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Meathooked/McDonaldization
I watched the VICE segment “Meathooked” and also read the excerpt from George Ritzer’s McDonaldization of Society, “An Introduction to McDonaldization,” before answering this paper. An introduction to McDonaldization discusses the effects of business on an individual and society. McDonald’s has transformed the manner the universe runs its businesses by the method he referred to as “McDonaldization.” He illustrates that McDonaldization affects early all aspects of our lives if we do not recognize its insinuations. The McDonaldization of Society signifies the increasing availability of the fast foodstuff business ideal in general social institutions. According to him, McDonaldization is made up of four key constituents: efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. He identifies these as four “alluring dimensions” to producer and consumer alike. All of these four dimensions has resulted in irreversible and beneficial changes in a broad variety of concerns.
The dimension of Ritzer’s idea of McDonaldization that I most clearly see is the dimension of calculability. It is this dimension that the character of the McDonald’s perception is best revealed. Calculability is one of the dimensions that is identified as “emphasis on quantitative aspects of products sold” (Ritzer, 16). Calculability is not as common in the business since consumers don’t notice it enough. The calculability of McDonald’s asserts that the “quality is equal to quantity.” Calculability entails an emphasis on kinds of stuff that can be counted, calculated, and quantified. Quantification denotes a propensity to put emphasis on quantity instead of quality. It results in a sense that quality is the same as certain, typically (but not each time) great quantities of things. By creating bigger portions of foodstuff “shows that the owners, not the consumers, get the finest deal” (Ritzer, 17). In the video of “Meathooked,” this dimension is evident in a way that there is greater availability of meat quantity than before. The availability depends less on geographical location or time. This wide variety of this product is obtainable to a much greater portion of the populace. Individuals are able to acquire what they need nearly instantaneously. In the video, we are in a crisis whereby it takes over 1800 gallons of water to generate 1 pound of meat, and the worldwide demand for meat is increasing so much. In addition to that, water is turning to be a scared product all over the universe. As the demand for inexpensive meat rises, the water demand also increases.
Irrational rationality functions as a dimension of McDonaldization. In the context of McDonaldization, the CSA model gives the impression to be somewhat irrational. And yet, the outcomes are unquestionably rational. Even though there have been many conveniences and benefits associated with this process of McDonaldization, there is a particular impression that these rational systems have a habit of turning in themselves to result in irrational results. This relates to the idea of accessibility versus variety. It outlines the irrationality of rationality as the fifth feature of McDonaldization. Ritzer gives an opinion that when our lives become McDonaldize, the subsequent result is normally one of irrationality. As we attempt to turn out to be efficient, calculable, predictable, and controlling, we normally end up with irrational, counterintuitive, and challenging outcomes. The irrational rationality is illustrated in the video in a way that industrial-scale meat production results in tremendous amounts of animal waste that can harm the environment. Fast food harms consumers’ health and makes poor eating habits in children. The rapid production of food also results in bacterial contamination that can sicken and kill individuals.
Works Cited
Ritzer, George. “An introduction to McDonaldization.” McDonaldization: The Reader 2 (2002): 4-25.
Vice on HBO. Meathooked & End of Water
https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/meathooked-and-end-of water/5786c5d032e0306802cd53d7?jwsource=cl
