molecular gastonomy as hacktivism

Molecular Gastronomy as Hacktivism

Thinking About DinnerToronto March 2, 2013

The Plan1. What is hacktivism?


2. How is molecular gastronomy like hacktivism?


2. How is molecular gastronomy like hacktivism?

3. Some applications

1. What is Hacktivism?

1. What is HacktivismWell it’s a portmanteau of…


Hacking…


Hacking…

and activism.

So what is hacking?

Not This.

What is Hacking?OK, so there is a humor element…


But what else?


But what else?

New Hacker’s Dictionary (1998):

1) A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.


But what else?


6) An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example.


But what else?


7) One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.


But what else?

MIT Jargon File (2000):

1) An appropriate application of ingenuity


But what else?

MIT Jargon File (2000):

1) An appropriate application of ingenuity

2) A creative practical joke


But what else?

In short: the reapplication of technology for uses not originally intended.

Example

What is Hacking?Repurposing technology: The phonograph

(0riginally intended as message recording tool)

Hacking the phonograph

But this includes…

But this includes…1. A respect for traditional

technologies


technologies

2. Mash-ups of traditional and new technologies


technologies

2. Mash-ups of traditional and new technologies

For example…

Steampunk hand crank MP3 player.

Learning and Sharing the Knowledge

Learning and Sharing the Knowledge

Information wants to be free!

So Hacking is…1. Repurposing technology


2. Understanding technology and how it works



3. Sharing the knowledge




4. Some lulz




4. Some lulz

So what is Hacktivism?

Hacking + Activism =

Visiting DDB

Expecting this…

Daniel and Anke in garden

Anke knit hacking

So what is hacktivism?

So what is hacktivism?Involves…

1. Repurposing of Technology



2. Better understanding of technology (including traditional technologies)




3. Promoting education of these technologies (they should not be foreign to us).





4. Possibly with a sense of whimsy





4. Possibly with a sense of whimsy

5. Done for a social cause.

Click icon to add picture

2. So how is molecular

gastronomy like hacktivism?

Repurposing Technology

Chef Cantu’s First Hack

Printing Dinner

Using a class 4 laser to demonstrate carmelization

Using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream

The whimsical element

(aka LULZ)

Chef Cantu’s watermelon sushi

Chef Cantu’s Cuban sandwich

Acquiring and Transmitting Knowledge

Chef Cantu’s Cooking Classes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QxIchoDPXG0





So so far…





So so far…

1. Repurposing tools and technology





So so far…


2. The whimsical element (lulz)

3. Acquiring and Sharing Knowledge





So so far…


2. The whimsical element (lulz)

3. Acquiring and Sharing Knowledge

What about the socialactivism element?



We also get respect for traditional methods and

ingredientshttp://www.businessinsider.com/dinner-at-noma-in-copenhagen-denmark-2012-5?op=1

http://www.businessinsider.com/dinner-at-noma-in-copenhagen-denmark-2012-5?op=1

http://www.businessinsider.com/dinner-at-noma-in-copenhagen-denmark-2012-5?op=1

ActivismThe social/political element

Why?

We waste 20,000 pounds of paper per day on menus.

Chef Cantu Saves the World?

Wired.com: Are there principles that guide the design of your dishes?



Cantu: Make enough food for everyone. That’s the end game. And to get there, we have to start thinking a little crazier about what food is.




Wired.com: What is food?




Wired.com: What is food?

Cantu: It’s what enables us to live — and more than that, it’s dense energy storage.


“Recently I started thinking about how people can eat the stuff they don’t eat now, that already grows around them. If you can turn that into food and make it taste good, you’ve got an answer.”

“You have to have some understanding of chemistry, of how taste receptors work, of how people perceive food. But it starts with that initial crazy question: What is food?”

Chef Cantu saves the world???

Cantu Designs

http://cantudesigns.com/What-We-Do

The Miracle berry project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QjTTIbozot8









So… how is molecular gastronomy like hacktivism?

Involves…

Repurposing of Technology

Better understanding of technology (including traditional technologies)

Promoting education of these technologies (they should not be foreign to us).

Possibly with a sense of whimsy

Done for a social cause.


Involves…


Including

Respect for Traditional Technologies

Remixing Traditional Technologies with New


Involves…

Repurposing of Technology


Promoting education of these technologies (they should not be foreign to us).

Possibly with a sense of whimsy

Done for a social cause.

Question:

What other ways does molecular gastronomy contribute to social welfare?