Food Stylist (1936, 1938); OT: Food in Film

Thu Apr 3 03:19:41 UTC 2003

FOOD STYLIST

   Not in OED.
   From EMMY MAGAZINE, March/April 1987, pages 48-51:

Pg. 48:  She and the two hundred or so people in her business, most of whom are women, earn up to five hundred dollars per day creating the perfect, colorful, mouthwatering food that appears in television food commercials and, occasionally, movies nationwide.
Pg. 48:  The advertisers' concern for accuracy grew out of the landmark 1970 court case in which the Federal Trade Commission ruled a Campbell's Soup commercial was deceptive because it used marbles at the bottoms of soup bowls to make the vegetables protrude above the soup. (Pg. 49--ed.)  The stylist must sign a non-disclosure form to protect the secrecy of the product ingredients and another form stating that she has complied with FTC rules.
Pg. 49:  Food styling is a lucrative business in Hollywood, Chicago, and other cities where local commercials are made, and jobs are plentiful.  New York remains the biggest styling market in the United States because of the large number of commercials made there.

   There are many NEW YORK TIMES classified hits.  Most are from the 1960s, but these two are the earliest:

   2 August 1936, NEW YORK TIMES, pg. RE15, col. 8:
   FOOD STYLIST for large New York hotel; must have imagination, be able to express food terms in pure English, write attractive bills of fare and understand food merchandizing; give experience, age, &c. in first letter.

   4 September 1938, NEW YORK TIMES, pg. 132, col. 3:
   FOOD STYLIST, knowledge of food, presentation, menus, display and merchandizing novel and practical ideas, to increase food sales; also to assist chef in daily preparation of menus; large patronage; give all details in first letter as to previous experience, age, education and salary.

   The following are some "food stylist" titles from OCLC WorldCat:

Odd jobs /
Author: Weiss, Ellen, 1949-; Ross, Damon,
Publication: New York : Aladdin Paperbacks, 2000
Document: English : Book : Elementary and junior high school

Professional careers in the food industry
Author: Colter, Kieth. Publication: Bloomington, Ill. : Meridian Education Corp., 1999
Document: English : Visual Material : Videorecording :  VHS tape

Recipe treasury /
recipes compiled by Miriam B. Loo ; book designer, Annetta Wheat ; photographer, Ron Oatney ; food stylist, Marjorie Read.
Author: Loo, Miriam B.
Publication: Colorado Springs, Colo. : Current Inc., 1982
Document: English : Book

Cool careers without college for people who love food /
Author: Hinton, Kerry.
Publication: New York : Rosen Pub. Group, 2002
Document: English : Book : Juvenile audience

---------------------------------------------------------------
OT: FOOD IN FILM

"Yes!  Yes!  Oh, yes!  Yes!  Oh God! Yes! Yes!  Yes!  YES! YES!  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!"
--Meg Ryan in WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989)

   I really should take my first dates to Katz's Deli, but they never do look like Meg Ryan.
   The NYPL's performing arts library's clipping files aren't great for food.  A clipping from September 1981 of the Denver Center Cinema's Great International Food Film Festival contained these films:  WHO IS KILLING THE GREAT CHEFS OF EUROPE?, SOYLENT GREEN, GARLIC IS AS GOOD AS TEN MOTHERS, THE ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES (filmed version of Andrew Smith's books), THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MILDRED PIERCE, FATSO, TOM JONES, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE, WHISKEY GALORE, WHAT'S UP TIGER LILY?, and THE GOOD EARTH.
   An article on food documentaries was in the NEW YORK TIMES, 18 March 1992, pg. C8.  This amusing quotation is from M. F. K.: A DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE OF MARY FRANCES KENNEDY FISHER:  "Even in the worst book," she says, waving a microphone, "there is one jewel, the jewel in a toad's head.  I just don't have the time anymore to look for it.  All these idea books.  The story of bread or the story of potatoes.  Some editor will say, 'Well, write about peanuts.'  And some poor soul does."
   These titles are from OCLC WorldCat:

MD TOWSON UNIV  TSC (Only library--ed.)
Title: Dining in the dark :
a cultural analysis of food in American film /
Author(s): Newberg, Michael Robert.
Year: 1997
Description: vi, 136 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.
Language: English
 SUBJECT(S)
Descriptor: Food in motion pictures.
Food habits.
Mass media and culture.
Note(s): Vita./ Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-136)./ Dissertation: Thesis (M.A.) - Towson State University, 1997.
Class Descriptors: LC: PN1995.9.F6
Responsibility: by Michael Robert Newberg.
Material Type: Thesis/dissertation (deg); Manuscript text (mtx)
Document Type: Book
Entry: 19970714
Update: 19970714
Accession No: OCLC: 37290651
Database: WorldCat

DC LIBRARY OF CONGRESS  DLC (Only library so far--ed.)
Title: Food in film :
a culinary performance of communication /
Author(s): Ferry, Jane, 1941-
Publication: New York : Routledge,
Projected Date: 0307
Year: 2003
Description: p. cm.
Language: English
Series: American popular history & culture; Variation: American popular history and culture (Routledge (Firm))
Standard No: ISBN: 0415945836 (alk. paper); LCCN: 2003-46530
 SUBJECT(S)
Descriptor: Food in motion pictures.
Note(s): Includes bibliographical references and index.
Class Descriptors: LC: PN1995.9.F65; Dewey: 791.43/655
Responsibility: Jane F. Ferry.
Document Type: Book
Entry: 20030317
Update: 20030327
Accession No: OCLC: 51931190
Database: WorldCat