Excerpt on Food Porn and Gender Roles in Films

    "Not only does the director Ang Lee have the artistic ability to highlight the amazing textures and color in food, but he is also skillful in presenting us with the irony of women’s roles through food imagery. On the one hand, women seem to be freeing themselves from the domesticity of kitchens imposed from generations past. On the other hand, women are cooking for their own enjoyment; wherever they want it, and whenever they please. Chia Chen represents Chinese women tied to family traditions and devoted to religion. Ang Lee delights us with a few vibrant food scenes about her. We generally see her eating, cleaning, and doing the dishes. Chia Chen’s homely activities are contrasted with those of Chia Chian’s. The camera shots show the sensual preparation of the Tsu-An-Tofu for her lover. This erotic portrayal of food preparation depicts Chia Chian as an independent and successful woman with a real passion for cooking. Quick and sharp footage of the youngest daughter working at Wendy’s and savoring cheap street food symbolizes evident western influences in Chinese females."