♾️Exploring alternative presents

To kickstart the term, we were tasked with exploring our topics through the lens of what they are and what they could become. We needed to explore the topic in it's current state to identify the relevance for intervention and explore other possibilities for what it could be instead.

For this, I had 2 perspectives to explore in alternative presents:

Present Continuity	Alternative present
Members of modern society lack a connection with the food they’re eating. We choose to ignore the environmental, economic, health, and emotional impact of our every meal. We have applied the capitalist economic model to our ways of thinking, preparing and eating our foods.	Members of modern society connect with their sustenance on a deep spiritual, social and holistic level. We have seen the effects of a capitalist mindset and its effects on society, community, body and mind; and have thus steered away from that model into adopting “X” model.
Members of modern society make food choices mostly based on their bodily desires, with less focus on their own health or the health of the planet which provided the food. This behavior is intentional; driven to the public by brands, the food industry, and the government.	Members of modern society make food choices mostly based on their health and the health of the planet which provided the food. This behavior is intentional; making very vastly known the impacts of our choices by brands, the food industry, and the government.

After doing that and discussing with my peers, I came up with an evolution of what I was trying to communicate and focus on.

Present continuity

Alternative present

Members of modern society lack a connection with the intricate ecosystems within their bodies and the foods they consume. The human microbiome—our internal community of microorganisms—has been disrupted by industrialized food production, heavily processed diets, and a capitalist approach to food. We ignore the symbiotic relationship between gut health, emotional well-being, and environmental sustainability, prioritizing convenience and profit over holistic health.

Members of modern society view food as a bridge between their internal microbiome and the larger ecosystems of the planet. They approach eating as a mindful practice that nurtures the health of their gut flora while supporting sustainable agricultural practices. By embracing diverse, fermented, and minimally processed foods, society reconnects with ancestral traditions and recognizes the interconnectedness of human health, biodiversity, and planetary well-being.