so here is a paper i wrote for literature of foods. its pretty good, i think at least.

Thomas Kvamme
Literature of Foods
Jones
MC #769

Why an Apple?
 

            At some
point in our lives we have all seen a visual portrayal of the story of Adam,
Eve, and the Fruit. When we picture this story what does the fruit look like -
an apple. Why does everyone depict the fruit as an apple? Are there hints in
the bible that link it to a specific fruit?
            When
approaching this topic, first we need to see what the Bible has to say. Genesis
3 tells us of “the fall of man.” When we first read of the forbidden fruit in
verse 2, we learn that the fruit grows on trees, specifically the tree in the
middle of the garden. I don’t know what type of tree that was. The fact that
the tree is in the middle does not help specify what fruit the fruit was.
However, the fact that it is on a tree does narrow the possibilities. Now we
have eliminated things that grow on a bush or a vine, such as berries, grapes,
and watermelons.
            Verse 6
says that the fruit is “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also
desirable for gaining wisdom.” So we know the fruit was good looking. I have
seen some ugly fruit, smashed bananas and that sort of thing, but I have never
thought of a particular kind of fruit being unsightly. You will never hear me
say “I don’t eat oranges because they are hideous.” Perhaps the fact that it is
“desirable for gaining wisdom” can narrow our search. Every time you see an
infomercial for a juicer they talk about the positive effects that fruits can
have on your mental astuteness.
            The main
way I know fruit affects brain activity is the antioxidants. Antioxidants make
the brain run more efficiently. Perhaps the fruit in Genesis was high in
antioxidants. According to www.newstarget.com the fruits highest in
antioxidants are blueberries and blackberries. They however are not on a tree.
The highest antioxidant level (per serving) in a fruit that is on a tree is a
Red Delicious apple, followed closely by a Granny Smith apple. Perhaps the pictures
we always see of Eve holding a shiny red apple have some scientific basis. Then
again some of the images are paintings going back to the period of the
renaissance. I don’t think they had knowledge of antioxidants and their
benefits back then, even if they did I doubt they had the ability to measure
them.
            After all
of this thinking on why the apple is how the fruit is pictured I can only think
of one reason. It’s the same reason I draw people from behind and not the
front. It’s easier. I can’t draw faces well, but I sure can draw the back of
someone’s head, so that’s what I do. My theory is that whoever made the first
famous depiction of the fruit was great at drawing apples, maybe even awful at
drawing bananas. Everyone after that kept the tradition and kept Eve holding an
apple.

thats it. it had to be 300-500 words. i think it is exactly 500... i had to cut it down from like 534 or something...

In God's Hands,
thomas kvamme