Food fight

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Citizens of Bunyol, Spain engage in the annual tomato-based food fight La Tomatina

A food fight is a form of chaotic collective behavior, in which food is thrown at others in the manner of projectiles. These projectiles are not made to harm or damage others, but to simply ignite a fight filled with spontaneous food throwing. Food fights may be impromptu examples of rebellion or violence, however, they can also be planned events. For example, La Tomatina is a regularly held, organized Spanish food fight in which participants pelt each other with tomatoes. In organized food fights, the food "weapons" are usually all of one kind, or of a limited variety. An impromptu food fight will use whatever food is on hand.

Food fights are a common element in slapstick comedy, with the pie in the face gag being especially prominent. Food fights are frequently featured in children's television and books, usually as an example of destructive or reckless behaviour. One famous food fight scene in a movie took place in National Lampoon's Animal House. Another took place in Hook.

Though usually associated with juvenile settings such as schools, there are notable incidents that take place in more official locations, such as the food fight at a lunch meeting of the Legislative Yuan of Taiwan.^[1] In Europe, some food fights evolved into traditional celebrations rooted either in recent past such as the Spanish Tomatina or in long-gone centuries such as the Battaglia degli aranci during the Ivrea Carnival in Italy.

In East Kilbride in Scotland there is a massive food fight held every year during the month of October. It takes place in the town's shopping centre at around 6pm on a Friday night. The main difference between this event and most other food fights is that this food fight takes place on the ice - that is, on the ice rink at the Princess Mall. Thousands of participants from all over the country and even the globe come to take part in this prestigious event known to many as The Grand Classic EK Food Fight on Ice.

[edit] In fiction

• The musical film Bugsy Malone based upon prohibition era Chicago had much of it fighting scenes using food as weaponry, including lethal cream pies.
• The students gets food fights scenes in the movie Bratz: The Movie.
• The British television show Skins makes use of a food fight at one of the character's houses in its first series.
• The Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation features a food fight in its second season, for which then 8th grader Emma Nelson was blamed and suspended for a week.
• The pilot episode of Invader Zim features a food fight.
• An episode of Lizzie McGuire featured a food fight.
• There was a food fight in an episode of Zoey 101.
• Two episodes of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody featured a food fight.
• There was a tomato fight in an episode of Phil of the Future.
• There was a food fight in the film National Lampoon's Animal House.
• There have been food fights in episodes of Total Drama Island.
• A food fight is in one of the scenes in the movie Max Keeble's Big Move.
• A Biz Markie music video depicts him at a club, attempting to seduce a woman using food based innuendo. The woman is unreceptive and throws the types of food at him that he mentions in the lyrics.
• A food fight drives the plot of one episode of the children's television show Recess.
• The cartoon character students are food fights at Acme Looniversity of the animated television show Tiny Toon Adventures.

[edit] References