“Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art
The inquiry into whether food can be classified as “art” has long been a subject of debate. From its roots tracing back to Plato, this question has attracted the attention of both artistic movements and philosophers, especially throughout the twentieth century. In this paper, I aim to revisit this c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/12/5/126 |
| _version_ | 1797626686426054656 |
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| author | Maddalena Borsato |
| author_facet | Maddalena Borsato |
| author_sort | Maddalena Borsato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The inquiry into whether food can be classified as “art” has long been a subject of debate. From its roots tracing back to Plato, this question has attracted the attention of both artistic movements and philosophers, especially throughout the twentieth century. In this paper, I aim to revisit this contentious issue by exploring the realm of pastry making as a form of art. Within the broader discourse on this topic, pastry emerges as a distinctive medium. Since sweets have historically transcended their mere nutritive functions, pastry may establish an immediate connection between art and food. Simultaneously, it reiterates the persistent challenges of encompassing the edible domain within conventional aesthetic theories. Throughout various contexts and periods, confectionery has evolved through the reproduction or imitation of visual arts, often reflecting the prevailing artistic climate of its flourishing periods. Moreover, due to its intimate association with rituals and celebratory occasions, pastry carries a profound cognitive and metaphorical framework that enhances its expressive potential, capturing the attention of many artists. By exploring the intersection of pastry and various artistic genres, drawing on illustrative examples ranging from modern European pièce montées to American cake design and Japanese wagashi, I critically examine the possibility and potential aesthetic qualities of this marginal genre, thereby opening up broader inquiries into the loose categorizations and fluctuations within the intricate domain of art. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:13:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a0b2cc49a224836bd17531adf8b25be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:13:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a0b2cc49a224836bd17531adf8b25be2023-11-16T10:30:11ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872023-10-0112512610.3390/h12050126“Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and ArtMaddalena Borsato0Faculty of Gastronomy Management, R-GIRO Ritsumeikan University Kyoto, Biwako Kusatsu Campus (BKC), 1 Chome-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0058, JapanThe inquiry into whether food can be classified as “art” has long been a subject of debate. From its roots tracing back to Plato, this question has attracted the attention of both artistic movements and philosophers, especially throughout the twentieth century. In this paper, I aim to revisit this contentious issue by exploring the realm of pastry making as a form of art. Within the broader discourse on this topic, pastry emerges as a distinctive medium. Since sweets have historically transcended their mere nutritive functions, pastry may establish an immediate connection between art and food. Simultaneously, it reiterates the persistent challenges of encompassing the edible domain within conventional aesthetic theories. Throughout various contexts and periods, confectionery has evolved through the reproduction or imitation of visual arts, often reflecting the prevailing artistic climate of its flourishing periods. Moreover, due to its intimate association with rituals and celebratory occasions, pastry carries a profound cognitive and metaphorical framework that enhances its expressive potential, capturing the attention of many artists. By exploring the intersection of pastry and various artistic genres, drawing on illustrative examples ranging from modern European pièce montées to American cake design and Japanese wagashi, I critically examine the possibility and potential aesthetic qualities of this marginal genre, thereby opening up broader inquiries into the loose categorizations and fluctuations within the intricate domain of art.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/12/5/126gustatory aestheticseveryday aestheticsartpastryconfectionerypièce montées |
| spellingShingle | Maddalena Borsato “Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art Humanities gustatory aesthetics everyday aesthetics art pastry confectionery pièce montées |
| title | “Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art |
| title_full | “Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art |
| title_fullStr | “Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art |
| title_short | “Edible Aesthetics”: Blurring Boundaries between Pastry and Art |
| title_sort | edible aesthetics blurring boundaries between pastry and art |
| topic | gustatory aesthetics everyday aesthetics art pastry confectionery pièce montées |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/12/5/126 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maddalenaborsato edibleaestheticsblurringboundariesbetweenpastryandart |