rojo wrote:
From The Economist:
Though Westerners prefer lean, white meat; many in Asia and Africa prefer dark meat, which includes legs and thighs. These preferences are reflected in local prices: in America breasts are 88% more expensive than legs; in Indonesia they are 12% cheaper. Differences in the price of chicken feet are even starker. The thought of eating talons is abhorrent to many Westerners, but they often feature in Cantonese recipes. China now imports 300,000 tonnes of “phoenix claws” every year.
https://www.economist.com/international/2019/01/19/how-chicken-became-the-rich-worlds-most-popular-meat
Maybe this is some esoteric metaphor by The Economist (whomever has the audacity to call him/her self "The Economist" must be really self-impressed):
*Slavoj Zizek voice + mannerisms*
The lean, large breast, or rather the idea that a chicken breast can be an excellent piece of food, represents Lacans objet petit a (object of desire) towards which we Westerners are always striving, constantly trying to spice up the boneless, skinless breast with various spices and herbs to no avail. The dark meat - the alluringly thick yet toned thighs and legs, represent the happiness in the fulfillment of basic needs that we Westerners see in other cultures which wish that we could experience. Lastly, in between the two lies the perfect Hegelian synthesis of the quest towards the unattainable desire and satisfaction with the fulfillment of basic needs.