Topic > The role of food scenes in 'The Hobbit'

'Food is not just a collection of products that can be used for statistical or nutritional studies. It is also and at the same time a communication system, a body of images, a protocol of uses, situations and behaviors'. I agree with this statement of Barthes as food scenes are one of the most important scenes in a film. Food can be one of the most revealing character traits on screen. It can tell us a lot about the character's personality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayWhen we watch important eating scenes, many questions come to mind. What is the character eating? Do they use utensils or do they immediately start eating with their hands? When and where do these scenes occur? As a tool intrinsically linked to sustenance and nourishment, food is one of the most productive ways to convey character and plot development. They can tell micro-narratives even for a fraction of a second and create premises in a spontaneous, evocative and powerful way. As at the beginning of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” a company of dwarves visits Bilbo Baggins without him knowing the reason for their visit. In the scene, the way Bilbo prepares food and prepares food for himself shows that he is indeed highly respected by the hobbits of the Shire. He seems really well disciplined and correct. But his guests. On the other hand his guests eat in an extremely disorderly manner which makes them look like savages because they had in fact lost their home and had been living as travelers for many years. The way they eat shows their desire to reclaim their homeland and once again live the lavish kingly life they once had. And this was what led Bilbo to join their adventure, something that seems small but was the most important event in the future of Middle Earth. In JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, food and eating are also very relevant, particularly in the narrative parts involving Hobbits. , which, of course, is all The Hobbit and almost all The Lord of the Rings. In The Lord of the Rings the essential theology of eating remains. Eating is a popular act especially among Hobbits, although it can also be seen among Elves, Men, Ents, and sometimes even Dwarves: food and eating bind Hobbits to each other, to the strangers they encounter, and to the land itself. Tolkien describes Hobbit culture, particularly their approach to food, as a model of healthy society. Even to the most casual reader of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it is obvious that food is vital to the Hobbits. We all know that, if they can get it, Hobbits eat six meals a day, including two dinners. As the Prologue to The Lord of the Rings points out, "they eat and drink, often and with good appetite." Yes, much of their time was consumed growing food and eating it. But this also showed that Hobbits were peace-loving people who stayed away from the problems of the “bigger world”. They were too busy enjoying their food and beer and rarely cared about what was happening in the outside world. This makes the opening scene of The Hobbit even better as it shows that Bilbo went against the culture of the Hobbits and ventured into the outside world to help the dwarves regain their home. According to Bower, “Food is a part of the semiotic process of filmmaking.” “This complex system of signification involves what is eaten, not eaten, thrown away, stored, chopped, baked, shared, hoarded, cooked from scratch, taken from a can, or stolen.” I would disagree with this statement as food scenes are not just about eating but also..