Abstract
According to recent literature in the sociology of expectations, expectations about the future are "performative" in that they provide guidance for activities, attract attention, mobilize political and economic resources, coordinate between groups, link technical and social concerns, create visions, and enroll supporters. While this framework has blossomed over the past decade in science and technology studies, it has yet to be applied towards a more refined understanding of how the future of the modern agrofood system is being actively contested and understood. I seek to redress this gap by using the sociology of expectations to explain the discursive topography surrounding in vitro meat, a nascent agrofood technology whereby processed meat products are developed from stem cells as opposed to live animals. In discussing the obstacles and challenges which confront the proponents of this technology, I utilize three key concepts from the sociology of expectations: (1) hype, (2) retrospective prospects, and (3) the role of myth, metaphor, and ideology. I find that despite sluggish results and financial setbacks, the controversial legacy of previous agrofood technologies, and persistent cultural skepticism, the core ideological justifications for in vitro meat have proven to be resilient in buoying the technology through rough discursive waters.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 511-523 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Agriculture and Human Values |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2013 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Agronomy and Crop Science
Cite this
}
If they come, we will build it : In vitro meat and the discursive struggle over future agrofood expectations. / Chiles, Robert Magneson.
In: Agriculture and Human Values, Vol. 30, No. 4, 01.12.2013, p. 511-523.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - If they come, we will build it
T2 - In vitro meat and the discursive struggle over future agrofood expectations
AU - Chiles, Robert Magneson
PY - 2013/12/1
Y1 - 2013/12/1
N2 - According to recent literature in the sociology of expectations, expectations about the future are "performative" in that they provide guidance for activities, attract attention, mobilize political and economic resources, coordinate between groups, link technical and social concerns, create visions, and enroll supporters. While this framework has blossomed over the past decade in science and technology studies, it has yet to be applied towards a more refined understanding of how the future of the modern agrofood system is being actively contested and understood. I seek to redress this gap by using the sociology of expectations to explain the discursive topography surrounding in vitro meat, a nascent agrofood technology whereby processed meat products are developed from stem cells as opposed to live animals. In discussing the obstacles and challenges which confront the proponents of this technology, I utilize three key concepts from the sociology of expectations: (1) hype, (2) retrospective prospects, and (3) the role of myth, metaphor, and ideology. I find that despite sluggish results and financial setbacks, the controversial legacy of previous agrofood technologies, and persistent cultural skepticism, the core ideological justifications for in vitro meat have proven to be resilient in buoying the technology through rough discursive waters.
AB - According to recent literature in the sociology of expectations, expectations about the future are "performative" in that they provide guidance for activities, attract attention, mobilize political and economic resources, coordinate between groups, link technical and social concerns, create visions, and enroll supporters. While this framework has blossomed over the past decade in science and technology studies, it has yet to be applied towards a more refined understanding of how the future of the modern agrofood system is being actively contested and understood. I seek to redress this gap by using the sociology of expectations to explain the discursive topography surrounding in vitro meat, a nascent agrofood technology whereby processed meat products are developed from stem cells as opposed to live animals. In discussing the obstacles and challenges which confront the proponents of this technology, I utilize three key concepts from the sociology of expectations: (1) hype, (2) retrospective prospects, and (3) the role of myth, metaphor, and ideology. I find that despite sluggish results and financial setbacks, the controversial legacy of previous agrofood technologies, and persistent cultural skepticism, the core ideological justifications for in vitro meat have proven to be resilient in buoying the technology through rough discursive waters.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84889608797&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84889608797&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10460-013-9427-9
DO - 10.1007/s10460-013-9427-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84889608797
VL - 30
SP - 511
EP - 523
JO - Agriculture and Human Values
JF - Agriculture and Human Values
SN - 0889-048X
IS - 4
ER -