Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – Argument of Definition February 16, 2008

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Barbara Kingsolver’s book. It has given me a new perspective on the unavailability of ‘real’ food to the general public. It has accented my thought that we, as a nation, have strayed so far away from nature and the thought of food being connected to the earth. There are certainly arguments of definition in the chapters that I have read so far. There are different kinds of definitions, according to Everything’s an Argument. These include formal definitions, operational definitions, definitions by example, and a combination of all. The first example that I can think of is when Kingsolver mentions that no fruit is available except for rhubarb, the connection between the fruits of winter and summer (p.38). Although not technically a fruit, as Kingsolver mentions, to her it fit into the definition as it was mentioned in a cookbook and the use of it (to make Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, for example) could classify it as a ‘fruit’ (operational definition).  In the book, Kinsolver as well as Steven, talk about the use of the word ‘organic’ when they talk about the title of ‘certified organic’ for produce costing farmers a lot, and so they sometimes just prefer to sell their produce without the certification. The definition of ‘organic’ is arguable, especially with its current use in supermarkets, places so far away from the land in which they are produced. Kingsolver also uses a definition by example when she talks about rural versus urban in relation to the people that represent either. For example, she mentions farmers in representation of rural and business people who don’t have any interest in the source of their foods or who produces them as urban. She builds upon conflicts of interest between these two groups and how one is at disadvantage due to the actions/ignorance of the other. This is another way of looking at or defining rural and urban. Throughout the book, Kingsolver also uses arguments of definition about foods by thoroughly explaining what they are, how they’re made (i.e. cheese), or how they are beneficial/operational to allow the reader to come to the realization that society stands in a pool of ignorance in regards to what it’s consuming, that this is a problem, and that it is so much better to know about and participate in the production of what one is consuming.