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a treatise on the aesthetics of bagged comestibles

 
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jaredbahama



Joined: 16 May 2007
Location: blue line

PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:37 pm    Post subject: a treatise on the aesthetics of bagged comestibles Reply with quote

I intend to expound upon the modus operandi of the snack-food bag opening technique as exemplified in both Western and Eastern (Korean) civilizations.

There exist at least two distinct techniques for opening bags of chips, et al. As per the Western technique, the opener will grip the diametric faces of the bag at the upper center, one hand for each side, and then pull the sides in an opposite direction. This creates a rift along the top ridge of the bag, enabling access to its contents.

The Eastern (Korean) technique involves gripping the top ridge of the bag with the thumb and index finger of both hands. The opener will then make a tear beginning at the inverted triangle of the ridge and continuing longitudinally down the spine. The bag blooms open, displaying the entire contents within.

This curious Eastern method has social implications beyond the scope of this paper. However, i will briefly summarize the consequences of both techniques. The western technique creates a smaller opening, regulating access of even the biggest bag of chips to one hand at a time. This is juxtaposed by the Korean technique, which enables a 360 degree angle of approach to the bags contents, enabling multiple hands at once to procure said comestible.

Thus, the western technique arcs toward the possessive - as only one individual per session may access the contents. the Korean aesthetic is communal, allowing shared access to the potato chips, corn chips, or any other bag-based snack-food.


This is a work in progress - any comments or suggestions for further research would be duly appreciated.
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indytrucks



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf

PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:10 pm    Post subject: Re: a treatise on the aesthetics of bagged comestibles Reply with quote

jaredbahama wrote:
I intend to expound upon the modus operandi of the snack-food bag opening technique as exemplified in both Western and Eastern (Korean) civilizations.

There exist at least two distinct techniques for opening bags of chips, et al. As per the Western technique, the opener will grip the diametric faces of the bag at the upper center, one hand for each side, and then pull the sides in an opposite direction. This creates a rift along the top ridge of the bag, enabling access to its contents.

The Eastern (Korean) technique involves gripping the top ridge of the bag with the thumb and index finger of both hands. The opener will then make a tear beginning at the inverted triangle of the ridge and continuing longitudinally down the spine. The bag blooms open, displaying the entire contents within.

This curious Eastern method has social implications beyond the scope of this paper. However, i will briefly summarize the consequences of both techniques. The western technique creates a smaller opening, regulating access of even the biggest bag of chips to one hand at a time. This is juxtaposed by the Korean technique, which enables a 360 degree angle of approach to the bags contents, enabling multiple hands at once to procure said comestible.

Thus, the western technique arcs toward the possessive - as only one individual per session may access the contents. the Korean aesthetic is communal, allowing shared access to the potato chips, corn chips, or any other bag-based snack-food.


This is a work in progress - any comments or suggestions for further research would be duly appreciated.


This has to be one of the most boring descriptions of opening a bag a crisps I've ever read. Not that I've actually read that many descriptions of opening bags of crisps.
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mindmetoo



Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:16 pm    Post subject: Re: a treatise on the aesthetics of bagged comestibles Reply with quote

indytrucks wrote:

This has to be one of the most boring descriptions of opening a bag a crisps I've ever read. Not that I've actually read that many descriptions of opening bags of crisps.


You are rapidly setting yourself up as Dave's arbiter of taste.
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jaredbahama



Joined: 16 May 2007
Location: blue line

PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
This has to be one of the most boring descriptions of opening a bag a crisps I've ever read. Not that I've actually read that many descriptions of opening bags of crisps.


so i take it that it's also one of the most thrilling descriptions you've ever read? in that case, thank you.
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indytrucks



Joined: 09 Apr 2003
Location: The Shelf

PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jaredbahama wrote:
so i take it that it's also one of the most thrilling descriptions you've ever read? in that case, thank you.


I guess so. I think that was my point. I'm not sure, though. I think I need to lay down and contemplate more about crisp bag opening.
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SPINOZA



Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul

PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:34 am    Post subject: Re: a treatise on the aesthetics of bagged comestibles Reply with quote

jaredbahama wrote:
I intend to expound upon the modus operandi of the snack-food bag opening technique as exemplified in both Western and Eastern (Korean) civilizations.

There exist at least two distinct techniques for opening bags of chips, et al. As per the Western technique, the opener will grip the diametric faces of the bag at the upper center, one hand for each side, and then pull the sides in an opposite direction. This creates a rift along the top ridge of the bag, enabling access to its contents.

The Eastern (Korean) technique involves gripping the top ridge of the bag with the thumb and index finger of both hands. The opener will then make a tear beginning at the inverted triangle of the ridge and continuing longitudinally down the spine. The bag blooms open, displaying the entire contents within.

This curious Eastern method has social implications beyond the scope of this paper. However, i will briefly summarize the consequences of both techniques. The western technique creates a smaller opening, regulating access of even the biggest bag of chips to one hand at a time. This is juxtaposed by the Korean technique, which enables a 360 degree angle of approach to the bags contents, enabling multiple hands at once to procure said comestible.

Thus, the western technique arcs toward the possessive - as only one individual per session may access the contents. the Korean aesthetic is communal, allowing shared access to the potato chips, corn chips, or any other bag-based snack-food.


This is a work in progress - any comments or suggestions for further research would be duly appreciated.


And you suggest we draw what conclusion from these observations?

If, as I suspect, your thesis is Western people are less predisposed to sharing and Easterners (Koreans) the opposite, I'd like to see more compelling evidence than methods of opening a bag of crisps. Statistics such as charity donations suggest the West more altruistic, if memory serves me. See also the lack of a welfare state. Western countries throw money at their dying, unemployed, sick and deformed. I don't recall seeing any legless (I don't mean drunk) Brits crawling around town wearing rubber pants.
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Masta_Don



Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

But what about savings for the future? Koreans obviously aren't thrift-conscious when they destroy the container like that.

As a side note, I've decided to scratch chip bag clips off of ideas to penetrate Korea with Western culture with.
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