In the course of my social media escapades, few things get my goat more than seeing women call themselves fat all the time. Generally, they aren't fat in the slightest. Furthermore, it always struck me as some kind of strange contradiction: if you really thought you were fat then you wouldn't draw attention to it, surely? Do they just want the affirmation of someone saying how slim they are? And how must it make anyone genuinely overweight in their network feel?
Recently, I've been thinking about Michel Foucault's idea of power and how it applies to Facebook. It seems particularly relevant to these self-flagellating women. For those who aren't familiar, Foucault is a pretty awesome theorist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault). He wrote about how power and control have moved from being exercised externally (i.e. from a monarch or institution) to from within a self-monitoring subject.
A big part of how this kind of control works is through our own participation in the very methods of surveillance that constrain us. We feel as though we are always being watched so we regulate our behaviour; even our thoughts perhaps. In an interesting article on the Masters of Media site, Agathe Wiedermair discusses how our confession of our every thought to our online social networks subjects us to a form of social control through both self regulation and the surveillance of our peers.
What's this got to do with neurotic women and brownies? I'm getting there. Basically, the glimmer of hope that I see in all of this is that we are all part of the power network ourselves. The downside of that is that when a size ten young woman says she feels bad for eating a Haribo and ten friends click 'Like', it not only reinforces her insecurities but other members of her network feel this is a normal and positive thought. However, every time you update your status saying you have just eaten a brownie and bloody well enjoyed it, you can feel proud in the knowledge that you've just scored a point for feminism; for revolution!
Recently, I've been thinking about Michel Foucault's idea of power and how it applies to Facebook. It seems particularly relevant to these self-flagellating women. For those who aren't familiar, Foucault is a pretty awesome theorist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault). He wrote about how power and control have moved from being exercised externally (i.e. from a monarch or institution) to from within a self-monitoring subject.
A big part of how this kind of control works is through our own participation in the very methods of surveillance that constrain us. We feel as though we are always being watched so we regulate our behaviour; even our thoughts perhaps. In an interesting article on the Masters of Media site, Agathe Wiedermair discusses how our confession of our every thought to our online social networks subjects us to a form of social control through both self regulation and the surveillance of our peers.
What's this got to do with neurotic women and brownies? I'm getting there. Basically, the glimmer of hope that I see in all of this is that we are all part of the power network ourselves. The downside of that is that when a size ten young woman says she feels bad for eating a Haribo and ten friends click 'Like', it not only reinforces her insecurities but other members of her network feel this is a normal and positive thought. However, every time you update your status saying you have just eaten a brownie and bloody well enjoyed it, you can feel proud in the knowledge that you've just scored a point for feminism; for revolution!
The fab recipe that inspired this post is from Saturday's Guardian and it's yet another Hugh FW one
Peanut butter and chocolate brownies
Chocolate and peanut butter are one of the great flavour combinations. These layered, swirled brownies look great and taste even better. Makes 16.
For the brownie layer
240g dark chocolate, at least 70%, finely chopped
120g unsalted butter, diced, plus a little more for greasing the tin
120g light muscovado sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
120g plain flour, sifted
¼ tsp salt
For the peanut butter layer
380g cream cheese, room temperature
227g jar of smooth peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g caster sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp double cream
3 tbsp plain flour, sifted
Heat the oven to 170C/325F/gas mark 3. Lightly grease a 22cm x 22cm x 5cm brownie tin and line with baking parchment (as in the preceding recipes).
Stir the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water until smooth, then set aside to cool. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and eggs until very light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and chocolate mixture, then gently fold in the flour and salt until just combined. Spread the batter in the tin, though keep back about six tablespoonfuls for later.
Next, make the peanut butter layer of the brownie. Beat together the cream cheese, peanut butter and vanilla until very smooth. Gradually add the sugar, beating until it is well blended, light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the cream. Gently fold in the flour. Spread the peanut batter over the brownie layer and dot the top with spoonfuls of the reserved chocolate mixture.
Using a wooden skewer or a thin knife, swirl the spoonfuls of chocolate batter through the peanut butter layer, so it makes a pattern on the top of the brownies. Bake for about 35 minutes, until the edges of the peanut butter layer are puffed up and centre is set. Cool in the tin on a rack and cut when completely cold.
Enjoy xx
