without killing an actual animal. Personally, I wouldn’t support this. Vegetarianism is a choice, and if you are going to stand by the beliefs of true vegetarianism, then there shouldn’t be any loopholes. If people have been doing it for years without the aid of biotechnology, then it should be continued in such a manner. Many of my family members are religious vegetarians, and they have been perfectly content with the natural resources that they have been given. No need for imitation beef products and shrimp-looking tofu. That’s just… weird. An article like Ward Nicholson just shows how absurd it would be. Internet hoax… maybe. Or maybe artistic expression.
posted by Kelly Banh at
10:57 PM
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