I Kinda Miss the Chemicals

Kristin began by making the class wait outside the room while she sat each person individually. The first person was seated on top of the middle table. She got her own special menu with specific instructions. She was not to speak and could only eat with her hands. Each person after that was seated at one of the side tables with their backs to the center table. Upon entering, each person received a menu with instructions for the meal. (Feel free to look through the menu posted by the pictures). Each person was given a line that they could whisper such as, “Tomatoes are tomatoes,” or “Potatoes are potatoes,” or “Corn is corn.” and “Looks the same to me.” The actors at the side table could eat only with their utensils and were requested to eat all of their food. Once finished, they could turn their plates over to read the instructions on the back of the plate. One by one the class would finish, turn over their plates, read the instructions, and then put their head down. The performance ended when the center person finished and smiled for the camera!

This project was addressing the genetically modified food situation in the United States. Companies are not required to tell consumers that their food is genetically modified. Tomatoes, potatoes, and corn are the three products that are most often genetically modified. The person at the center table was fed completely organic food. She was separated to suggest the way many organic consumers find themselves to be. Organic foods have turned into a strange fad. They should be the only food that we eat, yet many people view these products as strange tasting and alien. The rest of the class was fed genetically modified foods. The heads placed on the plate at the end was to simulate the unknown long- term effects of eating GM foods. The purpose was not only to address the fact that the effects of GM foods are unknown, but also to celebrate the choices that organic food consumers make for themselves and the rest of humanity.