instagram food is too real and influential

Instagram Food is Real… Too Real

Gavin Wren Food Opinion Pieces, Writing

It’s easy to underestimate the amount of influence we have on one another.

Much of my life has been spent assuming my actions are inconsequential, of little worth and certainly not influential in other people’s lives, which is a lie. Acts as small as saying hello to the postman have an effect on another person’s life, every social interaction creates reality.

When we post an image on Instagram, are we doing it to share, or to influence someone? Because whether it’s intentional or not, we are doing both. All of our decisions, whether conscious or not, are influenced by social interactions and all of our actions have an influence on others, whether intentional or not.

The reading rooms at the British Library have become my home, as I pore over Instagram and sociology books, gaining an insight into what Instagram is telling us about food. It’s a fascinating process, looking…

McDonalds medium fries UK advert

McDonalds Adverts vs Reality

Gavin Wren Food Opinion Pieces, Writing

My local neighbourhood is plastered with McDonalds adverts. I pondered whether it’s an attempt to overcome the proliferation of chicken shop takeaways offering £1 kids meals, which are abundant in this part of East London. These chicken joints make McDonalds look positively expensive and have the added bonus of resepctfully calling their customers ‘bossman’.

This advertising is probably targeted near to the large drive-by McDonalds situated around the corner, in the hope that the sight of massive Big Mac on a bus shelter will cause people to enter a zombie-like state, marching tirelessly with rolled-back eyes until they reach the shiny touchscreen ordering altar of this global corporation, where their bloodlust for fast food can be sated.

McDonalds. The Truth.

Disliking McDonalds can be quite fashionable, especially in oh-so-virtuous middle class bubbles of foodie culture, but I’m not that person. As a…