Weekly Reflection # 2

Viviana Rojas

October 20, 2015

Making the Mediterranean

Weekly Reflection # 2

Imagine a world without chocolate? A world where chocolate candy, hot chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate milkshakes, and even chocolate gelato did not exist. That picture is difficult to imagine especially in our society. This week’s readings had a common theme which was economy, society, and culture. Chocolate played an immense role in the creation of a society consumed by chocolate. In the reading by D. Cole Sophie and Michael, The True History of chocolate it mentions that the cacao plant originated from Mexico discovered by Cortes after his conquest. There are many different theories as to how chocolate was brought to Europe. However, it was known that the Spaniards brought chocolate to Europe. For the natives of Mexico chocolate was used for medicinal purposes for example, hot drinks cured fevers and vice versa. Chocolate was also perceived as an elite drink for the Aztecs not just an ordinary drink. However, when the Spaniards discovered chocolate they found it bitter and decided to sweeten it by using sugar canes. They added familiar spices like cinnamon, anise seeds, black pepper, and native chili peppers to adjust to their own taste buds. Chocolate was also the first drink to be accepted for its taste rather than for need by the Europeans unlike the Tomatoes that took three centuries to be consumed. It’s ironic to think that chocolate was once foreign in the European lands. Today I see the impact chocolate has created for the Italian Economy. Chocolate has become a huge part of the Italian Culture and society that it is difficult to visit a city without noticing chocolate. Every morning on my way to class I pass by at least 3 chocolate shops that sell candy, hot chocolate, and even use chocolate as a backdrop as a source of marketing. Chocolate has evolved over time but one thing for sure is that chocolate will never die out.  

In addition, in Carlo Goldoni’s play, The Mistress of the Inn chocolate also played a role in the play as a substance consumed by the nobility. This play was used as a satire, it was seen as entertainment. The play makes fun of the Tuscan nobility by explaining the importance of chocolate for the noble. In the reading, “Bacchus in Tuscany” chocolate was considered the opposite a drink for the lower class along with coffee and tea. Wine was praised as an elite drink that the nobility should drink. Franceso Redi also explains that coffee was perceived as a negative substance that slaves and the Turks should consume implying that they were good enough to consume wine instead of coffee. This reading was more focused on the bad and negative comments about coffee and chocolate. I found this reading intriguing because coffee and chocolate today are immensely popular. It is interesting to think that coffee in different parts of the world took different stance at one point.

Furthermore, as a class we were able to take a field trip to the Uffizi gallery and it open my views to different perspective. At first I thought it would be like an ordinary art gallery where I wouldn’t normally know much about artist. However, this site was different because the professor handed out a sheets with timelines of artist and their art. She also allowed us to explore on our own which was awesome because it didn’t feel like a class activity. As I walked inside different rooms it was amazing to see that such paintings have been preserved for a long time. For the first time I was able to understand the story many painting were portraying. Many paintings were either of men or ‘Madonna’. Moreover, we had a task which was to find paintings that included food. I was not able to find many that included food, but I did find about four. All the food paintings included bread and some type of fruit, most of the time it was grape. I was also able to observe the importance and power the Catholic Church had especially during those times because most paintings would take us back to religion.  

Sensory Practice (sight and observation skills)

By: Frans Van Mieris The Elderly

In the painting I notice two elderly individuals a man and a woman. They appear to be a peaceful couple. The older man is cutting what looks like a slice of bread while at the same time standing. The elderly woman on the other hand is drinking a glass of water while sitting down. The background is dark, but the two individuals and the food appear lighter. Food that is also present in the picture are carrots, and onions.

I was not able to observe many paintings that included food because the gallery was immense. However, I managed to find four pictures that included food on them. The number one food item that was in all paintings was bread. Bread was an essential part of most paintings as well as the era of the paintings. Bread was for the poor as well as the rich. I also noticed that the paintings also contained some type of fruits like grapes and oranges. They also had onions and carrots. Also, that most paintings were dark and the food was a lighter color.  

New world products were tomatoes usually found on the bottom corner of paintings according to discussions we have had in class. Other new world product were potatoes, Maize, sweet potatoes, squash, peanuts and avocados. Old world products that I was able to observe were wheat, onions and cabbage. Other items that were also from the old world were lettuce, oats, rice, peaches, pears, sugar, and rye.