Mapping the Systems

Our first assignment

For the first assignment of The Temporary Expert, in which we are to create an “Energy Field Guide” on a randomly selected subject, my topic is Sugars.

I first outlined all the systems relating to sugars:

• Psychological factors in consumption of sugar
• Addiction to Sugar
• Sugary food packaging
• The sugar processing/refinement industry
• Marketing/advertising of sugary foods.
• Sugar content of food
• Efforts by government to reduce sugar intake.
• Nutritional Recommendations for Sugar Consumption
• Sugars role in Diabetes
• Sugar in Nature
• Food & beverage manufacture
• Addiction to sugars
• Binging on sugary foods
• Sugar consumption in developing countries/low-income communities
• Positivie & Negative effects of Sugar on human health
• Sugars as a source of energy
• Sugars as a part of carbohydrates

As someone who goes on late night ice cream binges, craves sugary cereals, and orders juices with the most flavor (and likely the highest sugar contant) I became particularly interested in the relationship of industry’s processing and marketing of sugar in foods for profit and societies’ consumption and addition to these foods. I organized everything into a hierarchical system map composing of these two major systems and their sub-systems with related ones next to each other:

My thoughts/intentions with this class

Much of my work until now has been about making something that is aesthetically pleasing or innovative from a technology standpoint.
As I am passionate about subjects affecting the world today, I would like my work to be rooted in concepts that explore these topics. I’m hoping that through this class I will learn to build a framework of research and meaning around my work.