My precision is off and I underestimated my reading voraciousness. I said on Friday, I would post something every chapter or so with the intention that the “or so” would mean no more than two or three chapters. Further, I thought I would limit my reading to about that much a day. This would allow me and you at the most a month long of entertainment.
Instead, I read an entire section – an entire third of the book aver the past few days. At this rate, I’ll probably be done by the end of week at the latest with only a few posts to show for it. I guess I need to figure out other ways to “capitalize” on my endeavor. Well, enough about my hardships in sticking to a planned schedule. More about the book.
Corn, Corn, Corn, and more Corn with a side of Corn
Section one is about the imperious, dominating, omni-potent, omni-present crop of corn. Thus, this may be the last time I use the title “Of Corn and Men.” Appropriately, I am writing this outside of a movie theater – that fine establishment that could be seen as the cultural throne of corn (ruling in the form of popcorn).
I came away from this section with a slight feeling of horror. “So much of what we eat is corn?!?!?!?!” I was introduced to the concept when I watched part of King Corn in my history class (there is nothing to do after IB testing is done). But, the section revealed the full extent of Corn’s invasion.
Realizing that one is Zea Mays’ slave is half the horror. The other half is the explication of man’s “ingenuity.” Or, if your opinionated, stupid cleverness. He reveals how Man has, through technology, crafted an industrial, petrochemical based food empire out of corn. In his narrative, the technological progress of agriculture is a tragedy, with man as the tragic hero. Through his own analysis, it is revealed that this progress comes at the expense of the environment and our health.
Yet, one truly wonders if this horrible industrial food chain can actually allow for health, energy efficiency, and minimization of environmental damage. Technological futurists offer one possible solution… ‘printing’ meat or growing large cultures of meat cells in much the same way a lab would grow a culture of yeast cells (just, on an industrial scale). It certainly is a solution. But, does it address all the issues surround the modern production meat?
Pollan’s next sections appear to address the question of alternative food systems. Thus, you will have to wait until I can get around to finishing reading these sections. Further, I feel that more thorough scientific research is needed. I’ll save that discussion for a future post. Until I can sort out the issues and whether Pollan’s horror is justified, I will be wary of the food currently stocked in my kitchen (and eagerly awaiting the Farmer’s Market).
Next time: More on food, “Oh, how I love high gas prices,” Sustainability, Sci-fi reviews, ‘On writing.’
