Video Idea: The Modern Supermarket

Between supermarkets such as Whole Foods and C-Town (each occupying its own end of the affordability scale) and open air markets, the modern New Yorker may seem to have many food choices; however, the contents of our diet are determined largely by foods made available by modern production techniques.  A video interviewing shoppers on their knowledge of the origins on their food, contrasted with historical data and diagrams found in our research will be an interesting way to educate viewers about modern food production techniques and how they affect their lives.

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11 Responses to Video Idea: The Modern Supermarket

  1. dannyo says:

    Hey Trina,

    Brilliant idea! It brings a whole socioeconomic thing to the project… awesome.

  2. Have you ever seen that show on the food channel where the guy who used to host double dare (when I was a kid it was one of the go-to afterschool tv shows…) takes you to different factories that make junk food. Its pretty uncritical – the show is basically an hour long infomerical for junk — but still pretty cool… you might be able to find some cool clips online to use for a video like this!

  3. trina mcC says:

    Thanks Jesse! I haven’t ever seen that show, but I’ll check it out- do you remeber the name of the show? All I’ve found so far is a food channel show on how to make donuts out of refrigerator biscuits. Which was kinda equally horrifying.

  4. Olga Myszko says:

    Oh, there’s also two series on Food Network that can help. One is Elton Brown’s “good Eats,” which covers the more scientific aspect of food. The other is a series called “Secrets of …” and they have a lot of episodes that go into the history and manufacture of tons of different foods. It’s not critical of the techniques, but as an information source, it’s really good. The History Channel also ahs a couple of shows, including “Modern Marvels,” which check out food history and production.

    Also, intervi9ewing people sounds like it could lead to some hilarious moments. What if you put on a game-show (Jeopardy-style or something), say with other Macaulay kids, that has them testing their knowledge of the various aspects of food supply?

  5. trina mcC says:

    Thanks Olga, especially for the show references, that should be very helpful!

  6. Hannah Kim says:

    I really love this idea. It would be interesting to see how much people are aware (or unaware) of the history of the foods they are eating and the choices they make. The game-show idea is also great; it would be really funny. I think this is really doable.

  7. You should try to interview shoppers at the Union Square Trader Joes, they swarm the store and stand in line for so long you would think TJ’s had golden food products. Like Danny said I think your idea is a really interesting way to get at the socioeconoic side of food production and selection, and to see how public perception of the production process plays into buying decisions. Ok now its getting all psychological, haha but good luck this sounds awesome!

  8. trina mcC says:

    I usually shop at Trader Joe’s and doing some interviews would sure be a good use of time while I’m waiting in that line! We’ve decided to do our video on CUNY Food-Fest instead, but thank you guys, these were all great ideas!

  9. Eli Bierman says:

    This is an awesome idea! I like the idea of interviewing people at a supermarket. Covering the CUNY food fest is also a great idea. If you want to include clips or pictures of earlier production, I think that Food Inc. might have some clips of that. Good luck!

  10. ahh sorry i totally overlooked the question —

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/unwrapped/index.html

    thats the food network show I watched where they went to the twinkie factory and the cheesedoodle plant and the moonpie factory…

    hope it helps..
    j

  11. and more importantly – this is what I watched when i was 11 years old? really?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bFBumE7JH4&feature=related

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