“Eureka!” exclaimed the professor. I’ve found the solution!”
This device will be a marvelous creation!
Now you might wonder, what does it do?
It’ll cook, it’ll clean, it’ll do your dishes too!Just place your recipe into the slot,
And out comes the flour, butter and whatnot
Into the mixer, these ingredients will go
give it a few minutes, and out pops the doughIt’s so simple, even an infant can do it
Just press this red button, and the oven will be lit
You don’t have to be chained to the stove all day,
Just set the timer and you’re on your wayWait a minute, what about the weekend gatherings?
The ones where we used to laugh and chat while cooking?
Is there no more need for a kitchen?
Have I made it obsolete after all these experimentation?
The kitchen as a mirror of our society
Where the role of the kitchen labourer became demeaning through the historical introduction of slavery, the associated stigma has persisted over time. Rather than attempting to “free” individuals from kitchen labour, the role of the kitchen within the home should instead be elevated. Historically a vibrant social hub for cooking, dining, and conversation, the kitchen ought not to be viewed as a place of shame. Although technological advancements were introduced to liberate kitchen workers, they have inadvertently caused the decline of the kitchen as a shared social space.
Further research into the concept of the “Kitchen of the Future” led to a historical advertisement for a futuristic kitchen designed to reduce the time women spent cooking. The result was a design of absolute absurdity, entirely devoid of emotion—raising the fundamental question of who truly needs a kitchen operated by the mere press of a button.
